CUISINE ACCORDING TO NATURE
Contributor — Four Hundred by Design
Nestled between Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea, Donna Carmela Resort & Lodges combines hospitality, gastronomy, sustainability, and Sicilian heritage. Set within a restored 19th-century manor house, the property is surrounded by Mediterranean and subtropical gardens cultivated by the Faro family, whose nursery business has operated in Sicily for more than 50 years. The resort is home to La Cucina di Donna Carmela, where Chef Piergiorgio Alecci's seasonal menus reflect the property's connection to its landscape and agricultural traditions.
CHEF PIERGIORGIO ALECCI
Born in Catania in 1990, Chef Piergiorgio Alecci developed his culinary approach through experience in several acclaimed kitchens across Italy and Europe. His career includes work alongside Andreas Zangerl, Crescenzo Scotti at Therasia Resort during its Michelin-starred period, Heinz Beck's Apsleys in London, Emanuele Mazzella, and Roberto Toro at the Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo in Taormina.
In 2018, Alecci joined Donna Carmela Resort & Lodges to lead its culinary program, where his philosophy centers on cooking that follows the rhythms of nature and the seasons.
A GARDEN-DRIVEN PHILOSOPHY
The cuisine at Donna Carmela is closely tied to the Faro family's extensive gardens, orchards, edible plants, medicinal herbs, and rare fruit varieties. The property's location between Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea creates a microclimate that supports both native Sicilian produce and exotic species.
Drawing from ingredients harvested on-site and sourced from local producers, Alecci's menus reflect Sicily's agricultural traditions while incorporating contemporary culinary techniques.
SEASONAL SICILIAN CUISINE
Alecci's signature tasting menu, Come Natura ("As Nature Intended"), changes three times each year to reflect the seasons. The menu highlights ingredients grown throughout the resort's gardens alongside regional products from across Sicily.
Among the restaurant's signature dishes are Crunchy Anchovies on the Red Sea, featuring Sicilian Primo Sale cheese, olives, and tomatoes, and Traditional Caserecce Pasta with Shrimp, Countryside Vegetables, and Tuma Persa, a historic Sicilian cheese that has been revived after centuries of decline.
Desserts also reference the surrounding landscape. Our Etna reinterprets the traditional cannolo with ricotta mousse and lemon crumble as a tribute to Sicily's volcanic landscape.
The menus also reflect Sicily's history as a meeting point of cultures. Dishes such as Sea Bream, Almonds, Bitter Greens, and Yuzu Dashi combine Mediterranean ingredients with Eastern influences, incorporating yuzu grown in the Faro family's nurseries.
WINES OF MOUNT ETNA
The dining experience is complemented by wines from Pietradolce, the Faro family's winery located on the slopes of Mount Etna. The estate specializes in indigenous grape varieties including Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, and Carricante, many of which are cultivated from pre-phylloxera vines between 90 and 130 years old using traditional alberello training methods and organic farming practices.
THE RESORT
Since 2021, Donna Carmela Resort & Lodges has been a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World. The property features 18 suites and eight eco-lodges set throughout the gardens, with many accommodations offering private heated pools, terraces, and views of Mount Etna or the Ionian Sea. Recent renovations have incorporated contemporary design while preserving the property's historic Sicilian character.
EXPLORING THE REGION
Beyond the resort, guests have access to a range of cultural and outdoor experiences across eastern Sicily. Nearby attractions include the Radicepura Botanical Park, created by the Faro family, which features permanent gardens, landscape architecture, public art installations, and the internationally recognized Radicepura Garden Festival.
The surrounding region also offers guided excursions on Mount Etna, winery visits and tastings at Pietradolce, historic villages, and opportunities to explore Sicily's volcanic and coastal landscapes.
THE FARO FAMILY LEGACY
Donna Carmela Resort & Lodges is part of the Faro Group, whose portfolio also includes Piante Faro nurseries, Pietradolce Winery, and the Radicepura Foundation. Together, these organizations support biodiversity, sustainable agriculture, and the preservation of Sicily's natural and cultural heritage.