STATEN ISLAND, NY — In honor of October being Italian Heritage Month, Patrizia’s Taverna of New Dorp held a Sunday Sauce Festival, where local home cooks were able to show off their prized meatballs.
The celebration and competition, which was held on Sunday, Oct. 5 at The Boulevard restaurant, was in partnership with Montalbanos Italian Food Specialties and Pork Store on Bay Street in Rosebank. This is the second Italian festival the two Staten Island staples have collaborated on, but the first time they have hosted a meatball competition.
The social media celebrity judges of the event were Joe Scarlotta Sr., thathairdressakristin, and Maria Venuto and Anthony Bernardo from Island Wide Realty.
Carrie D’Amico took first place, Debra Denmark came in second and Jennifer Arlotta placed third.
Along with the fierce trial, guests who joined the family style dinner were entertained with Italian music from Tommy LaRocca and were able to watch the fresh pasta and sauce being cooked in front of them. Vinnie Parrelli of Montalbanos also made the mozzarella for the guests, serving it as a part of their appetizers and main dish. The meal was topped off with table side cannoli service.
Staten Island’s Patrizia’s Taverna and Montalbanos collaborated for a Sunday Sauce Festival featuring “Il Pentolo” cooking demonstrations and cannoli service.Courtesy of Patrizia’s Taverna of Staten Island
“Montalbanos, the pork store, has this thing called ‘Il Pentolo,’” said John, one of the staff members of the restaurant. “It’s a big pot and it’s a big part of this. We cooked the sauce in the dining room and made fresh mozzarella.”
Debra Denmark, one of the competitors, was thrilled to see this expression of Italian food culture, support the restaurant and show off her cooking skills.
“He made the mozzarella, they stretched the ‘mutz,’ and that was part of the meal,” she recalled. “The team at Empire State Bank always tries to support and patronize our customers, and we love Patrizias.”
Debra Denmak, Ellen Plessias and Laura Dinten outside Patrizia’s Taverna in New Dorp with Denmark’s prized meatballs.Courtesy of Debra Denmark
As a team member of Empire State Bank, Denmark often participates in events for her customers, but this was a new experience for her. While this was her first time participating in a competition like this, she had been making meatballs for years, using a family recipe.
“It’s my grandma’s recipe,” the Prince’s Bay resident said. ” This was the first time I ever entered a contest. Everybody was kind of encouraging me to do so.”
Over the years, Denmark has become close with Vinnie Romano, one of the owners of the taverna. When she originally showed up to the event, she was empty handed and unsure about competing.
“I actually showed up and I didn’t bring it because I didn’t think I have a shot at winning. When I was parking, Vinnie asked me, ‘Deb, I hope you brought your meatballs,’” she said. “Then he said, ‘Go get them!’ So I drove all the way back home, and I got them, and then I came in second. So it was really great.”
Denmark’s prize winning meatballs had a classic presentation that wowed the judges. “Everybody had different presentations,” she mentioned. “Mine was, you know, with a little side of ricotta cheese and a big fresh basil.”
“It was a great turnout,” said Rocco, one of the managers of Patrizia’s Taverna. “We thank everyone who joined us.”
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Dining and Cooking