The Feast of San Gennaro

If you're lucky to be in Manhattan this week then stop in and visit the Hallmark San Gennaro Festival. This is a time when the residents of Little Italy. it;s a time when what's left of th e old neighborhood come s out and celebrates. it is full of tradition and feasting.

Yesterday's Mew York Times Dining had an interesting article that ties in the feast with Lower Manhattan;s and a kind of renegade restaurant Torisi's Italian Specialties run by Rich Torrisi and Mario Carbone. They are known not just for tweaking and rethinking Italian recipes but for doing the same wit American ones too. They're best known for doing a terrine in croute in the shape if a giant pretzel and filling it with a pate spiced with what;s found in a hot dog. it;s an interesting spin on a New York street vendor classic.

They also are putting an Asian fusion spin on their food for this week. Both chefs are offering wok fried mozzarella sticks. They will fry it on a light oil as opposed to deep frying which is a standard method of cooking at any street fair. They are also creating a version of a steamed pork bun but using Italian semolina rolls and filled with glazed pork. it will have a topping of peppers and will be a take on the classic sausage and peppers sandwich San Gennaro is known for.

San Gennaro's is a fun time for all sorts of feasting from the savory to the sweet. however if you get the chance stop in for a variation of it at Torrisi's Italian Specialties. Then go back out and get yourself a bag o f fresh made zeppolis and Italian ice.