Mercato Cucina is officially open and ready to serve chef David Buico’s childhood favorites. The Brooklyn-born chef and owner, his girlfriend and business partner Debbie Stone, Town of Huntington officials, family, and friends all joined together outside of the Italian marketplace to celebrate the momentous day.

An emotional Buico struggled to find the words to express his gratitude. “I’m overwhelmed,” he said. Soon after the ribbon-cutting, customers started flooding in. If Chef Buico could describe his marketplace and kitchen in Huntington Station in two words, it would be “grandma’s house.”