Omerta “Mista Silverstein, how they hangin’?” boomed raucously across the main dining room in the unmistakable voice of Johnny “Roastbeef” Williams. Roastbeef is the greeter, raconteur and wisecracker at Rao’s in the heart of Hollywood, the west coast branch of the famous and exclusive East Harlem Italian haunt. My Tuscan born wife and I were…
In vino veritas “Nothing more excellent or valuable than wine was ever granted by the gods to man” said Plato, who knew a thing or two about a thing or two. It has also been said that a bottle of wine contains more philosophy than all the books in the world, so you can thank…
Grazie a Marco Polo My wife is an immigrant from Italy, self-described as off the boat. Her father Gino moved from Tuscany to the San Fernando Valley (as schizophrenic as that may seem) to start a successful tile and marble business. Gino was an American success story, a penniless immigrant with a sixth grade education…
Faith Restored What does one say about the restaurant scene in the City of Angels in the 21st Century? To be granted the privilege, the permission, to be allowed to spend $300 per couple to be told what to eat, how it shall be prepared and how it shall be served by an unemployed Thespian…