ARTICHOKE PIZZA COUSINS To TV

The Pizza Empire Cousins (Cujinos) from Staten Island, New York getting a TV Show. Sal Basile and Fran Garcia of the wildly successful Artichoke Basile Pizza are the latest culinary guys to get their own show. Unlike many of the awful host of most of the Horrible Food Network, these guys have actually made something and are culinary professionals . They have a couple Pizzerias called Artichoke Basile Pizza. They opened Artichoke Basile Pizza on East 14th Street which was a huge instant success. Almost from day one, people have been lining up for the cousins Sal & Frans Pizza, and I do mean line-up literally, and day and night. Many celebs including Keith Richards, Gerad Butler, and Jim Carey are big fans of their Pizza. These guys work hard and put out a good product and the people love them. They have also opened a great sandwich shop that sells Pastrami and Roast Beef Sandwiches. Awesome!

Now the boys are getting their own TV Show on The Cooking Channel called Pizza Cuz. Sal and Fran will be traveling the country, checking out Pizzerias in Portland Oregon, Brooklyn (Pizza Capital of America), and Oakland, California and other spots around the country. Sounds like a great concept, as these guys know food, especially Pizza, they have personality, and passion, and this should be a winning combination on TV as it is in Fran and Sals establishments. We wish them well and are looking forward to the first episode. Buona Fortuna Sal and Fran.

GAEL GREENE GOES TO THE WRONG CARBONE

CARBONE

by BELLINO

GET The Tee SHIRT

THE WRONG CARBONE !!!

OR IS IT THE RIGHT ONE?

CARBONE RESTORANTE 38th STREET

HELLS KITCHEN, NEW YORK

 

 

 

GAEL GREEN GOES TO WRONG CARBONE !!! 

The CARBONE BEFORE CARBONE !!!

 

 

 

 

The Carbone Before Carbone? What? There has been quite a bit of confusion of late in the New York and New York Italian Restaurant World ... The confusion is of Carbone and Carbone, Carbone Restorante of 38th Street in New York's Hells Kitchen and Carbone, thee "Carbone" of 181 Thompson Street in Greenwich Village ... As of this moment, Saturday March 30, 2013 thee # 1 Hottest Restaurant in Town, the restaurant of-the-moment and the one who is making all kind of noise in the Press, on the Internet and other media outlets is the Carbone on Thompson Street in the old "Rocco's Restaurant Space" in Greenwich Village, which that right there has caused quite a lot of commotion. The fat that the so-called Torrisi Boys took over the old and beloved Old-School New York Italian Red-Sauce Joint "Rocco's" has caused quite a stir.

 

For those of you who might not know, "The Torrisi Boys" are the team of Rich Torrisi, Mario Carbone, and Jeff Zalaznich, with Zalaznick the so-called "Money Man" and Carbone and Torrisi the Restaurant Guys and Chefs. This team exploded onto the scene about three years ago with their first place Torrisi Italian Specialties on Mulberry Street. The Guys had a great idea and concept. Torrisi Italian Specialties was a small place that barely sat about 30 people, I beleive. It was operated as a sort-of Italian-Deli during the day, selling mostly; Chicken Parm Sandwiches, Meatball Parms, and there famous Fresh Roast Turkey Sandwiches and other sandwiches, along with a couple soups and a few pastas. In the evening the place operated as a restaurant with one option a Five-Course Set Menu for $55 ... Both the lunch (daytime) and Dinner as the 5 Course Meal were excellent. Torrisi Italian Specialties quickly became a immediate and huge success as well as the two Co/Chef Owners Mario Carbone and Rich Torrisi became huge as Chef Personalities and media-darlings. Yes Torrisi was a great success and it was less than a year and a half when this team opened a second place next door, called "Parm" which served at both lunch and dinner the kind of food the original Torrisi Italian Specialties served just for lunch, Italian and Italian-American Classic, with a Chinese Ribs thrown in as a a quirky special. Once the opened the 2nd place Parm next door, they turned their first place Torrisi Italian Specialties into set menu dinner only restaurant with no more Lunch Time Italian Deli, that was Parm next door.

