Taste of Tradition Q&A WITH OWNER AND CHEF OF ANTONELLO, ANTONIO CAGNOLO
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f you’re looking for a comfortable, sit-down Italian restaurant, Antonello Ristorante should be at the top of your list! The restaurateur, Chef Antonio Cagnolo prepares all his dishes with light and fresh ingredients all inspired by his wife, mother, and even motherin-law. Antonello Ristorante is a dining experience that will give you a chance to encounter all the flavors and ingredients Antonio brings from his homeland of Italy. A popular item on the menu would definitely be the gnocchi. Gnocchi is a soft dough dumpling usually made out of flour, egg, cheese, and potato. However, gnocchi at Antonello is not just ordinary gnocchi—it’s much more than that. Antonio expresses his passion for Italian cuisine by presenting it in the most traditional way. He wants to stick to his customs, and so far that’s made him very successful.
Q: We see that Antonello specializes in Italian food. We want to discuss with you one of your popular dishes, the gnocchi. What usually draws people to ordering it? Antonio Cagnolo: My customers get very excited when ordering it. Everybody loves it. It’s an exciting dish for children, husbands, wives—everybody. Gnocchi is very easy to make and I can make it very quick and however the customer likes it. Q: What makes the gnocchi different from your other dishes? AC: A lot of people are allergic to certain ingredients—some people do not want potato or eggs in their gnocchi, so we can make ricotta cheese gnocchi. This gnocchi is very lean in cheese with a little bit of flour. It’s easy, quick, and light. It melts in your mouth instantly! Q: What is your gnocchi made of? And how long does it take to make? AC: The gnocchi is made with potato, potato flour, egg, and nutmegs. It usually takes an hour or an hour and a half to make, not too long, only to let the potato cool down to make a puree out of it. Then you would put the eggs in. The way we make it is very simple and it takes only three minutes. I can make a butter and cheese sauce, or a Bolognese sauce with the gnocchi. Q: What are the specific and prominent flavors everyone notices in the gnocchi? AC: Most people that eat our gnocchi always compliment us and wonder how we can make it so delicious and so light. They are absolutely blown away by the flavor. It has a very delicate flavor and it’s a children-friendly dish, it’s a dish for just everyone! Everyone always eats it and says, “Wow, I will make this for my children!” Q: How do you know how to balance the flavors of this dish? AC: I balance it out by taking one pound of ricotta cheese, a quarter pound of flour, a pinch of salt, and one spoon of olive oil. But you can add a little more salt to your liking. You can also use Parmesan or even Pecorino cheese to give extra flavor. The cheese items are the trick to making the gnocchi. We like to improvise ingredients so when customers are in a hurry, we can quickly throw something light and fresh together for them. Q: Does Antonello have a secret menu? AC: We are trying to put together a $10 lunch set that comes with soup and salad, with a basket of Focaccia bread. We want people to spend a minimum amount of money so staying under $10 is good.
Homecooked
Love
Q: Is there any restaurant, in particular, you like to go to when you’re not so busy at the restaurant? AC: At home. My wife and mother, and mother-in-law are all very good cooks, so there’s no need to go out. If I go out to a restaurant, it’s always to learn something new. Most of the time, I’m experimenting at a restaurant or travel to Italy for inspiration. I like the restaurants in the countryside because they are real, an old style of cooking. My family and I do love sushi restaurants, though.
It has a very delicate flavor and it’s a childrenfriendly dish, it’s a dish for just everyone!” —Antonio Cagnolo
Native Knowledge: Antonello Ristorante emphasizes in true Italian cuisine, not fast food. Chef Antonio is from up north; whereas, his other two chefs are from the south. So, they are all traditional Italian. Antonio specifies, “If you want true Italian cuisine, we are it.”