I Segreti del Chiostro - Review - Quattro Canti - Palermo - The Infatuation

"This confectionery shop, located inside the Chiesa di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria, is an homage to the ancient tradition of making pastries inside convents. They’ve sourced a long list of nearly forgotten recipes, like the Triumph of Gluttony, a sponge cake with sweet ricotta, apricot jam, pistachios, and candied fruit, and the Sospiri di Monaca, a folded lady finger cake stuffed with whipped ricotta. Cassata and other traditional cakes are sold by the slice, cannoli are filled with sweet ricotta cream à la minute to ensure prime crispiness, and there are almond and pistachio cookies, plus hand-painted marzipan fruits, displayed at various stations. Enjoy your sweets in the lush open-air courtyard tiled with multicolored traditional maioliche, and save time to visit the ornate Baroque church before making your way up to the rooftop for one of the best views in town." - Linda Sarris