 

OK, move forward a couple years. The much loved Red-Sauce Classic Rocco's Restorante on Thompson Street is losing their lease. The landlord as in so many sad New York "Greedy Lanlord" stories jacks-up Rocco's Rent to a point where they can not afford to stay in business. Rocco's had been doing good business, but not gang-busters and not enough to support the huge rent increase, they lose their lease. In move The Torrisi Boys, Mario Carbone, Rich Torrisi, and Jeff Zalaznick. They sign a lease, and plan on opening what they call a 1950's Downtown New York Old School Italian Restaurant. They renovate the old Rocco's leaving the great old neon sign and superimposing in Neon Letters "Carbone," some locals, any of whom are hard-core old-school Italians from the neighborhood "Don't Like It." There's much action and talk on the internet on food and restaurant sites like, Grub Street, Eater, Chowhound and such. The talk on Carbone is both positive and negative.

 

Carbone opens to much fanfare in mid March 2013 to mixed reviews and comments on Eater, Chowhound and such. Carbone becomes the hottest ticket in town restaurant-wise. Many want to eat there and check it out. Tables are hard to come by, now the confusion. It seems as though "Carbone" is not the only Carbone in town? There's another one, and it's in midtown on 38th Street in Hells Kitchen, New York. It's own by an Italain from Italy, who has never head of Mario Carbone the Chef/Owner who the Greenwich Village restaurant Carbone is named after. Some people trying to get reservations and don't know any better, go on Open Table or call up the Hells Kitchen Carbone and get a reservation, "No Problem." But they get a reservation for a table at the wrong Carbone, not the one they were intending. Even the famed long time New York City restaurant critic Gael Greene made this mistake. So what's a person to do?

 

GAEL GREEN MAKES A MISTAKE at Carbone

 

GAEL GREENE'S TWITTER TWEET  @GaelGreene

Spent 20 minutes at wrong Carbone lasngt.Finally grumpy owner there gave me address of THE Essential new Carbone, Missed seeing TonyBennett.

 

 

EATER Guest Comments about Gael Greene 

at "Wrong" Carbone: 

  

 

GUEST Comment 1 :  She probably would have had a better dinner if she stayed at her first stop.

 

GUEST Comment 2 :  Step 1:   Go to Hell's Kitchen Carbone.

                                      Step 2:   Create a Yelp account.

                                      Step 3:   Review Old Carbone and Post to New CARBONE.

 

GUEST Comment 3 :   Perhaps she went to all the wrong restaurants? 

                                      That would mean that all her Reviews are Wrong!?

 

GUEST Comment 4 :   DUMBASS !!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The INFAMOUS CARBONE SIGN !!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The RIGHT CARBONE !

or IS IT WRONG?

SUNDAY SAUCE

alla PACINO

alla BELLINO

AMAZON.com

GREENWICH VILLAGE ITALIAN

CARBONE - T-SHIRT

 

 

 

BEST BANH MI SANDWICH In NEW YORK

The Banh Mi in America. It's one of the hottest sandwiches in New York, I guess in places like Los Angeles, San Fransisco, Seattle, Boston, and Portland, Or. Well they are big in New York. There are Bahn Mi shops all over the city, but after trying a few, of which some are grossly overpriced. Why would I pay $8.50 for one when I can get the "Best" at Saigon on Broome Street in Chinatown. I just won't do it. It's absurd.

OK, the recent article in the New York Times, on "The Banh Mi Sandwich in America" was pretty good, except for one "Huge Mistake. Jordan Michellman states that a Banh Mi always begins with a Baguette and dressed with an Aioli spread infused with pork, garlic and fish sauce. Here is the quote, "They all begin with a whole baguette, preferably baked in-house and dressed with an aioli spread infused with pork, garlic and fish sauce. These ingredients then hold a wide variety of fillings: barbecue pork, fried tofu and thick-sliced ham are the most common options, along with pork pâté, grilled chicken, meatballs, sauteed vegetables and, occasionally, whole sardines." End quote.

Wrong Jordan. Yes they all do begin with a Baguette, but not the Aioli as you state. I've eaten Banh Mi in a number of places in Vietanm, in New York, in Washington D.C., and Montreal and never had Aioli on them. That's an American thing. Anyway, just wanted to set the record straight for the people. Aioli is an American thing. Yes the Banh Mi is a mixture of French and Vietnamese cuisines coming together, but the French contributions ends with the Baguette and sometimes pork pate.

