Category Archives: Artisan Trade

Sparacino Bakery closed And Comic Booklets opens!

Sparacino Bakery Brooklyn, © NY Vincenzo Aiosa

I discovered Sparacino Bakery in the nineties, when I had my shop on South First Street. The bread was very good but they had the tendencies  to run out of it,so must of the time there was no bread @ 4.30 in the afternoon.

What kept me going back was the fact that it was the only bakery in the neighborhood, and their unapologetic, rudeness with costumers who were not locals.

New York Italian Bread

In the early eighties, I lived in the East Village – not the trendy neighborhood it is today. I used to shop at the C Town on Fourth Street and First Ave. Palagonia Bread was the only bread you could buy after the local baker on 2nd Street and 1st Ave was forced out by the landlord. The way I like to eat bread is to brush it with olive oil, oregano, salt pepper and bake it 5 minute at 325ºF. Decent to delicious ciabattas are now available everywhere in the city, rendering Palagonia mediocre at best – certainly not the finest in the world. Never was.

Previously posted on Fading Ad Blog:

Junius Street - Brownsville, Brooklyn - © Frank H. Jump

Bread is one of the oldest prepared foods, dating back to the Neolithic era. The development of leavened bread can probably also be traced to prehistoric times. – Wikipedia

At one time, Palagonia was the ONLY Italian bread you could buy at a corner deli. I wouldn’t call it the best anymore. Vincenzo is a fan of Cityline’s Rosamaria Bakery on 101st Street – if you want a really good semolina bread.Only buy breadand cookies stear clear fom cold cuts.  Another favorite of ours is Paneantico Bakery off 65th Street & 14th Avenue in Bensonhurst.

75-19 101st Avenue - Cityline - © Vincenzo Aiosa

Pasta and Meats

Casa dei cappelletti Torino Porta Palazzo mercato coperto © Vincenzo Aiosa

Agnolotti al Brasato (3rd from the top

Casa dei cappelletti Torino Porta Palazzo mercato coperto © Vincenzo Aiosa

Piedini di Maiale -Pigs Feet Torino Porta Palazzo mercato coperto © Vincenzo Aiosa

The latest anti-ageing food? Pigs’ trotters. That’s right, you heard it here first

What a meal

Pane e Salame

Pane senza grassi - Fat free bread Panetteria Torino © Vincenzo Aiosa

Il salumiere - The cold cut guy Torino © Vincenzo Aiosa

Suino puro - Pure pork Torino   Vincenzo Aiosa

Puro suino - Pure pork Torino © Vincenzo Aiosa

From the left with Truffles, with Garlic,  with Barolo whine & below with special  fennel

Cold cuts in Italian home is  a main staple served with  all meals from breakfast to dinner appetizers, there always some sort of cold cuts or whole salami in the refrigerator, 2 or 3 slices between a piece and bread (Pane e Salame) nothing else no mayonnaise nor mustard is needed to satisfy hunger in a hurry depending on the region it is usually followed with a glass of whine no matter what time of day it is. My mom always brought home cold cuts on Saturday around 1pm and that is what we always had for lunch on that day Mortadella and hot Capicolla was and still is my favorite.

Check out Frank H. Jump’s Hams and Capocolli

Hams & Capocolli / Wallabout Provisions Co. Brooklyn Navy Yard - taken September, 1997