Saint Rocco's New York Italian

Our Story

Saint Rocco's New York Italian

Italians live in a romance with food.” “Growing up in our Italian neighborhood in the 1940’s and 50’s, peddlers would come selling fresh food on the street. There was the bread man, the fruit & vegetable man, an egg man, and the man who brought us fresh fish. Each one of them had a unique whistle or call, and they knew everyone in our family. I remember waking up in the morning to the smell of tomato, garlic, and onions, browning in olive oil and the fresh, hot baked bread. I would tear off a piece and dip it into the pot of spaghetti sauce that could be found simmering on the gas-fired stovetop. On Sundays, our family routinely gathered together for our weekly feast of pastas, meatballs, sausage, a garden salad, and chicken, meat, cheeses, fresh fruits and desserts. And of course there was the homemade red wine. At Sunday afternoon dinner, my grandfather would gracefully portion a small glass of wine to each of us and position the jug at his side…… It was “our time.” It was “Family.” This is what it truly means to be Italian; Family, food and Love Lots of Love.