Noi Due Cafe: A Manhattan Staple That’s Here to Stay
Every once and a while you walk into a restaurant and are hit with an immediate vibe. As a person who walks into many restaurants, I’ve encountered many such vibes. Sometimes it’s a sophisticated one, a casual one, or maybe even a homely one. But when I was invited to Noi Due Cafe I was hit by an inherent impression that the crowd was having fun. E...
Popular Italian bakery reopens in new location in Rochester. Take a peek inside
An Italian bakery that in late 2022 was forced to close because it was drawing too many customers has a new home. And customers have been returning in droves. Forno Tony, formerly and very briefly located in a small plaza at East Avenue and Winton Road, reopened Dec. 30 at 1350 University Ave. Despite the year-long absence, demand remains high for...
The Best Italian Market You Haven’t Heard Of
Anthony Bourdain had a great line for writing about foods he greatly admired but was trying on the fly. “I am hardly an expert on this subject,” he would say of Hanoi pho or Manila sisig. “Merely an enthusiast.” I have similar feelings about arancini. I didn’t grow up eating fried rice balls, but since moving here, I don’t think I’ve successfully r...
Did You Know America's Third Oldest Pizzeria Is in Central New York?
New York isn't just home to the oldest pizzeria in America. The nation's third-oldest pizza place is operating right here in Utica. Pizza HistoryWhat year was pizza introduced to Americans? Reports say Italian immigrants first brought it to the Americas in the late 19th century. Soon, the food grew in popularity and the first pizzeria, Lombardi's,...
The story of Faccia Brutto, the Italian bitter that is a hit in the United States but unknown in Italy
What do writer Charles Bukowski, Italy, bitter, arugula, and Brooklyn have in common? Apparently nothing, yet there is an Italian-speaking common thread. In Brooklyn, there is constant talk of Italian bitters, thanks to Faccia Brutto, an all-American brand that produces Italian spirits. The idea belongs to an American chef, Patrick Miller, who for...
Spettro: The New Italian Gastropub Captivating the Hudson Valley
With a name that echoes through the Hudson Valley, Spettro is carving out a niche for itself in the bustling food scene of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County. This newly opened Italian gastropub is elevating the dining experience with its unique menu and cozy ambiance. Nestled at 44 Lagrange Ave, Spettro is more than just another pizza place—it’s a test...
The Touristy Times Square Restaurant That Every New Yorker Needs To Check Out
Let’s face it: most restaurants located in Times Square are usually tourist traps with overpriced, mediocre food, especially “red sauce” Italian joints. Diehard New Yorkers— me among them—typically avoid dining in the area at all costs and gravitate to other hip local spots instead. Tony’s Di Napoli changed my perception. Located in the epicenter o...
Ghirardelli to open its first-ever NYC store
The world-famous Empire State Building is landing a sweet new retail tenant. Ghirardelli Chocolate Company will make its New York City debut, opening a 2,758-sq.-ft. retail space on the base level of the Manhattan landmark. The famed chocolatier will join the building's other food and beverage retailers, including Chipotle, Chopt, Juice Press, Taco...
Fresh Pasta Comes to Village of Haverstraw
A culinary revival is stirring, reminiscent of the nostalgic Prince spaghetti days of Boston’s past. The village now celebrates its own version of pasta day, not just on Wednesdays but every day, thanks to the opening of Flours, a fresh pasta haven that has quickly captivated the locals. Flours Pasta & Bakeshop is not just a pasta shop; it’s a comm...
Fairfield's Il Pellicano Italian restaurant to open New York City spot
A little more than a year after it opened, Fairfield's Il Pellicano is ready to expand. The Italian restaurant will soon be the latest Connecticut restaurant opening a New York City location, according to a news release. Owner Massimo Tabacco said that the new location at 149 Mulberry St., in Manhattan's Little Italy neighborhood, will have a very...
Italian Food as a Muse with Andrew Cotto
An Evening with Andrew Cotto: Italian Food as a Muse. Thursday, January 25, 2024. 6:00PM Reception | 6:30PM Talk. Columbuis Citizens Foundation - 8 East 69th Street, New York, NY 10021 | $35. RSVP here. Andrew's love of Italian cuisine ignited his prolific writing career, inspiring seven novels, more than 500 articles, and regular contributions to...
A unique Italian specialty market opened in the West Village—and it doesn't serve any meat
A beautiful new market selling all sorts of locally-sourced goods has just opened in the West Village at 457 6th Avenue by West 11th Street. Travelers, Poets and Friends—a concept by the same folks behind Italian restaurants Alice and Osteria57 and nextdoor gelateria Pamina—is also home to a bakery, an espresso bar, a pasta factory and a wine bar....