FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Neapolitan Pizza Titans Bring Their Craft to Midtown Manhattan
Roberto Caporuscio and Antonio Starita to Unveil Don Antonio by Starita

   
Photos by: Anthony Bianciella

(NEW YORK, NY, FEBRUARY 7, 2012) -- Today, world-Renowned Neapolitan pizza chefs Roberto Caporuscio of the wildly popular Kesté Pizza & Vino in New York City, and his maestro, Antonio Starita, third generation owner of one Naples’ oldest and most revered pizzerias, Pizzeria Starita a Materdei, will debut the eagerly anticipated restaurant, Don Antonio by Starita. The dynamic duo have joined forces to offer pizza fans an expansive assortment of traditional and creative, piping hot wood-fired Neapolitan style pies and more.

Bona fide pizza experts Caporuscio and Starita, Co-Chefs/Owners of Don Antonio by Starita, are considered pizza powerhouses. Since arriving in the United States in 1999, Caporuscio quickly emerged as one of the most highly regarded pizza chefs in the country, and has been the subject of rave reviews from pizza lovers and the media. Colossal crowds from locals, to the social elite and celebrity soccer players, flock to Mr. Starita’s preeminent pizza spot in Naples, often waiting two hours to indulge in his masterful creations. During his distinguished career, Starita has enjoyed many accolades, including his restaurant immortalized in the film “Oro di Napoli”, in which Sophia Loren played a pizza maker, and being selected as lead delegate called on by the Vatican to present “pizza” to the Pope.

Both Caporuscio and Starita are ranking members of the Association of Neapolitan Pizzaiuoli (Association of Neapolitan Pizza Makers - APN), the Italian governing body that teaches the art of Neapolitan pizza making, and certifies quality and adherence to authentic procedures. Starita serves as Vice President, while Caporuscio’s title is President of the United States division.

Said Caporuscio, “To open a restaurant in the greatest city in the world, with my mentor, Antonio Starita, has been my dream. It is my honor, for him to come to the US and collaborate with me. We’ve taken the most enjoyed pizzas and specialties from our homeland and combined them with proven winners from New York. There’s something for everyone on our menu.”

Not to be missed is the “Montanara Starita” - lightly fried pizza dough, topped with signature Starita tomato sauce and imported smoked buffalo mozzarella, finished in the wood burning oven - a combination and technique first created by Mr. Starita over ten years ago, but emulated by many pizza makers. Other artisanal highlights from the pizza mecca include:

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“Girella” - pizza topped with prosciutto cotto, grape tomatoes and arugula, constructed with a fresh ricotta and homemade mozzarella filled crust

“Porta a Porta” - calzone filled with fresh ricotta and Italian rapini, topped with grape tomatoes, homemade mozzarella, pecorino romano, basil and extra virgin olive oil

“Pistacchio e Salsiccia” – pizza featuring fresh pistachio pesto, sausage, homemade mozzarella, pecorino romano, basil and extra virgin olive oil

In addition, the menu showcases an assortment of gluten free pizzas, and several vegetarian and vegan options.

Don Antonio by Starita also includes a full-service bar, featuring a list of carefully selected Italian wines and beers, as well as specialty cocktails. "Princess Sansevero” is a quenching combination of campari, gin, carpano, prosecco and grapefruit bitters, while “Nero di Seppia” includes unique ingredients such as gin, lillet, black squid ink, tomatoes, sea salt and pepper.

Occupying an 1,800 square foot space designed by Naples-based architect/designer, Roberto Iuliano, the 70-seat restaurant merges the aesthetics of Naples and New York. Materials including Italian marble, slate and copper are blended with exposed brick, an element reminiscent of both of antiquity and NY brownstones. A large copper framed skylight casts natural light on the dining area adjacent to the wood-fired oven, an integral aspect of authentic Neapolitan pizza restaurants. The custom made oven which reaches temperatures of 1,000°F, was crafted by Italian artisans using volcanic soil and stone from Naples, and is adorned with sleek, red, Italian mosaic tiles.

Don Antonio by Starita is located at 309 West 50th Street (between 8th and 9th Avenues), New York, NY 10019. Hours of operation are: Monday through Thursday, 11:30AM – 11:00PM, Friday and Saturday 11:30AM-1:00AM and Sunday 11:30AM – 10:30 PM.Tel.646.719.1043, www.DonAntonioPizza.com,  Info@DonAntonioPizza.com.

About Roberto Caporuscio

Roberto Caporuscio was born and raised on a dairy farm in Pontinia, Italy, an hour outside of Naples, where he first developed his culinary skills producing and selling cheese. It was, however, in Napoli, the birthplace of pizza, where Mr. Caporuscio went to study the art and craft of this culinary delight with the most talented Neapolitan pizza masters, including Antonio Starita. After training with the best, he opened two successful pizzerias in Pittsburgh, PA, followed by A Mano in Ridgewood, NJ and Kesté Pizza & Vino in New York City, in March 2009.

Each endeavor brought critical acclaim from the culinary industry, and Caporuscio quickly became one of the most highly praised pizza chefs amongst his peers, and the subject of rave reviews in the media. His many testimonials include Kesté penned “#1 Pizza in New York” by New York magazine and “Best Pizza” in the state of NY by Food Network Magazine.

Caporuscio currently serves as US President of the Associazione Pizzaiuoli Napoletani (APN - Association of Neapolitan Pizza Makers), and is called upon by many restaurants throughout the country, for private consultations. The pizza maestro also conducts an intensive $4,500, ten day pizza-making school, at which he teaches the 150 year old art of crafting Neapolitan pizza, and issues APN certification to aspiring Neapolitan pizza makers/restauranteurs around the world.

About Antonio Starita

Born to a family of pizza makers in Naples, Italy, Antonio Starita began crafting pizza at the early age of 12, under the watchful eye of his parents and grandparents. Today, Mr. Starita is a third generation owner of one of Naples’ oldest and most revered pizzerias, Pizzeria Starita a Materdei, established in 1901.

During Starita’s proprietorship, Pizzeria Starita has flourished to be become one of the preeminent pizza spots in Naples, a city which houses thousands of pizzerias. A t t r a c t i n g huge crowds from locals to the social elite and star soccer players, fans often wait two hours to indulge in Mr. Starita’s masterful creations.

Regarded as an icon in the Neapolitan Pizza Industry, during his illustrious career, Starita has enjoyed many accolades, including his restaurant immortalized in Sophia Loren’s film “Oro di Napoli”, and selected as lead delegate called on by the Vatican to present “pizza” to Pope John Paul II.

Maestro Starita is an ardent advocate of the Neapolitan Pizza Industry, who serves as Vice President of the Association of Neapolitan Pizzaiuoli (APN - Association of Neapolitan Pizza Makers), the Italian governing body that teaches the art of Neapolitan pizza making, and certifies adherence to authentic procedures. He travels the globe to communicate the word of pizza Napoletana, sharing his undying passion, vast knowledge, experience and influence, to a worldly audience.