N.J.'s best Italian restaurant finals: Old school and new wave go head to head in Hudson
"Jean Georges told me that the best presence at a table is a chef's presence,'' Ryan DePersio says inside Battello in Jersey City. Which explains why DePersio, name-dropping legendary restaurateur Jean Georges Vongerichten with aplomb, is personally delivering dishes to our table at his casual-chic waterfront restaurant. DePersio, who...
Get to Know the Rainbow Cookie, an Italian Delicacy That’s Tough to Find in D.C.
When chef Amy Brandwein decided to open Centrolina more than a year ago, she had nostalgia on her mind. That's because, she wanted her Italian restaurant and market to have a cookie that was reminiscent of her childhood. Ultimately, it led her to the Italian rainbow cookie, a distinctive dessert, best known for its tri-colored appearance that looks...
Italian restaurant to open next month
A life-changing moment about a year ago is responsible for Rome 116, a new Italian restaurant set to open at 1348 Ety Road next month in the former Spaghetti Shop building. Owner Joe Casillas commuted from Sugar Grove to his job as project manager at Honda in Marysville each day. One day a friend called and wanted to talk to him, but Casil...
Little Silver: Tastes of (Little) Italy
By Susan Ericson Shopping at Ferrucci's Gourmet Delicatessen in the Prospect Plaza strip mall in Little Silver is like stepping into a classic Italian grocery store, according to a customer who stopped in to pick up pizza dough brought in from Brooklyn. It's as good as Arthur Avenue in the Bronx, he said. Mixed New York boroughs a...
Zamboni Grill keeping up the tradition of excellent food
by Eric Felack After the entrees were served at the Zamboni Grill last week, the waitress asked me what I was doing writing all the ingredients down on a tablet. Since all of the food was served, I fessed up that I was doing a newspaper dining review. "Oh, I thought you were going to try and duplicate our dishes at home," she said. A...
Mario Batali's Eataly D.C. still not a done deal
Eataly, the Italian food hall and market from celebrity chef Mario Batali, may be getting cold feet on a D.C. location. The massive eatery was said to be eyeing 30,000 to 35,000 square feet of space at Capitol Crossing, the 2.2 million-square-foot project that will be built above part of I-395 in Northwest. Read more Source: ...
Is Philly ready for pizza in a cone?
by Michael Klein To think we've been eating our pizza flat for thousands of years. The Italian company Kono specializes in pizza baked into a cone shape, primarily for portability. (It's known there as "pizza al passeggio," or walk-around pizza.) Three men from South Jersey, having bought a franchise in "The Original" Kono Pi...
Bethlehem's Molinari's Restaurant sets up Italian culinary exchange
By Diane Stoneback Molinari's Restaurant boasts a catchy slogan on its website, Save the Airfare, that emphasizes you don't have to travel overseas for an authentic Italian dining experience. The Bethlehem restaurant perhaps should consider changing that slogan now that it's hosting two Taste of Abruzzo dinners. The dinners, 6-10 p.m...
Italian community honours Virgin Mary
Amidst all of the sheet cakes and deli trays, Piccolo Trattoria Catering is proud to announce an alternative for college graduation catering. The full-service catering company is offering a gourmet Italian feast to its customers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. "We know that we aren't the only company to offer college graduation catering se...
Philly's Passyunk Ave. evolves into dining destination
by Robert DiGiacomo Passyunk Avenue, the main street for South Philadelphia, a traditionally Italian-American neighborhood, used to be known as the place to buy school uniforms, salami and cheese, and fancy dresses for First Holy Communions. Over the past few years, the avenue has evolved into one of the city's hippest dining and shop...
Impending Italian Market makeover
By Bill Chenevert Many Italian Market shoppers who stroll down the east side of Ninth Street between Ellsworth Street and Washington Avenue, probably think 'What's on the other side of this huge fence?' Facing hip haunts like Connie's Ric Rac, 1132 S. Ninth St., and Teri's Bar, 1126 S. Ninth St., smokers must wonder the same thing. Situat...
Looking for new favorite Italian restaurant in AC?
by Lisa Howard Fusco It seems that throughout South Jersey, there is an Italian restaurant on every corner. Whether it is an everyday pizza place with tables in the back, a chain restaurant or a mom-and-pop "white tablecloth" establishment, Italian spots are as ubiquitous as Wawa. It is no different in Atlantic City, where no matt...