Reflectin g on 46 | BOROMAG.COM | MAY 2015 FOOD & DRINK Viterale curing meat in the Catskills Orn ella Story & Photos by Bradley Hawks “To see something different, you have to go off the road,” smiles Giuseppe Viterale, proprietor of Ornella Trattoria Italiana. It’s not only his philosophy on life, but also his approach to selecting unique dishes for his menu that prominently stand out from anything you might taste elsewhere. Giuseppe himself greets each customer as he or she enters his trattoria. As he pulled out a chair for me and poured a generous glass of pinot noir, I had absolutely no idea that I was about to indulge in a culinary experience that would exponentially surpass even my most favorite Italian meals. It is hard to believe that first meal was five years ago this month. From your initial step through the entryway to Ornella, you are instantly transported to an authentic glimpse of Italy, the walls hand-painted to represent a typical street with signs of various piazzas named after each of the Viterale children. The intimate dining room feels simultaneously special and welcoming. The windows are even painted to reflect a countryside village. When his guests walk in, Giuseppe explains, he wants them to feel like they are in his family dining room, far away from the chaos outside. His Italian accent is every bit as rich as you’d hope it to be, but because he speaks with such passion and enthusiasm, his communication flows with ease past any language barrier, like a soothing baritone aria. Giuseppe and his wife, Ornella (the restaurant's namesake) have woven together a menu that combines favorite recipes from generations of family members and friends from all over Italy. When asked what kind of Italian they serve, Giuseppe just laughs. You cannot merely label food either northern or southern
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