Sorriso Italian Pork Store Celebrates 29th Year
For most of my adult life Di Paolo’s (206 Grand Street. New York 212.226.1033) in the ever-shrinking village of Little Italy was my go-to-place for fine Italian charcuterie and cheeses. Nobody else seems to be able to slice the prosciutto as delicately as Di Paolo’s and nobody else is as knowledgeable and passionate about their products as the DiPaolo family. Owner Louie is always on hand to explain the variances between 10-year, 12-year and 20-year old balsamic vinegar with a private tasting and let you sample cheeses and deli slices to abet decision-making. I still go on occasion, especially for the annual NY Philharmonic concerts in the Park, because the experience is wholly New York; but I definitely needed to find a local substitute.
Introducing Sorriso’s (44-16 30th Ave. Astoria 718.728.4392) now celebrating its 29th year. I went in over the weekend to source fresh ingredients for a NYE lasagna: fresh pasta sheets, mozzarella, ricotta, and ground meat – FRESH being the operative word. There’s much to be said for fresh ricotta. So good you can eat it simply on baguette slices with a drizzle of honey as served at Mario Batali’s Lupa restaurant. They have freshness in abundance and the ground meat was the ultimate trifecta of beef/pork/veal. My guy suggested I up the ante with a 1/2 lb substitute of fresh sausage. Perfection. After I settled up, he even threw in a spinach ricotta ball gratis. They don’t take credit cards but they have a handy ATM in-house. Plus plenty of prepared foods (Pizza rustica, antipaste, polpetine, homemade ravioli etc) that may necessitate its usage. I’d strongly recommend one of their specialty sandwiches; the Godfather. The best Italian combo I’ve had since my Crosby Connection [Italian Stallion] sandwich days. Mangia Mangia.
The Queens Gazette: Sorriso Italian Pork Store Celebrates 25th (01.14.2004)