The Men Who Dine meet the FoodFellas
The Men Who Dine with Joe Gannascoli, co-star of “Dinner with the FoodFellas”
This weekend we were invited up to Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in Pennsylvania for an event that celebrated the release of “Dinner with the FoodFellas” on www.EatItalian.com. “Dinner with the FoodFellas” is a new series that features Tony Darrow, Vinny Pastore and Joe Gannascoli. These three actors are known for their wise guy portrayals on both the big and small screens. On “Dinner with the FoodFellas, these three go out to restaurants with their celebrity friends and talk food and shop while they eat their meal. The first episode was actually filmed in Rao’s, a restaurant in East Harlem that’s next to impossible to acquire a reservation. I’m definitely looking forward to more of these episodes.
Social Media & Dinner at Colicchio & Sons!! Continue reading for the connection!!
Roasted Bone Marrow with Salsa Verde & Boquerones
Whoever believes that social media has no power or is a bunch of mumbo jumbo has never really used these tools properly. Now you might be saying to yourself, “What do a food/dining blog have to do with the power of social media?” And my answer is, “It has everything to do with it!”
VIP Opening Party at Don Antonio by Starita
Don Antonio by Starita
309 West 50th Street
New York, NY
Phone: (212) 265-3179
www.DonAntonioPizza.com
Last Monday morning, February 6, 2012, I woke up with the anticipation of a child on Christmas morning. I knew that within a matter of hours, I would be walking into Don Antonio by Starita, NYC’s highly anticipated and newest Neapolitan pizzeria. The pizzeria was the confluence of teacher and student that started years before in a pizzeria in Naples, Italy. The teacher, none other than master pizzaiolo Antonio Starita of Naples’ famed Starita a Materdei, and the student, Roberto Caporuscio (a master pizzaiolo in his own right) of Kesté Pizza e Vino in NYC joined forces to bring a small, but authentic piece of Naples to the heart of NYC’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood.
Teacher & Student: Two Master Pizzaioli Antonio Starita (r) & Roberto Caporuscio (l)
Vecchia Cantina di Montepulciano Wine Tasting and Luncheon at the Leopard at des Artistes
Some of the Vecchia Cantina di Montepulciano wines sampled
On Monday afternoon, February 6, Gennaro, Charles Scicolone (wine expert), Ryan Imbriale (our friend and wine importer) and I had the privilege of attending a Vecchia Cantina di Montepulciano wine tasting and luncheon at one of NYC’s finest Italian restaurants, The Leopard at des Artistes. Upon entering the Leopard, we were greeted by Gianfranco Sorrentino, the owner and gracious host of the restaurant. He invited us to the bar, where we enjoyed a refreshing white wine produced by Cantina del Redi. The wine was Toscana Bianco I.G.T. “Riccio”. It was bright, crisp and refreshing. It really helped to awaken the taste buds.
A glass of Cantina del Redi Toscana Bianco I.G.T. “Riccio”
Alan Watts
I am Alan Watts, one of the Men Who Dine.
I have been passionate about food, travel and lifestyle for my entire life. I look forward to sharing our culinary adventures with you.
My best,
Alan
Anthony “Tony Mangia” Scillia
Ciao,
My name is Anthony Scillia, but everyone calls me Tony Mangia. I am one of the Men Who Dine. I also do some of the writing here. My true passion is all things Italian. I am a proud Italian-American. Besides Italian food, I love experimenting with different cuisines of the world whether I’m eating out or cooking for family and friends.
Living to eat,
Anthony “Tony Mangia” Scillia
Making tasty lemonade from Restaurant Week lemons at Nuela in the Flatiron!
Charred Octopus And Squid Causa (Aji Amarillo Potato Puree, Olives & Avocado)
I’ve come to the conclusion that Restaurant Week in New York City is truly hit or miss. The fundamental thinking behind Restaurant Week is solid and well thought out. However, the problem becomes blatantly apparent in the execution. With this being said, the old, clichéd saying “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade” became our sage belief.
Restaurant Week Dinner at David Burke Kitchen
David Burke Kitchen
23 Grand Street
New York, NY 10013
(212) 201-9119
http://www.davidburkekitchen.com/
We enjoyed our first NYC Winter Restaurant Week dinner at David Burke Kitchen on Grand Street in SoHo in the beautiful James Hotel. The overall experience was truly exceptional. Chef David Burke is a master of his craft. I am remiss in admitting that this was my first experience at a Burke restaurant.
Katz’s Famous Delicatessen: At the Altar of Pastrami
Katz’s Famous Delicatessen
205 East Houston Street (corner of Ludlow St)
New York City
There’s something special about walking into an old-school NYC Jewish deli, especially Katz’s on the Lower East Side. I don’t know if it’s the ticket you get when you enter the door; the bright, fluorescent lights; or the wonderful aromas of pastrami, corned beef, knishes, and pickles. It’s not the most romantic place, but I guess Harry did meet Sally there or something like that.
Bold Organics Pizza Launch Party
The Men Who Dine were invited for a private launch party for BOLD Organics, a new line of delicious, high-quality frozen pizza that is gluten- and dairy-free, with 85% of the ingredients certified organic. The event was held in a beautiful loft in the Bowery section of NYC.
One might anticipate that a frozen pizza, epically one that is basically free of all potential allergens, would be horrible. That was not the case with BOLD Organics! We were amazed on just how delicious this product was and everyone at this party felt the same. For pizza lovers like us to enjoy a frozen product is pretty amazing, but we did.
The chef behind these pizzas is St. Louis renowned chef, Eric Brenner (voted “Chef of The Year St. Louis 2008”). When you put a passionate and very talented chef at the helm of an innovative company and product, you are starting in the right direction. Bold Organics offers four varieties of pizza—Vegan Cheese Pizza, Veggie Lovers Pizza (chock full of seasonal vegetables such as organic smoky roasted peppers, organic sweet roasted onions and woody shiitake mushrooms), Meat Lovers Pizza (a carnivore’s delight that is loaded with an abundance of spicy uncured pepperoni & sausage), and Deluxe Pizza (an “everything” pie that includes organic smoky roasted peppers, organic sweet roasted onions, woody shiitake mushrooms, spicy uncured pepperoni & sausage). BOLD Organics scours farms throughout the country for the perfect flavor profiles with optimum health benefits. The pizzas are casein-free, egg-free, peanut-free and tree nut-free and contain no GMOs, preservatives, nitrites, nitrates or trans-fats. The all-natural crust crunches with a texture achieved from a carefully conceived mixture of organic baking ingredients.
Look for Bold Organics in stores in the coming months and give it a try!
Men Who Dine
