Rice balls and roasted artichokes

Probably the culinary highlight of grandparents' weekend is the Saturday afternoon trip to the neighborhood Sicilian foccaciaria, Ferdinando's. It's a restaurant that has served the neighborhood's needs for rice balls and roasted artichokes for over a hundred years, and the pickings are pretty fabulous. Little did we know from previous visits, though, that they have a pleasant back yard dining space--which was a perfect alfresco spot for a table for seven.