FastItalian LearningSign in
PhrasesAt the BakeryAvete le brioche siciliane con il tuppo?
B1

Avete le brioche siciliane con il tuppo?

Do you have Sicilian brioche with the knob on top?

Pronunciation

TUP-po — two syllables, double 'p'. Stress on first syllable.

When to use it

In Sicily or a Sicilian bakery when looking for the distinctive local brioche — the one with the small 'knob' ('tuppo') on top.

What it means

'Tuppo' is the Sicilian dialect word for the knot of hair at the back of the head ('chignon'). The brioche siciliana has this distinctive small dome on top. It is eaten with granita at breakfast — split open and filled with the semifrozen dessert.

Variations

La mangiate con la granita?

Do you eat it with granita?

The classic combination — Sicilian brioche used as a scoop for granita at breakfast

È dolce o neutro?

Is it sweet or neutral?

Sicilian brioche is slightly sweet — more so than continental brioche

Avete la brioche col gelato?

Do you have brioche with gelato?

The full Sicilian combination — gelato and panna inside a split brioche

Mini Dialogue

— Avete le brioche siciliane con il tuppo? — Sì — le inforniamo alle sei. Le vuole con la granita? — Al caffè, con la panna. — La colazione più bella del mondo!

— Do you have Sicilian brioche with the knob on top? — Yes — we bake them at six. Would you like it with granita? — Coffee granita, with cream. — The most beautiful breakfast in the world!

Cultural Note

The Sicilian brioche col tuppo has almost religious status on the island. The breakfast of granita al caffè in a brioche, eaten while watching the Sicilian streets wake up, is one of those experiences that makes you understand why Sicilians have such passionate pride in their island's food culture.