AMERICA’S TOP-RATED

RESTAURANTS & CHEFS 2008
These restaurants were selected by John Mariani as America’s Top 20 Restaurants 2008
(not in order of preference). The content of this overview was written by the editorial
staff of the Chefs In America Awards Foundation.

FELIDIA

SAMPLE MENU

Appetizers

Ravioli con Fagiolini e Pesto

whole wheat orecchiette, broccoli rabe, pesto

Capesante “Saltimbocca”

Maine Diver scallops,
spinach “al pane”

Barbabietole, Caprino, Balsamico

marinated beets, goat cheese, apples, watercress, balsamic vinaigrette

Menu Highlights

Polenta Manatecata con Funghi al Funghetto

whipped buckwheat polenta, wild mushrooms,
spicy tomato

Petto di Pollo con Fondta

slow poached chicken breast, spinach, Grana Padano cheese fonduta

Bollito di Manzo

bolittto of: wagyu beef flat iron, vegetables and horseradish, mustard sauce

Trippa con Polenta Tarragna
braised calf tripe “Parmigiana”, soft and crisp buckwheat polenta

RESTAURANT
Felidia is the acclaimed Manhattan East Side flagship of Lidia Bastianich, open since 1981. It is here that many of Lidia’s devoted fans find her greeting each guest with the same warmth and passion that she exhibits through her television shows and cookbook. Felidia is a New York Times three star restaurant, a nominee for “Outstanding Restaurant U.S.” from the James Beard Foundation and was the proud recipient of the Wine Spectator’s “Grand Award Winning Wine List” for many years.

CHEF FORTUNATO NICOTRA
Fortunato Nicotra arrived in New York City to work for celebrity chef Lidia Matticchio Bastianich in 1996 after earning two Michelin stars in Milazzo, Sicily.  Hired as her Executive Chef of the famous flagship restaurant, Felidia, the restaurant earned three stars from Ruth Reichl from The New York Times only three months after his arrival.  Again in 2006, Frank Bruni wrote a second raving review with a three-star rating.  Wine Spectator named Felidia one of the “Top Ten Italian Restaurants in the United States” in 1998, and in 2008 Jerry Shriver of USA Today named it number #2 in his end of year round up of restaurants around the world.

Restaurant: FELIDIA

Chef: Fortunato Nicotura

Reservations: 212-758-1479

Address: 243 East 58th Street

New York, NY 10022

Web: www.felidia-nyc.com

Cuisine: Italian