One of the very important things that Jordan stated, was that you should never pay more than $6.00 for one. I couldn't agree more. But living in new York, where I can get the Best Banh mi in town for $4.50 at Saigon on Broome Street in Chinatown, I'd go one step further in saying, I won't pay more than $4.50 for a Banh Mi. Not until Saigon raises their prices that is.

DBZ

THE BEST BANH MI in NEW YORK

ALSO THE # 1 BEST SANDWICH DOLLAR-for-DOLLAR

In NEW YORK

SAIGON, BROOME STREET, CHINATOWN, NEW YORK

CARBONE THE GOOD THE BAD And THE UGLY

THE GOOD


1)   These Guys are Accomplished Cooks and have done good things as
       far as Italian Restaurants and Italian Food is concerned.

2)    Good intentions, by the team at Carbone.

3)    Nice Decor.

4)    It's in Greenwich Village.

5)    Many Good comments on; Eater, Chowhound, Foursquare, Yelp, and ...

 

Some Good Comments Made on Foursquare, Yelp, and Twitter



RUTH REICHEL  TWITTER TWEET     @ruthreichL  on TWITTER
Dinner tonight:Carbone. Perfectly cast. The past on a plate. Great soundtrack.
To eat? Baked clams.Truffled carpaccio. Zuppa di pesce.

FRANK BRUNI  Tweet  @FrankBruni
Smashing dinner at NYC's new Carbone. If u go don't miss caesar salad, carpaccio w/black truffles, spicy rigatoni vodka, cheesecake. f u go don't miss caesar salad, carpaccio w/black truffles, spicy rigatoni vodka, cheesecake." 

Mathew W. on FOURSQUARE
The Veal Parm is out of this World!

George K. YELP
Incredible! My wife and I went there last night and had the best meal we've had in a long time. The T Bone steak is amazing!!!!! 
The Bow Tie pasta with lobster is one of a kind. Great atmosphere and staff!



THE BAD


1)    $87.00 For Lobster Fra D'Avlo Special
2)    What some deem insanely Over-Priced Specials and some Menu Items.
3)    $50.00 for Veal Parmigiano "VP" aka Veal Parm
4)    Zac Posen Unifroms
5)    Many Bad comments on Eater, Chowhound, Foursquare, Yelp, and ...
6)    Slammed by Two Italian Grandmothers on Grub Street
7)   $52.00 for Veal Marsala



THE UGLY

1)    Zac Posen Uniforms

2)     $45.oo Per Person for Hot Antipasto    

 3)    The took over the Old Rocco's space and many long-time Rocco's fans
        (and Local Italian Residents) are  outraged that they did, and that they
         are using Rocco's old sign and have Carbone superimposed over
         the old Rocco's sign with a big "Neon Carbone"

4)      Some followers on Eater, Yelp, Foursqure, etc., are getting downright
          nasty with their comments of Carbone the Restaurant and as many call
          them "The Torrisi Boys" meaning Mario Carbone, rich Torrisi, and
          Jeff Zalaznick


Guest Commentor on EATER "Cynical Criminal"

says, "These sc#mbags should cease and desist from using Rocco's imagery on
their website and TAKE DOWN IMMEDIATELY The SIGN of The FAMILY from whom they 
stole the restaurant from after 100 years."

CARBONE SLAMMED by GRUB STREET READERS And TWO ITALIAN GRANDMOTHERS

Carbone gets mixed reviews from Hugh Merwin, Grub Street and a coupled Italian Grandmothers ... Wow, that's a new tactic. And as the fourth-wheel in the equation Christopher Bonanos stated,"The Ladies Dined, then Took The Place Out."  Well sort of. Overall it seemed as though these two Grandmothers weren't that crazy about Carbone, but did not totally trash it, as many readers have, and the internet is filled with both disdain and adulation for the team of Carbone and Torrisi, depending on who you talk to. Some love and adore these guys and what they do, while many have nothing but disdain for them, as most of the readers comments bare out in the Grub Street piece "Night of Nonnas" Two Italian Grandmothers Review Carbone." The readers comments are pretty negative as concerns Carbone, with people complaining about the

 "HIGH-PRICED VEAL PARM at $52.00"  One comment said, "Go to Dominicks on Arthur Avenue," another said "Carbone was a big dissapointment," One person Dittoed that, while another reader said, "If you want great Old-School Italian Food (the kind Carbone is said to be aiming at)  At Reasonable Prices, Go to Monte's around the block on Macdougal Street."

