I was so lucky that one of my favorite Italian restaurants in Brooklyn, Ferdinando’s, was open for business, while so many other restaurants were shut down. This is because they have a beautiful garden area at the back of the building.
It was a warm, summer afternoon and they had a wonderful trellis that provided shade on each of the tables. The trellis was covered in thick grapevines with fresh grapes growing on them.
To cool off I ordered some Manhattan Specials. Normally Ferdinando’s has this on tap, which tastes amazing. But because of Covid they were not able to serve it that way. So, I got bottles instead. It was cold and refreshing. For people who have never had a Manhattan Special, it is a carbonated coffee that is served ice cold.
I already had my mind set on what I would be ordering for lunch, the Arancina Special. This is an enormous rice ball that is filled with chopped meat, peas, and sauce. This mixture is then breaded and fried up. They top it off with ricotta cheese and tomato sauce. Then grated parmesan cheese was sprinkled all over.
The filling was so creamy because of the cheese. The rice was also tender. The flavor from the meat and sauce shined through. The peas added a little sweetness.
The other dish I tired was the Panelle and Potato sandwich. Panelle is chickpeas that have been mashed up like potatoes and then fried like a potato pancake. This was placed on a fresh made Italian roll. Then a potato croquette was stacked on top. Finally, a huge scoop of ricotta cheese and parmesan shreds were placed on top. This is a unique sandwich that I have never seen anywhere else. The flavor is savory and creamy. The ricotta cheese helped break up the starchiness of the panelle and croquette.
The food that Ferdinando’s serves has such a comforting feeling. The homemade nature of each dish makes me feel like I am eating at grandma’s house. It is that kind of feeling that has kept this restaurant in business since 1904.
If you are able to get over to Brooklyn, make sure to check them out. Follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Italian-Restaurant/FERDINANDOS-FOCACCERIA-287577861134/
Enjoy!
T
