The public has spoken, so this month we are visiting one of my favorite countries, Italia! So, let’s leave all those stress knots behind and transport ourselves to Palermo, the capital of Sicily.

For this feature, we are LUCKY enough to have Wanderwoman extraordinaire, Linda Sarris, also known as the Cheeky Chef.

I met Linda several years ago in NYC and reconnected with her on instagram—I absolutely love it when social media is used for true connection and reconnection vs vapid bullsh*t.

Speaking to her, I feel like her journey was similar to my own—a lot of her story truly resonated with me and still does. Let’s hear from her, firsthand, how a trial run living in another country has turned into finding her new home.

Name

Linda Sarris

Originally From

Pennsylvania but spent most of my life in New York

Current Location

Palermo

How many countries have you lived in?

3 (USA where I grew up, Romania where I worked, and Italy where I currently live)

How many countries have you visited?

31

What brought you to Italy?

I wanted an adventure and have always wanted to live abroad. I originally came to Italy after cooking school for a 3-month apprenticeship and after completely falling in love with the island of Sicily, I split my time between New York City and Italy for 7 years before deciding to live here full-time, 4 years ago.

What do you find the most challenging about living in another country?

I love speaking other languages and enjoy the challenge, but sometimes it gives me a bit of brain-fog, when I cannot express myself deeply enough or when too many people speak at the same time, I tend to just switch off.

The most rewarding?

There is a sense of ease when you find your happy place. The weather here is phenomenal, no more snowy winters, and you can swim from April through October! The cost of living is dirt cheap and the pace of life is slow, which both allow me to work on projects I truly believe in instead of doing things that do not bring me joy -- just to pay my bills.

What is your most favorite thing about living in Palermo?

I love the slow pace and the joy of simply living. The weather is gorgeous year-round. The first winter I spent here and saw blue skies everyday; I vowed to never return to a snow-covered winter ever again -- except for a brief Christmas visit to see friends/family. I love the food, the culture, the fact that I can walk everywhere and have built a little community in my neighborhood. 

Least favorite

Bureaucracy, anything government-related from immigration offices to post offices, it’s all very complicated. The paperwork and the long meetings that could have been emails, it all frustrates me.

Is there anywhere else you would choose to move to? If so, where would that be and why?

I have always had a strong connection to Brasil. I love the language, the food, the people. I have travelled there about 7 times and have always felt like that is another place I would like to explore for a longer period.

How has the Covid-19 pandemic affected your life?

I work in tourism and hospitality for the most part so life came to a screeching halt. Financially it was extremely difficult and emotionally I felt disconnected from a social life that has always given me comfort while being away from my close friends and family. When we went into the first official quarantine in Italy, before many other countries did, it was all new, weird, and scary. I took it quite seriously and stayed home, cooking, overeating, watching movies, and crying most days except when I could go for a walk to the grocery store. I have to admit it was difficult to see other countries pretending to be under the regulations that we had. I have always been a survivor. It doesn’t mean I don’t lose my shit, or panic, or worry, but I know that life goes on and we have to adapt. I have always been the phoenix, the alchemist, the caterpillar. Always do your best, that’s what they say. I picked up a stupid freelance job with something totally unrelated to my career because I knew I couldn’t just stand still and wait for things to get better. If I couldn’t make money as a chef or a travel consultant, I would do something else to stay afloat. When quarantine lifted in May/June I met a nice guy and fell in love on the spot. I landed a book deal and had the entire year of Covid to actually take the time to sit down at my computer and work on it. Things happen for a reason. I know we lost a lot of people to Covid and the world has been turned upside down, but something better is always around the corner. I will always believe that. 

What is one thing you learned during the pandemic that you would like to share with others?

To live in the moment, life is short and we have to appreciate what we have, what we have worked for, and what we might sometimes take for granted. Maybe even that the little things are actually the big things in the end.

What is your new normal?

Unfortunately it is working a lot from home, not ideal but at least I'm still working. Taking things a day at a time. Trying to continue to adapt and still grow in a challenging time.

Based on current travel restrictions are you happy to be where you are or do you wish you were somewhere else?

Italy and Sicily specifically is not a bad place to be, even in a global pandemic. I am someone who has always traveled for pleasure and also for work, so it has been hard to sit still for so long. We are slowly opening up borders for international travel and I would love to help you plan your next trip to Italy. I am very grateful for the life I created, there is nowhere else I would rather be.

What are your thoughts on travel?

We need it. Everyone's been itching to get moving again, to discover something new, to change their scenery. As people begin to travel again, I've seen it first hand, how much they appreciate the freedom to get out of their comfort zone and change up their routine.

Where is your favorite place to travel within Italy?

I prefer the south of Italy and exploring the small islands...Sicily alone has at least 14 that I can count off the top of my head. I also love traveling in Puglia and Campania. Next up on my list is Sardinia.

What is your favorite dish to make?

It’s so hard to pick just one but I love to cook fish and seafood, I worked as a fishmonger so I know how to select fresh products, prepare them. and creatively pair a dish with local ingredients that compliment it without being overbearing. I am also lovingly known by friends and clients for making fancy salads. They are the kind of salads that even salad-haters actually love.

What inspires you?

Professionally, I am inspired by producers. I love visiting people who make the products I use in my kitchen... olive oil producers, fishermen, winemakers, millers, beekeepers.

Personally, I am inspired by strong women. I have always had a handful of friends, clients-turned-friends, and mentors who I admire more than I can put into words. The way they build businesses, create art, raise families, lead teams, and consistently support and lift up others...it blows me away. That’s the kind of woman I want to be. Once I had a chance to audition for a cooking program for the Food Network and I put a tiny piece of paper in my pocket with the names of all these ladies, who I knew would not let me fail. That’s the kind of strength they give me. and of course, I nailed it.

What advice would you give to other expats?

I have to say, I think expat is such a dated word. It seems to celebrate only (mostly white) people coming from a stable country by choice. I call myself an immigrant, even if I moved here by choice. It is a very hard thing to do. My father always says, if it was easy, then everyone would do it. You have to be in a good place with yourself to make a leap like that and sometimes people don’t have a choice to move away from their home. But when you do, you have to be prepared to take care of yourself and follow your heart. Learn to recognize and listen to your intuition, it will help you make the right decisions.

What advice would you give to other people looking to make the move to Italy?

Learn Italian, number one. If you do not speak the language, you cannot assimilate into the culture properly. Italy is the perfect place for a vacation, it is accessible, gorgeous, full of culture, and ready to welcome tourists, but that doesn’t mean you should move there.

A Personal Note from Linda

Follow thecheekychef on Instagram for a daily dose of La Dolce Vita and sign up for my newsletter to hear about adventures and travel programs in Italy. More information is listed on my website www.lindasarris.com. Send me a note, I would love to hear from you!

See her Palermo Picks here.