Well, it seems to me, if you are trying to evoke a great ol Old-School New York Italian Restaurant of 1950's as these guys have promoted as thier Mission Statement, "You Don't Charge $52.00 for Veal Parmigiano,  $52.00  for Veal Marsala, nor $33.00 for Chicken Scarpariello." 

"It's Chicken fellas!"

Well the two Italian grandmothers Fran and Annebeth didn't like the Ravioli al Caruso, Annebeth said it tasted like a Chicken Liver Pierogi. They liked the Caesar Salad, and the Cheese "Parmigiano Reggiano" which they said was the best thing. They liked the Black Bowties with Lobster . The ladies said they liked the decor, but overall did not like the food, and siad that's what you want most in a good meal, good food.

 So it looks as though Carbone and Torrisi have some hurdles to overcome and time will tell if they do. Their first two restaurants have both been going with major success and most people love them, though it seems as though Carbone is not off to the flying start that Torrisi Italian Specialties and "Parm." have both seen, I for one wish these guys good look, and I think they'll make it. But I do think they do have to get real with the prices, and forget about $52 and  $33 Chicken dishes. That is, if Carbone and Torrisi want "Carbone" to be as they say, an Old-School 1950's style Downtown new York Italian Restaurant and not Expensive-Luxury like Cipriani, 

Del Posto, or that over-rated rip-off joint IL Mulino.

                Vincent Motta

SOPHIA LOREN MAKING PIZZA

Sophia Loren tries her hand at making Pizza. Brava Sophia "Sophia Bella"

SOPHIA LOREN

in A Scene From 

"IT STARTED IN NAPLES"

STARRING LOREN With CLARKE GABLE

Here LOREN SINGS  In a Night Club in CAPRI

"Tu Vuo Fa L'Americana"

"I WANT To Be AMERICAN"

THIS SONG Tu Vuo Fa L'Americano Was Also Sung

by JUDE LAW And MATT DAMON

In The TALENTED Mr. RIPLEY

Also STARRING; GWYNETH PALTHROW,

KATE BLANCHETT & PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN

and Was Shot in ROME, VENICE, NAPLES,

The AMALFI COAST and SAN REMO, ITALY

Italian Singer

MAT DAMON & JUDE LAW

SING

Tu Vuo Fa AMERICANO

In Underground JAZZ NIGHT CLUB

in NAPOLI

Dr. OZ HOT NEW FAT BURNER WEIGHT LOSS SECRET "GARCINIA CAMBOGIA"

SHITTY MUSIC OVER-PRICED COCKTAILS & CABLE BILLS "WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO" ???

A COUPLE OVER-PRICED COCKTAILS

PEGU CLUB

HOUSTON STREET, NEW YORK, NY

What is going on people? What has happened to this world, to New York? What has happened to Music, they don't make any today. "No Good Music, nothing but trash for music for the past 15 years or so. What happened to all the Great Pop, Rock, and R&B Music they "Used to Make." Why did they stop making great music and decide to create Shit like they make today, what they so wrongfully call music. It's just a bunch of "Rap Crap" and other types of Garbage Noise that many "Think" is music.
    When did people start paying for Television, so much anyway. It's ridiculous. I know a guy who is paying over $300 dollars for his internet and Cable TV. I told him that that was ridiculous and absurd. I told him, do you realize that you're going to pay $33,000 in ten years time for your internet and TV ... He was stunned. He never thought about it. I do. I'm pretty good at math and great at making calculations of monthly bills and what a Cel Phone, internet, Cable TV, and rent will cost you a Year, 5 Year, and 10 Years. This guy never did that. He just thought in terms of 1 month, not what it cost in 5 or 10 years time. And when I told him the 10 year cost which I figure out in my head in about 10 seconds. He was stunned! As for me, I "Cut The Cable" 2 1/2 years ago. I've saved $2,500 since than, and that will double to $5,000 in 2-and-half more years. But that's not the end of it. At the same time, I changed my 
Cel Phone service and save $300 a year, so in this five years time I will have saved $6,500 by cutting the cable which I hated and got tired of paying that absurdly high bill. And mine was just $135 a month, not $33o .. Hold on now. That's not the end. I just signed a new Hot Spot Internet deal which will save me$200 a year, so by the time the 5 years rolls around, I will have save $7,000 ... Yes $7,000 ... And I do save it ...

