ITALY
Steve Forest and Nicola Fasano, the duo behind Pitbull’s smash hit, “I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)” are quite the production couple. The Italian pair with a Latin flair started creating music together at a young age and have succeeded both as solo artists and collaborators. Their resume includes managing their own record label and production company (Jolly Roger - Sound of Pirates); collecting ASCAP awards (the pair won Ascap Latin Award for ‘Best Urban Latin song’, Ascap Pop Award for ‘Best Pop song’ and an Ascap Rhythm & Soul Music Award for ‘Best R&B/Hip-Hop, Rap and Gospel Music song’ in 2009) and remixing the likes of Armin Van Buuren, Alex Guadino, Bob Sinclair, Eric Morillo and Roger Sanchez. On the production end they've worked with stars such as Chris Willis, Kat DeLuna and Pitbull and have collaborated with singers like Max C and Katherine Ellis.
That's right folks, Paprika, the northern Italy eatery in the East Village is taking half off bottles of vino, every Monday night, all night. Now instead of dreading Mondays, you can at least have something to look forward to once the work day is over! The concise but adventurous wine list features wines from all over Italy, with the majority from northern Italy, including Piedmont, Alto Adige, Friuli, Veneto, and Lombardy, with a special focus on Valtellina, where the chef and owner Egidio Donagrandi hails from. Regularly prices bottles are between $28 and $91. Talk about a deal! Get over those Monday blues and turn them into mad Mondays!
Most New Yorkers claim they know the best pizza joint in town. But tell your fave hub to move on over because recently opened PizzArte will surely give it a run for its money.
Step into this modern Italian resto unlike any other. Forget the red checkered table cloths, forget the dim lighting and noisy children -- this hot new spot is not clinging on to the same ol' Italian restaurant theme. Instead, owners Bruno Cilio and Dario Cipollaro de l'Ero (first time restaraunteurs) opted to decorate with mod tables and lights and walls covered in great Italian artwork (perfect, since it's situated just footsteps away from the MoMA). The artists that are currently being displayed there are Lello Esposito, Luciano Scateni, Giuseppe Falconi and Francesco Manes, all of whom are from Naples. The artwork will rotate every four to six months.
Carlos Sampietro, born in Lake Como, Italy, moved from the advertising industry to the arts. Don't worry about getting bored while looking at his collection, "The Street Is In The House," is truly unique. Sampietro's motto for the exhibit is "There is beauty in something that has been in the street for so long."
Pictured above, is one of Sampietro's police barrier tables. The artist wanted to bring something that is normally scary and used to separate people, and turn it into something that will bring people together. Many of his works use similar elements -- transforming an item from the street into something beautiful and something that makes a statement about society.
Snooki, the Situation, Pauly D and the rest of the tanned trainwrecks of the Jersey Shore are going to be replaced!
After wrapping up shooting for Season 4 in Italy - and is scheduled to premiere on MTV 08/04/11 - US Weekly reports the Guidos & Guidettes are getting ready to shoot their final season next month back in Seaside Heights, NJ.
Reason for the recasting? Perhaps the gang has gotten too classy after their adventures overseas...ha. By bringing in a new cast, the show would be much cheaper to produce.
The renowned Broadway has been famous for theatre, its inclusion in songs, Time’s Square and well, just being Broadway. Now it seems it has a whole new claim to fame with the opening of Eataly in the flatiron district. The 50,000 square foot (yes. fifty thousand!) market includes multiple eateries, each with a different focus and a surplus of Italian groceries, produce, and wines.
The architectural details alone are a marvel in their own right, but the inclusion of a fishmonger, a butcher, and an oyster bar really push this place over the top. Eataly seems to be similar in concept to the Chelsea market with the benefit of being new.
It can be a challenge to accomplish much, however, due to the sheer volume of people that hurtle through the doors every day (parallels have been drawn with the subway at rush hour.) Nevertheless Eataly is a great new place to grab lunch, a bottle of wine, or groceries!
In a city like L.A, where dozens of exotic foods dominate the restaurant genre, it’s not easy to find simplicity these days. But after us Angelenos satisfy our eccentric cravings of escargot and “pho,” we will never turn down the pure simple goodness of a piping hot pizza. One can try but you will never escape the great Pizza Craze.
