“Every Sunday, my grandmother used to make an Italian feast, eight to 10 dishes shared among a dozen or more family and neighbors — more than enough for everyone to taste each dish,” reminces Top Chef Contestant (and Top Chef All Stars Runner-Up!) Mike Isabella. “I wanted to recreate that experience.”The Chef turned Restauranteur returns to his family roots, opening up Graffiato, a neighborhood Italian resto, with casually raw decor (think cinder blocks and wooden booths) in Chinatown Thursday.
Graffiato offers “a large menu of small plates, personal pizzas, cured hams and local cheeses… or order the Chef’s Tasting and allow me to entertain your palate for the evening.”
The other thing you should order is most certainly not on the menu… known – and available – only to a special few. Each day, Isabella will prepare 15 to 20 orders of his signature zeppoles, sweet fluffy dough balls. Those who know to ask for them will be rewarded with strawberry powered sugar dusted warm treats served with what we’ll call ‘Grandma’s dipping sauce.’
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