Best regards. Interesting story. I am an American who has lived here for 8 years. I have never seen or heard of this dish. Even though I have eaten at the tables of many local Pantesche. Interesting you met someone on the island who speaks English. Very few locals speak English. From the way he was dressed he sounds like a Sicilian or tourist. I will have to fill in my experience and see what I can find out about this dish. While the heritage of Pantelleria includes, as you say, long contact with North African Islamic cultures in ancient times...in contemporary times there is very little, to no contact with Africa from here now. There is no way to go from here to Africa. Unless you had your own boat. There are a few Tunisian workers around. We have gotten the random handfuls of immigrants from time to time, usually the ones who get lost. I heard about the food conference but was unable to attend. Pantelleria is a charming and peaceful place. I hope someone shared a glass of Passito with you.

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