Piatto d'Oro

Sauce and Lady

Walk East on 109th Street, and keep going…and going a bit further –– just pass the giant brightly-lit car wash that floods the street in an eerily glow sits Piatto d’Oro. This Italian restaurant is a quirky hidden gem, decorated with lots of pinks and mint greens, plenty of those classic black and white snapshots, and pink roses on the tables. The décor, the tunes (Louis Prima, of course) and the adorable and attentive Italian staff are staples of many Italian joints, and truth be told I was having a bit of déjà vu. But, “What was it exactly that was making me feel like I’ve been here before in the best way?” I asked myself. Well, I knew instantly what Piatto d’Oro reminded me of when my meal was placed in front of me, and I suddenly wished I had ordered spaghetti and meatballs so my date and I could spaghetti kiss a la Lady and the Tramp. If the waiter came out with an accordion I would have done a few Lady-like shy blinks and kept right on eating.



As any respectable Italian joint knows, it’s all about the sauce, and Piatto d’Oro delivers on that and more. My date and I tried the fried zucchini appetizer ($5.95), penne with vodka sauce ($10.95) and the chicken Sophia Loren ($15.95) (yeah, it's a big breast of chicken (get it?!), and it's stuffed with prosciutto and mozzarella with a shiitake mushroom brown sauce). Everything was completely devoured and then the sauces were soaked up with bread. Go here with someone you're comfortable eating a lot in front of.

Piatto d'Oro
349 E 109th Street (near 1st Ave)
212-828-2929
They also do take-out and delivery.
Also see New York Magazine's review.




I apologize that these photos are a bit "Law and Order" crime scene-esque. The Hipstamatic App can be a bit addictive.



Digging into the fried zucchini.


A complimentary shot of sambuca.

The Two Sides of Harlem Cuisine: Culinary Destinations and Food Deserts

The first issue of Gourmet Live, Gourmet Magazine's new life as an online app, has a great profile on Marcus Samuelsson. The restaurateur and "Top Chef Masters" winner's much anticipated Harlem restaurant Red Rooster seems even closer to opening.

Samuelsson and the author discuss some of Harlem's blossoming culinary destinations: Chex Lucienne, Cafe Latte and Settepani, but Samuelsson is is aware that Harlem residents suffer from high levels of obesity and diabetes. He's hoping his restaurant can be an agent of social change.

Also, this week in food news of Harlem the Harlem Harvest Festival and Fresh Foods Summit took place on Saturday. The program was set up, because as their website states, "Our community, Harlem, suffers from the highest rates of heart disease, hypertension, type II diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity in New York City. Our lack of adequate choices for fresh food and vegetables and an over-saturation of fast food options is shocking and characterizes Harlem as what is often called a 'food desert.'"

Hat Tip: Jonah

Here's What Harlem Thinks of Their Food Justice Situation:

Chef from Aquavit Comes to Harlem

"It is Very Important to Bring a Restaurant to Harlem." - Marcus Samuelsson

The New York Times interviewed Marcus Samuelsson, known for his culinary achievements at Aquavit, about his yet-to-open Harlem restaurant, Red Rooster Harlem. It will be located on 125th St in Central Harlem which is a bit outside of the East Harlem demographic, but it's still exciting to get such a great chef opening up a restaurant uptown. Expect to see fresh local foods on the menu.

See the full article.

Photo by Casey Kelbaugh for The New York Times.


Hat Tip to Dad.