Mario Ferraro smiled as he talked about his new venture in St. George with The Gavel Grill. But his joy over yet another project, Vitalia, moved the chef to passionate words about the Italian restaurant and market, soon coming to Charleston. He aims for an early June opening of Vitalia, a storefront at the South Shore Commons.

One of the aspects with which Ferraro is most delighted is that his sister, Kristina Ferraro, is on board with the project. Staten Islanders know the healthy lifestyle advocate from her work at the Broadway YMCA and her dance school, Rhythm Central in Castleton Corners. The Miss Staten Island of 1994 will handle the juicing portion of the menu.