Film, fine dining and all things Sicilian or Italian will be celebrated at a film premiere and dinner at Fitzgerald’s 1928 Restaurant, 13 Herman Street, Glen Ridge on January 3.
Vincent Schiavelli, an actor who appeared in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Amadeus, Ghost and more than 120 other films and television productions, has written a book of stories and recipes called Many Beautiful Things. A film of the same name about Schiavelli and his life in the Sicilian mountain village of his grandfather-chef will screen for the first time in the United States in the Sidecar extension of Fitzgerald’s. Along with the film chef Francesco Palmieri, owner of The Orange Squirrel in Bloomfield, will present a Sicilian meal with recipes from this book paired with Sicilian wines. And there’s more. Director Aurelio Gambadoro, visiting from Sicily, will answer questions and share experiences while local residents Raphael Badagliacca and Charlie Diliberti, who translated the film’s Sicilian and Italian into English subtitles, will discuss what moved them to undertake this project.
6 to 9 PM; $100 plus tax and gratuity. Reservations: 973-748-4702.
LUIS ESTRADA
Luis Estrada, a graduate of the MCCC culinary program in Trenton, is the new executive chef at Salt Creek Grille, 1 Rockingham Row, Princeton (609-419-4200). Chef Estrada found his passion for cooking as a youth, working in his family kitchen with his mother and grandmother in his native Guatemala. His Latin roots have influenced some unique takes on traditional dishes including duck with Guatemalan stuffing and Guatemalan yellow rice, ensalada Rusa and spicy tomatillo sauce.
GREGG FREDA
Chef Gregg Freda, previously of Casa Dante, is the chef at Calabria Restaurant & Pizzeria, 588 S Livingston Avenue, Livingston (973-992-8496). Some of the dishes that he is serving are sole Francese, Dijon salmon, Dante seafood salad, risotto and Veal d’Alessandro.
ANTONIO SAVINO
Antonio Savino is the executive chef at Aumm Aumm Pizzeria & Wine Bar, 7701 Broadway North Bergen (201-713-9937).
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