Popular Food Network Star Launches Take-Out Only NY Restaurant
“Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Kitchen” in Colonie, just outside Albany, opened on Thursday, Feb. 25. Flavortown is uniquely fit for service during a pandemic. It will be take-out only and chefs will operate out of a “ghost kitchen.” A ghost kitchen is when a business operates out of an existing restaurant. The upstate location marks the host of “Diners,...
At the Table: Schenectady’s La Gioia deli serving up much more than subs
I went to La Gioia to pick up subs and came home with a grocery bag filled with meals for several days. Here’s what happened. La Gioia Italian Deli, on Van Vranken Avenue in the Goose Hill neighborhood of Schenectady, is a gem. Woman-owned by Anna DiCocco and Modesto DiCarlo, and opened in 1989, it has everything you’d want in an Italian deli. Ther...
Bobby Hellen Brings His Pizza-Making Prowess Back To New York City
“It feels great to be in front of an oven making pizza again,” says Bobby Hellen, the chef and pizzaiolo behind Black Seed Pizza, which opened in New York City’s East Village earlier this month. New Yorkers are glad to have Bobby Hellen back too. He closed down his pizza-centric restaurant GG’s, also in the East Village, in 2017, leaving a grandma...
An Ode To The Amalfi Coast Thrives On The Upper East Side
It’s no secret that New York is home to hundreds- maybe even thousands- of Italian restaurants. Some are memorable. Some are overpriced and forgettable. Others still are solid bets with reliable food that are frequented by loyal regulars. Then, there’s Sistina. Simply put, this Upper East Side stunner is quite possibly the most exceptional and tra...
The best pizza in NYC can’t be bought — here’s how to get it
With a crust that leavens for 96 hours, flour imported from Italy and a distinctive rectangular shape, this pizza is a cut above what’s available at your local slice joint. But you can’t get a reservation to try it — or even order a pie for takeout. NYC’s most exclusive, sought-after pies are only available via barter. Hopefuls trying to score a sm...
Long Island Italian Eatery Gets Rave Reviews For Fresh Ingredients, 'Crunchy' Pizza, Service
Fratelli’s serves some unique pizza pies - even by Long Island standards - that have attracted a loyal fan base. Located on Main Street in Stony Brook, Fratelli’s is a deli and pizzeria that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The menu is extensive and features items such as pizzas topped with Chicken Marsala or Eggplant Rollatini. The Brooklyn pi...
Italians slam tomato carbonara recipe in New York Times
A recipe inviting people to add cherry tomatoes to carbonara has caused an outcry, particularly among Italians, after it was published in The New York Times. The newspaper's cooking contributor Kay Chun suggested that tomatoes would “lend a bright tang" to the classic dish, a staple of Italian cuisine. The backlash on social media was instant and s...
Chef Jonathan Benno: 5 Italian Dishes That Influenced My Career
Jonathan Benno is an American chef of the highest pedigree. He trained at the Culinary Institute of America and went on to be mentored by living legends (Thomas Keller, Tom Colicchio, Daniel Boulud, to name just a few) in some of the United States’ most celebrated kitchens (The French Laundry, Per Se, Gramercy Tavern, Daniel, Craft) before moving o...
Hell's Kitchen: Everything To Know About Head Chef Marino Monferrato
Marino Monferrato is the Maître d'hôtel on Fox's Hell's Kitchen. He has served as the Restaurant Director for the last six seasons and is currently featured on Season 19. Here's everything you need to know about the Italian native. Before Marino joined the cast of Hell's Kitchen, he worked in numerous restaurants as the general manager, restaurant...
How Chef Marc Forgione Became a Sourdough Pizza Convert
Like everyone else during the early lockdown periods last spring, Chef Marc Forgione began experimenting with sourdough starter. He had taken over the Italian restaurant Peasant in Manhattan’s Nolita neighborhood from Frank DeCarlo in February 2020, so he’d only had a short time in the kitchen before they had to shut down mid-March. He’d already be...
The best Italian restaurants on Long Island
Long Island has no shortage of Italian restaurants. Whether you're craving classic lasagna or more nuanced regional specialties, here are the standout eateries to consider. Cafe Testarossa (499 Jericho Tpke., Syosset): Still going strong at 33 years old, Billy Sansone’s modern Italian is the very model of a chef-driven restaurant. Where other tratt...
Wine Made Easy and Everything Else Made Slightly More Complicated with Special Guest Gianluca Rottura
Wine is one of the oldest and most familiar pleasures on earth, but this potent potion still has the power to intimidate even her most ardent admirers! Fear not, there is an Italian American coming to the rescue to return the joys of understanding wine to the masses! Gianluca Rottura, the proprietor of “In Vino Veritas,” New York City’s landmark w...