Owner of Caffè Sicilia in Noto, founded by his family in 1892, Corrado Assenza is one of Italy's most celebrated pastry chefs, known for his dedication to tradition and innovation in the world of pastry. His philosophy is based on the exaltation of pure flavors, deeply connected to the Sicilian land and agricultural tradition.
Credits cover: Francesco Di Martino
Born and raised in Noto, Sicily, Corrado Assenza spent his childhood in the kitchen of Caffè Sicilia, a place that has been at the heart of his family's pastry tradition for generations. Founded in 1892, Caffè Sicilia is located on the historic Corso Vittorio Emanuele and is considered a must-visit destination for Sicilian pastry lovers. After high school, Assenza moved to Bologna to study agriculture, where he developed a deep understanding of nature and its influence on the quality of ingredients. Feeling the call of his homeland, however, he returned to Noto in 1985, ready to take the reins of Caffè Sicilia and continue the family legacy.
Corrado Assenza is not just a pastry chef, but an agronomist with a unique vision: to preserve and enhance the authentic flavors of Sicily, using local, sustainably grown raw materials. He has transformed Caffè Sicilia into a laboratory of ideas, where tradition and innovation coexist harmoniously. His products, from granitas to macaroons, are the result of a process that begins in the family fields, where Assenza personally grows almonds, apricots, olives and cherries.
His culinary philosophy is rooted in the concept of "pure flavors". For Assenza, each ingredient must express its essence without being overwhelmed by sugar or artificial flavors. This approach has earned him international recognition, not only for the quality of his creations, but also for his commitment to preserving biodiversity and agricultural traditions. His fame has also reached an international audience thanks to his appearance in the Chef's Table: Pastry series on Netflix in 2018, which highlighted his work and philosophy.
Caffè Sicilia, under the leadership of Corrado Assenza, has become a must-visit destination for pastry lovers around the world. Assenza has kept alive the tradition of Sicilian granita, cannolo and other local delicacies, revisiting them with a modern twist and maniacal attention to the quality of raw materials. This has made him an ambassador of Sicilian gastronomic culture, able to spread the flavors of his land throughout the world.
