Bon Appétit Hot Ten Party

It was more than a decade ago when we had our first Locanda vini e olii meal. An old drugstore, with walls lined with nostalgic pharmacy bottles, converted into a neighborhood restaurant has always instantly made us feel like we just showed up at our uncle’s house on Sunday. To combat the pandemic and winter in a dining ban they have converted the restaurant in a direction back towards the drugstore providing meals and provisions. This new alimentari offering highlights their fantastic ingredient list including their famed (at least in our house) olive oil. My mom can’t get enough of it. The menu is all available for order out so you can indulge in their best in-house dishes like their pappardelle with wild boar OR alici e burro (Sicilian anchovies). For us the Italian Marketplace is where it’s at. Stocking up on delectables like house made pasta, limoncello or their Italian breakfast in a box. If you are looking for a first move because you’re overwhelmed with choice as we were when we hit the site, start with the Meal-Kit. Each week a new offering includes a selection across three courses of tasty. By example, this week choose between Fettunta or Tuscan Lentil Soup to start. Follow that with Broccolini Pesto Gnocchi or Polenta (or Pappardelle) ai Funghi, a tough choice. Round that out by picking a winner in the Pork Shank vs Baby Octopus “Inzimino” bout. We’d go octopus. It’s a game-changer. Next week the options change so you can enjoy it all again. As my grandfather used to say, “a scarpetta” which signifies soping up sauce with a piece of bread to savor every last bit on your plate. We recommend the same theory applied to both the Loncada menu and marketplace.

Dinner, food science, your favorite chefs and helping kids. We should end this post right there. There won’t be a better sentence than that in the rest of this post. Despite that not even being a full sentence, we’ll fill you in a bit more. Jeff Salaway was one of the founders of Hayground school and he passed in 2001. His friends and family carried on his mission which is best summed up in the following quote. Jeff believed, “The growing, preparation and sharing of food is a primal human experience and the foundation of family and community.” Sounds a lot like what we’re always talking up. No wonder we were enamored by this event and the work the Hayground School is doing with kids. Although a seat at Hayground Chef’s Dinner is a steep one, it couldn’t benefit a more important cause. Teach a kid to fish Jesus once said. Or, was that Tom Colicchio? Either way, invaluable skills. Sunday, July 31st at 6pm in Southhold, New York.

If you’ve been following, it’s definely been the year of Red Sauce Joints, my name for Classic Italian-American restaurants across my beloved USA. I was in a lot of cities in 2023 and hit some real oldies but goodies as the saying goes. 🇮🇹🤌🍝 Ah, but you saw this post coming, didn’t you? The year 2023 was all about diving deep into the glorious world of red sauce joints. I’ve reveled in a plethora of pasta-filled adventures, and many of you have been hitting me up with the burning question, “What’s the deal with all this red sauce joint action?” My responses might have been vague in the past, but fear not, for 2024 holds the key to all your saucy inquiries. Now, let me address the elephant in the room – we haven’t even scratched the surface yet. New Orleans and Chicago are on the horizon, and we’re not forgetting about the iconic red sauce scenes in Jersey and Long Island. Buckle up, my foodie friends, for the sauciness is about to reach new heights.

The best of 2023

As we bid adieu to 2023 and usher in the New Year with a bang, let’s take a moment to savor the flavors, reminisce about the red sauce goodness, and share a laugh or two over the memories we’ve created together. It’s been a year of culinary exploration, and I’ve been your humble guide through the tangled streets of saucy delights. Picture this, plates stacked high with twirling spaghetti, drenched in that rich, velvety red sauce that dances on your taste buds. Each bite is a symphony of flavors, a celebration of tradition, and a nod to the culinary wonders crafted in the heart of Italian restaurant kitchens.

@mistertasty . #classicitalian #top5 #bucketlisttravel #italianamericanclub #eatthisnow ♬ Stompin At The Savoy – Benny Goodman

Red Sauce America in 2024

Now, I know many of you have been wondering, “What’s next?” Well, my fellow sauce enthusiasts, the answer is on the horizon. 2024 is the year we take this red sauce journey to new heights. More joints will be added to the map, more stories to be told, and more flavors to be explored. And, that map is going to get a lot prettier and more details. so pretty you may want one hanging on your wall or rocking it on a Tee. So, what’s in store for the upcoming year? Brace yourselves for a saucy adventure like never before. The cities of New Orleans and Chicago are calling, promising a rendezvous with red sauce magic that will leave us yearning for more. And let’s not forget the hidden gems of Jersey and Long Island, where the red sauce legacy continues to thrive.

As the clock strikes midnight and we raise our glasses to toast to the New Year, remember the moments we’ve shared and the flavors that have defined our culinary escapades. The journey is far from over, Forkers. So, as we embark on this exciting new chapter, I’ll catch all of you at the restaurant – where the laughter is loud, the pasta is plentiful, and the red sauce flows like a river of liquid gold.

Here’s to a saucy 2024! 🥂🍝

Walking around Arthur Avenue feels a little like a throwback to the days of my grandfather. Just off the boat from Italy, adapting to the “new” city by finding ways to make mozzarella and salami in these new urban conditions. We walk the shops and visit Mike’s Deli at least every quarter year BUT we rarely have more than our Italian roots to tell us the story of the streets we stroll. We wish we had Bronx resident and food aficionado with us on our visits. The 92st. Y’s Arthur Avenue Food Tour grants that wish. Susan will accompany you to her favorite spots while explaining some history of the neighborhood, Italian-American immigration and the food production. Saturday, June 18 @ 11am – 1:30pm. Meeting spot TBA.