San Francisco has many different types of Italian cuisines. Perhaps you’ve gone for the Tuscan cuisine of Locanda or Ligurian pastas at Farina both in the heart of the “foodie hot spot,” the Mission district. I recommend venturing further north to the Marina and popping in for your fill of carbs at Ristobar. If you want to soak up a quick bite and a nice cocktail, snag a seat at in the bar area. You can’t go wrong with any of the pizzas; the crust is chewy and firm with the right amount of flavor. I suggest giving the Vesta a taste; ricotta, fennel sausage and wild arugula compliment each other without overwhelming your palate with one flavor. Don’t shy away from the sides either. Order the broccolini piccanti if you want to give your mouth a little kick, the heat is a good night ender.
New York always has Italian restaurants popping up, one more average than the next. That's why it's a breath of fresh air to dine at Tre Stelle, the new Italian restaurant located in the Flatiron District. This resto takes a departure from the norm with a classic, rich design, featuring Italian artwork by Andrea Rusin, modern oversized hanging lamps, and a unique slotted wooden garage door that separates the bar from the dining area and can be used to create a private event space. There is even outdoor dining available.
New York Magazine declared Salumè as having the “City’s Best Panini” but now diners have even more of an incentive to visit Salumè well after their lunch hours have passed. The new menu items stem from the collaboration of Salumè’s owner, Michael A. Spalding and Michelin-starred Chef Steven Hubbell from Chicago. Together Spalding and Chef Hubbell took Salumè's already delectable menu and created a “laboratory for Italian culinary innovation” through the new breakfast and all day menus.
There are plenty of reasons to envy Europeans and their relaxed lifestyle. During the month of August, Europe’s Summer Holiday, there is no better time to be envious of our friend’s across the pond. While offices are closed for the month, people get together with family and friends for midday meals because when there’s bonding and quality time spent together you know food will likely be involved. In Italy, a popular Summer Holiday pastime is packing up a picnic basket to the brim and heading out to the Amalfi coast or the Tuscan hillside.
Manga bene!
Acclaimed European chef Andrea Cobbe is making his US debut on the UWS of Manhattan. His new restaurant, Corvo Bianco, will feature contemporary Northern Italian eats, international spirits, handcrafted cocktails, and an elaborate wine and beer program.
There will be two bars at the restaurant, perfect for trying out tasty tipples and a skylight overhead so guests can get the feeling that they are dining under the stars.
The highly anticipated restaurant is slated to open in September for brunch, lunch, and dinner, along with a happy hour and late night lounge.
We can't wait to check it out!
Carlos Suarez of BOBO opened up Rosemary's in the West Village last Friday with executive chef Wade Moses (Eataly, Babbo). The restaurant, named for Suarez's mama, is inspired by her home in Lucca, Italy. The menu will feature produce from the rooftop farm, which was designed by Dekar to evoke an elegant Tuscan home. Seasonal Italian dishes from the menu include fresh pastas and a selection of focacce. Rosemary's will also offer take-out in the form of focacce, salads, panini, charcuterie, cheese, and roasted meats and the venue will be open for dinner, with breakfast, lunch, and take-out coming soon. The new joint features an impressive Italian wine list with 40 bottles, all priced at $40, as well as a reserve wine list and a broad selection of wines by the glass, including Prosecco on tap (awesome!).
Hump day can now be start of your weekend gastro-fest with Cecconi's launching their BMF Wednesday dinners tomorrow, June 6th. Located in the über chic Soho Beach House on South Beach, the garden-style Italian restaurant will be serving a weekly family-style prix fixe dinner reminiscent of the elaborate Italian suppers of a bygone era, when spending hours at the dinner table with friends and family was the norm. BMF stands for "Bring Me Food", and Executive Chef Sergio Sigala and Pastry Chef Oscar Bonelli are sure to bring plenty of food to the table with the ever-changing 4 course menu that will begin with a glass of prosecco with an assortment of cicchetti, the Italian answer to tapas. To follow will be a selection of two hearty pasta dishes served family-style, three entrées that will include a selection of signature pizzas, meats, and seafood, and a selection of three dolci (desserts) to share. The offerings will be different every week and will reflect the seasons, as well as local produce and seafood. If you're waiting for Miami Spice to kick off in August to get your dining deals, then Cecconi's BMF Wednesdays will be your foodie refuge until then. At $35 per person (everyone at the table must participate), these family dinners are a real steal!
Miami Beach’s prestigious AAA Five Star awarded Italian restaurant, Quattro Gastronomia Italiana, has headed south of the border. Quattro will be bringing northern Italian flavors to Mexico City with the opening of the brand new J. W. Marriott hotel in the Santa Fe district starting this month. Quattro, and the group behind its success in Maimi Beach, KNR Group, are committed to brining Mexico City “a magnificent ambiance that honors the essence of Italian gastronomy.”
As our good old friends from Cheers would say, sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name. At Luca Bella, a newly-opened Italian restaurant in Aventura, if they don’t know your name, they sure will get to know it.
As any family owned restaurant worth its salt would, the folks at Luca Bella do an incredible job of making you feel like part of the family. With more than 10 years of experience in the restaurant industry, owner Michael Maltese is brining Aventura some of the most delicious and authentic Italian food in South Florida. You can find Maltese front and center greeting patrons, engaging in conversation, serving food and speaking passionately about what they do. The restaurant, named after his son, Marcelo Luca and his daughter, Isabella, just recently opened in February, but it’s clear that these people are no noobs in the kitchen, as was evident the moment I walked in.