Italian American Food Tour of Williamsburg

Meet us at Carmine & Son Restaurant and indulge in a delicious chicken parmesan while we set the stage for what you will learn and eat throughout your tour. Here, we will begin our story by talking about the events that triggered the first wave of Italian immigration to the US, and how these events set the foundation for the creation of Italian American cuisine. We will also cover exactly what constitutes as Italian American cuisine and how it spread in popularity across the US.(30 min)

Next, we will walk to the Familia/ Famiglia mural to learn about the shared history of Italian Americans and Puerto Ricans in Williamsburg.(10 min)

Savino's Quality Pasta- Explore an Italian food store filled with homemade pasta and imported ingredients. Here we will sample a slice of capocollo, or as some may call it "gabagool"!(15 min)

Anthony & Son Panini Shoppe is THE bucket list place to experience Italian heroes. We will split a mouthwatering hero while we talk about how the Italian American experience has changed through the years, what it means to be Italian American today, and how this specific panini shoppe plays a role in bringing together Italian Americans in today's day and age as traditional Italian neighborhoods across the US begin to decline.(25 min)

We will take a quick walk by the oldest Italian restaurant in Brooklyn to learn about its place in mob history and TV/ film legacy established over the past 125 years.(10 min)

At Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, we will learn about the significance of Italian feasts in honor of Catholic patron saints. We will talk about how and why Italian Immigrants ended up in Williamsburg and how this church enabled the community to upkeep its feast traditions dating back to the year 410 AD in Italy.(10 min)

Best Pizza is a classic NYC slice shop that is dedicated to preserving ingredient quality and freshness in a way that is similar to native Italian cooking. We will sample their signature white slice as we hear the surprising story of how pizza went from being an undesirable peasant food in Naples to an American staple.(25 min)

At Montesacro, we will learn and taste the difference between Italian American and native Italian cooking as we sample classic Roman pasta and flatbread dishes. As we discover the roots of both these cuisines, we will learn exactly how the globalization of food, "artisanal" marketing, and a search for authenticity lead to the popularization of native Italian cuisine in the US. We will also talk about how this history ties into the changing landscape of WIlliamsburg over the past 50 years and its affect on the Italian American community here.(30 min)

Lastly, we will sample pastries, cookies, and espresso at Fortunato Brother's Bakery while learning how to identify what goes into making an Italian American dessert the "right" way.(25 min)