FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com july 30, 2015 • BUZZ • The Queens Courier 63 dining out TRUE PIZZA TUFINO PIZZERIA NAPOLETANA 36-08 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105 718-278-4800 View Over 200 Reviews at queenscourier.com BY BRADLEY HAWKS “My great-grandfather came here from Tufino with my 4-year-old grandpa,” smiles Stephen Menna, explaining the restaurant’s name. “And those corks over there are sitting in a glass bowl that came from his meat shop in Brooklyn.” At Tufino Pizzeria Napoletana, each pie has its own personal story— whether inspired by chef-owner Stephen Menna’s grandmother’s meatballs, his favorite festival as a kid, or the last name of his neighbor who suggested adding raisins to a prosciutto pie. “And this is a photo of Sophia Loren,” Menna continues. “Every pizzeria in Naples has a photo of her on display.” Tradition and history are every bit as important as the quality of the pizza. That foundation sets the tone for entire production. An exceptional dough is gently hand-stretched like a dopey dwarf cap that falls loosely down the pizzaiolo’s forearms as it twirls. A shallow layer of choice toppings is meticulously applied (Menna places mozzarella crumbles as if setting jewels in a crown). He then gently slides the pie into the flickering dome opposite the embers in indirect heat, and the flames and pie have a stare-down. The pie rises slowly as if posturing, then gently blisters in the heat, as charred bubbles of condensed flavor arise on the outer crust. And then just before the pie succumbs completely to the flames, Menna retrieves it at its most vulnerable stage, carefully checking its underside with a long wooden peel before sliding it onto a metal disc to serve steaming to the table. One specialty pie is layered with thin bricks of brie and sliced mushroom caps, then drizzled with truffle oil and crisscrossed with ribbons of prosciutto. A crab pizza is layered with hearty lumps of blue crab and then zigzagged with a lemon aioli. On the San Gennaro, the drizzle of a playfully spicy picante honey makes the pie particularly special. It’s like what the street festival in Little Italy might taste like in a dream. “We have weekly specials (including several gluten free options)—I probably have around 40 different pies in my head right now,” smiles Menna—all of which will be browned to bubbling bronze beauty in a Stefano Ferrara wood-fired oven born from the volcanic ash of Mt. Vesuvius, an anniversary gift from Menna’s wife. Pizzas range from $9 to $16 per 12-inch personal pie. Daily specials also include a few pastas, salads, panini and crostini. Georgia D D I N I N E E R R & & R R E E S S T T A A U U R R A A N N T T ACT ACT V V Complete Complete Dinner Dinner Served 4 4 to to 10 10 PM PM Monday Monday thru thru Friday Friday Except Except Holidays Holidays Cup of Soup, Salad, Entree, Potato & Vegetable or Spaghetti, Dessert and Coffee, Tea or Soda Cup of Soup, Salad, Entree, Potato & Vegetable or Spaghetti, Dessert and Coffee, Tea or Soda $1995 $2395 ACT 1 Choice of Soup ACT 1 Choice of Soup SOUP DU JOUR - MANHATTAN CLAM CHOWDER or CHICKEN CONSOMME with Fine Noodles, Matzoh Ball or Rice SOUP DU JOUR - MANHATTAN CLAM CHOWDER or ACT IIII CHICKEN CONSOMME with Fine Noodles, Matzoh Ball or Rice DINNER SALAD with Choice of Dressing ACT II ACT IIIIII Choice of Entree DINNER SALAD with Choice of Dressing BROILED FILET OF SNAPPER ALMONDINE STUFFED FILET OF ACT III LEMON SOLE FLORENTINE with Choice Spinach of and Entree Feta Cheese BROILED HALIBUT STEAK BROILED FILET OF SNAPPER ALMONDINE STUFFED FILET OF in Lemon Butter Sauce LEMON BROILED SOLE BOSTON FLORENTINE SCROD with in Spinach Lemon and Butter Feta Sauce Cheese BROILED BROILED FRESH HALIBUT BROOK STEAK TROUT in Lemon Butter Sauce in Lemon Butter Sauce CALAMARI FRA DIAVOLO BROILED BOSTON SCROD Calamari and Mussels Served over Linguine in Lemon Butter Sauce CHICKEN PARMIGIANA with Spaghetti BROILED FRESH BROOK TROUT TWO BROILED PORK CHOPS in Lemon Butter Sauce with Applesauce CALAMARI FRA DIAVOLO ROAST YOUNG TOM TURKEY Calamari and Mussels Served over Linguine with Dressing CHICKEN PARMIGIANA ROUMANIAN SLICED STEAK Mushroom Sauce with Spaghetti SMOKED VIRGINIA HAM STEAK TWO BROILED PORK CHOPS BAKED CHICKEN in Light with Mushroom Applesauce Sauce CHICKEN BROCHETTE ROAST YOUNG TOM TURKEY with Onions,with Pepper Dressing and Tomatoes GRILLED CHICKEN SORRENTINO ROUMANIAN SLICED STEAK with Eggplant and Mozzarella Mushroom Sauce BROILED BEEF LIVER with Fried Onions ROAST HALF CHICKEN with Dressing SMOKED VIRGINIA HAM STEAK PENNE CON BROCCOLI E GRILLED CHICKEN BAKED CHICKEN in Mixed Light with Mushroom Garlic and Sauce Oil MOUSSAKA CHICKEN BROCHETTE Eggplant and Chopped Meat, Topped with Bechamel Sauce with ROAST Onions,SIRLOIN Pepper OF and BEEF Tomatoes Au Jus GRILLED CHICKEN SORRENTINO BAKED LASAGNA, WIDE PASTA LAYERED with Ricotta and Mozzarella in a Delicious Meat Sauce with Eggplant and Mozzarella ACT IIV BROILED BEEF LIVER with Fried Onions ROAST HALF CHICKEN with Dressing CHOICE OF DESSERT: Assorted Danish, Apple Turnover, Assorted Pound Cake, Chocolate Pudding, Bread Pudding, Rice Pudding, Jello or Ice Cream PENNE CON BROCCOLI E GRILLED CHICKEN FIINALE Mixed with Garlic and Oil CHOICE OF BEVERAGE: Coffee, Tea, Fresh Brewed Decaf or Soda MOUSSAKA • No Substitutions Eggplant and Chopped Meat, Topped with Bechamel Sauce OUR NEW AND EXCITING MENU AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY, OFFERS COCKTAILS, STEAKS, CHOPS, SEAFOOD, PASTA, POULTRY ROAST SIRLOIN OF BEEF Au Jus BAKED All Baking LASAGNA,done on Premises WIDE • Private PASTA Parties LAYERED Available with Ricotta and Mozzarella in a Delicious Meat Sauce 86-55 Queens Blvd. • Elmhurst • 718.651.9000 ACT IV (one block west of Queens Center Mall) CHOICE OF DESSERT: Assorted Danish, Apple Turnover, Assorted Pound Cake, Chocolate Pudding,LARGE Bread FREE Pudding,PARKING Rice Pudding,LOT Jello or Ice Cream FINALE CHOICE OF BEVERAGE: Coffee, Tea, Fresh Brewed Decaf or Soda • No Substitutions OUR NEW AND EXCITING MENU AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY, OFFERS COCKTAILS, STEAKS, CHOPS, SEAFOOD, PASTA, POULTRY All Baking done on Premises • Private Parties Available 86-55 Queens Boulevard • Elmhurst • 718-651-9000 (one block west of Queens Center Mall) Large Free Parking Lot
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