If you’re a lover of Chicago style deep-dish pizza, no need to get on a plane to Michigan Ave. Look no further than Masa of Echo Park. This L.A. deep dish is comparable – if not better – than some deep dish I’ve tasted in Chicago. With it’s fine dining atmosphere of low lights and a fully stocked bar, Masa of Echo Parkwill hold its own to arguably be the best deep-dish place in So-Cal. Get their “Lots of Meat” pizza, it will satisfy any meat lover’s appetite.
Next on the list is a small pizza spot I discovered while visiting downtown L.A.’s monthly art walk. I found Pie Boy Pizzeria on 5th and Hill and was pleasantly surprised at their caliber of quality. Its modest restaurant space is modern and cozy with pop-rock music blaring on the speakers and the perfect hotspot for local teens. My favorite is their pepperoni pizza, rich with flavor and mouthwatering at every bite. Their scrumptious thin-crust pizza hails imported ingredients - sauce from Italy and bread from the east coast, proving that mileage doesn’t have to compromise superior taste. Pie Boy Pizzeria will stop at nothing to show west-coasters that our pizza can measure up to our east-coast neighbors.
Casa Bianca is another favorite amongst the locals of Eagle Rock. This popular spot has been around since 1955 and is the top pizza choice of the area. Their fan base is evident, as you drive by and see the long line of people waiting for tables or to-go orders. If you want it fast Casa Bianca won’t be your first choice. Everything is made fresh to order and they know their loyal customers will not be waiting in vain. Their sausage pizza is top on the menu with their famous garlic bread to compliment the savory sauce and succulent meat.
And to round up my top best is Mulberry Street Pizza located in Encino and Beverly Hills. A few New Yorkers I know say it’s the best New York Style pizza this side of the coast and I would not beg to differ. Their home-style vibe is the perfect compliment to the old-school pizza parlors of the day, paying homage to the simplistic goodness of a well-made delicious pizza. Their “White Pizza” and “Eggplant Parmesan” is top on the list and anyone not accustomed to eggplant on a pizza will be in for a delectable surprise.
If the pizza craze hasn’t taken a hold of you yet, just wait until you try one of these places and soon enough you’ll be one of us.
This is not the normal wine and cheese tasting. There will be no disposable tray of stale cheese with last week’s wine to wash it down. The Wine Connextion, located in North Andover, MA, has taken their new October campaign wine sampling to the next level with “S3” (Saturday Sampling Series).
First of all, the Wine Connextion wants their customers to be interactive in the store’s wine purchasing process. Now this is not something you can put on your resume but on sampling days, new wines will be presented and the customer’s feedback dictates what makes it on the shelf. What can you the customer look forward to during the Saturday Sampling Series? Try some of the newest wine on the market, the most incredible deals in the state and, because you shouldn’t drink on an empty stomach, guest will also sample some wonderful haute bites from restaurants such as Phat Cats Bistro, 15 Walnut, Glory Restaurant and past contender for The Next Food Network Star, Tom Grella.
The air has a cripsness to it inviting you to snuggle up on a picnic blanket after a hike or on the couch with a loved one after a hard day's work to the warmth and taste of a great glass or two of wine. The problem is that your wine cabinet still might be stocked for summer. You are in luck! Boston's Wine Week starts on Monday Sept. 20th and you will be able to taste some more varietals and vinos to expand your repertoire. Not only are there great events scheduled, but participating restaurants will be offering special Wine Week selections at $9/glass and $32/bottle.
62 Restaurant & Winebar is launching a 3-month-long, 3-Course Prefix menu for $28. Starting September 1st travel Europe in the dishes of Chef/Owner Antonio Bettencourt inspiration without leaving Salem, Massachusetts.
Each month will highlight a different European country with a focus on each of the regions in each country selected. In September travel to Spain and the regions of Barcelona, Madrid, Basque and Sevilla. Our next stop in October is Italy. Fall in amore with the cities of Venice, Lombardy – Milan, Tuscany and Piedmont. In November it is off to France and the places of Bordeaux, Alsace, lle-de-France (Paris) and Burgundy.
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