Members and friends of the Comitati delle Due Sicilie USA met up at Panzerotti Bites (235 Smith St.) in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn this week for an enjoyable evening of food and fellowship. Warmly welcomed by owners Vittoria and Pasquale, our hungry little troop settled in the cozy shop with open kitchen and patio seating, and perused the wide selection of panzerotti on the menu.

An Apulian specialty, panzerotti are deep-fried half-moon pockets of dough (similar to Neapolitan calzoni) made with semolina and traditionally stuffed with mozzarella, tomato sauce and oregano. However, at Panzerotti Bites the popular peasant dish has evolved into a delectable delicacy made with a wide assortment of gourmet ingredients, such as black truffles and baby octopus. Vittoria and Pasquale even make a couple of sweet versions with cocoa or coffee dough filled with Nutella or Oreo!