The Macchialina Menu: "Life is a Combination of Magic and Pasta"

With permitting delaying the opening of the new Pubbelly sister restaurant, Macchialina Italian Rustica, executive chef Michael Pirolo has had plenty of time to work out the kinks on his homey menu of Italian grub. Pirolo, who was born outside of Tuscany, hails most recently from the kitchen of Miami's Scarpetta in the Fontainebleau. In devising the new menu, Pirolo combines his rustic Italian cuisine with the successful Pubbelly formula, telling Short Order, "the food is meant to be shared. It's not tapas, because these are not small plates. It's more family-style dining." Pirolo's menu includes a slew of antipasti - veal cheek and pork meatballs, octopus al la plancha, a broccolini twist on the Caesar salad - as well as homemade pizzas guarded by the threat "touch my silce and suffer the consequences!". It would also be wise not to miss a taste of Pirolo's expertise in pasta with dishes like cavatelli with baby meatballs and porchetta, agnolotti with mixed meat filling and cipollini, and lasagna with shortribs and taleggio. Macchialina will debut tomorrow night.

· Inside Macchiallina: A First Peek [Short Order]
· All Coverage of Macchialina [~EMIA~]