Carlotto Opens Near NYC’s Union Square And More Restaurant News

Every week, Appetito will catch you up on all the New York City Italian food news you need to know. Eventually, we’ll aim to look past the Hudson River, but for now, we’ll focus on the biggest city in the States with the most Italian food action.

New York City has another stunning new Italian restaurant in Carlotto. This week, Vancouver, Canada’s Toptable Group opened its second Manhattan concept, next door to its popular four-year-old seafood restaurant Oceans. Like its predecessor, Carlotto gets the Rockwell Group design treatment, which means scene-setting décor. 

The Italian menu at Carlotto looks like it’ll outshine even the industrial-chic architecture. By the looks of it, a bone-in veal parmigiana will be a destination dish, and the selection of pastas and risottos, antipasti and salads reads like a greatest-hits of Italy’s regional cuisines. There is an extensive cheese and charcuterie menu, as well as wine, beer and cocktail lists that lean Italian. Appetito will surely be on the scene to file a more detailed report on this promising newcomer soon. 100 E. 19th St., Manhattan

Hudson gem The Maker Gives Its Culinary Program an Italian Makeover

Located a short two hours from Manhattan, the small city of Hudson is one of the state’s best getaways. It’s about to get even better. The luxurious Maker Hotel has announced a new chef, Alex Napolitano, who will oversee the complex’s three food and drink spaces. An Italian-American who has worked in the kitchen at Manhattan’s A Voce, Charlie Bird and Rubirosa, Napolitano is introducing new menus to the charming glass-enclosed restaurant, the street café and the moody, sophisticated lounge.

I’ve been to all three spaces, which along with the hotel and its gymnasium, are the brainchild of the Lev Glazman and Alina Roytberg, co-founders of the Fresh cosmetics brand. The design is world-class, though the food and drink program wasn’t quite there on the times I visited. Napolitano’s Italian makeover of the Maker will be one of the stories to watch in late spring, perhaps giving Hudson its latest hot spot for weekenders up from the city. 302 Warren St, Hudson, NY 12534

Venchi Opens Its 5th Manhattan ChocoLateria on the Upper East Side

The Italian chocolate and gelato maker Venchi continues to expand since its 2018 arrival in NYC. The company’s latest shop, or ChocoGelateria as they call it, is at 1117 Lexington Avenue in a new Robert A.M. Stern-designed condo building.

Venchi’s latest includes a wall of chocolate bars and a gelato counter featuring gelato shakes, coffee, hot chocolate and crepes made with Venchi’s Suprema chocolate, dispensed from a fountain. The company, which is known worldwide as sellers of chocolates and other gifts, boasts 350 chocolate recipes and 90 gelato flavors, and a legacy that dates back to 1878 in Turin, Italy. 

Venchi also announced a forthcoming sixth Manhattan location in the trendy NoMad neighborhood, slated to bring more chocolate and gelato to 1178 Broadway this summer. 

Upcoming Italian Food and Drink Events in NYC

Eataly’s Flatiron shop hosts a seminar about wines from Cinque Terre Thursday, April 27 at 6 pm. The $125 ticket includes the seminar, a wine tasting and “assorted Ligurian food pairings.” The seminar is open to those 21 and up. >>> Campari is hosting an aperitivo hour at the Center for Italian Modern Art in SoHo on Saturday, April 29 from 4-6 pm. Guests will sip Aperol Spritzes and receive a guided tour of CIMA’s excellent show “From Depero to Rotella: Italian Commercial Posters Between Advertising and Art.” Admission is $20 for those 21 and over, with details here.

Have a tip for Italian food news? Send it to Richard@appetitomagazine.com