The Future of Protein Dinner

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.

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! 🥂🍝

The Blind Pig Supper Club has been doing it since 2011. Doing what requires more words than I have available right now. These pictures encapsulate their mission and events. What we love is that they share our same ethos. The idea of meeting new people and becoming friends is tied into everyone of their erratically themed evenings.

The chefs and owners at Olmstead and Maison Yaki have graciously set up a fundraiser dinner to support a woman’s right to choose. Along with Greg and team they’ve invited some of their best chef friends to participate in making the Yellowhammer Fund charity meal extra delicious. There are two seatings and we think these tickets will go fast. A seat gets you all the food and drink you can consume plus a whole lot of feel good for your donation. Plus, you get to hang in a restaurant filled with a like-minded community all night. June 24th in Brooklyn at 5pm and 7:30pm seatings.