The Pasta alla Norma was born in Catania, soon becoming, thanks to its success, a dish popular in Sicily. Moreover, it is difficult to resist a plate of pasta with tomato sauce (generally macaroni) to which are added fried eggplant, grated ricotta and basil to give a touch of Mediterranean freshness that characterizes the plate and balance the fried eggplant.

But why is this first course called “alla norma”? It seems that this name was baptized by the Catania playwright Nino Martoglio who, enchanted by the perfume and the goodness of the dish, he would have exclaimed: “Chista è ‘na vera Norma!” (“This is a real Norma!”). The reference is to “Norma”, famous work of the composer Vincenzo Bellini.