And now, to this other insane matter, and absurd thing that has happened and people just except it. The insane practice of Overpriced Cocktails ... When did this happen? Well I can sort of pin point it. It was a few years ago. Well about 10 or 12 years already I guess. Dam, "time Flies." It was when people started opening hipper cocktail lounges and Bartenders really started experimenting, reading and researching old Bar Books, making great old drinks, obscure ones, and creating new ones. This was good, all except for one bad aspect, and a travesty to the spirit of good drinking. And that is, I'm sure you can guess by now, the insane practice of charging $16.00 or more for cocktails that are gone in about 3 sips. This is insane. And sadly now it is th norm in many places around New York, Bars, Cocktail Lounges, and restaurants, the insane, thoughtless, inconsiderate, and greedy practice of $16.00 and up cocktails. Hey, even $14.00 cocktails is insane and grossly overpriced. What's a person to do. Don't go you say. Yeah, that would be good, well if we had more of a choice, but it seems like 85% or more of the drinking establishments in New York have the inflated overpriced cocktails and beers. Yes, beer too. With $8, 9, and even $10 Beers. So if you were in a place that had $8 beers, and you wanted to have 3, it would cost you almost $30 for 3 measly beers, with tip. And forget about 3 Cocktails made by the so-called Mixologist. You're talking $55 to $60 for 3 friggin drinks. You gotta agree friends, "That's Insane."

    Many people are out of work, and many who are working, are taking home Half-as-Much Money or more of what they used to make. People have had to buckle down and give up or curb many things they enjoyed previous to the current state of our economy, which is in almost a Depression Era State.

     Yes, everybody says that we are not in a Depression, we're in a recession. Those are the Rich and Well-Off, The 1%-ers  talking. To many, the state of our Union and their feelings are of Depression.

   So the practice of overpriced $16 drinks at many of New York's Cocktail Lounges, bars, and restaurants is a ridiculous crushing blow that knocks socializing out of whack. You should be able to have 2 beers for about $10 including tip, and about $16 for tow drinks including tip. That's reasonable. That's what most people pay around America, and even less. But we don't live in America, we live in the greatest City in The World, New York, and Cocktails and Beers here can be oh-so-dear. "Expensive!" Expensive as Hell, "Ridiculously Expensive." It's absurd and outrageous, with many places thinking it's normal and OK to charge $16.00 or more for a measly little Cocktail made by a friggin so-called "Mixoligist." Ha! It's not OK, what's a person to do?

So yes, we live in New York, and having a couple cocktails here can be a costly undertaking.. What is a Poor Working Guy or Working Girl to do???
   Yes. you could choose not to go to these places. But there's another point. You should be able to go. You shouldn't be cut out because your not a 1%-er, that you don't make an upseen amount of money, that you make an average salary (or less) and these places should be affordable to someone making an average weekly income, but you can't. Why? "Fuckin ^16 Cocktails" that's why! Grossly insane "Over-Priced Cocktails" that only the Rich can really afford, or someone who's dumb enough to "throw away their money" and live above their means. Yes, they could buy the drink, they have the money, but anyone making $50,000 a year or less, really these $16 drinks are above your means. You could actually buy them, but it doesn't make sense. You should not spend $55 to $60 on 3 measly "Over-Contrived Overpriced Mixologists Concoction," it's Ludicrous! Are you dumb? I hope not. Many people are, the kind of people who will pay a $300 plus internet Cable Bill and throw away $30,000, for something you can get free, or if not free, far less than $30,000 .... Now that's Dumb!!!! And that's why businesses take advantage of people. They're Dumb ....