BENSONHURST'S PREMIER NEWS BLOG

Source: Facebook

Pizza Daddy will soon class up the bustling 65th Street and Bay Parkway intersection with a new enclosed sidewalk seating area, after gaining Community Board 11′s approval at the January 10 meeting.

Before a crowd of 50 or so, the Board discussed Pizza Daddy (6422 Bay Parkway)’s application for a “revocable and non-transferable” permit to construct and operate an enclosed sidewalk café with 10 tables. The café would not obstruct pedestrian traffic, according to the application.

There was some resistance from a 60-year-old woman who lives nearby, who claimed that expanding the restaurant might exacerbate an existing vermin problem on the block. But Chairman Bill Guarinello clarified that the woman’s complaint about vermin was actually pertinent not to Pizza Daddy, but to the empty lot next door to it.

One middle-aged gentleman was for the café on the grounds that Pizza Daddy is a friendly spot in an otherwise desolate neighborhood at night, and its evening hours provides neighbors much needed refuge from would-be criminals.

“My kids duck in there on the way home from the train if they don’t feel safe. There are some burly guys in there. It’s a community business,” he said. The Board approved the application, which will now go to the Department of Consumer Affairs for review.

The Board also considered an application from Toys ‘R’ Us in Caesar’s Bay, which seeks to swap units within the shopping center. The toy store requested to tear down what used to be Strauss Discount Auto in Caesar’s Bay and erect a new, two-story department building.

“It means jobs,” Guarinello said. The vote passed unanimously.

Aside from the two hearings, Guarinello also spurred a long discussion about utilities resellers. Guarinello called these people “predatory,” saying they come knocking on your door asking for a utility bill and are quite aggressive.

“They all look like they just came out of a work release program,” Guarinello said. “Don’t give them your bills. Con Ed will never ask you for identifying data.”

– Batya Ungar-Sargon

Screenshot from Vice’s video, showing Pinello serving a fresh white pie. Click to go to video.

In a new entry for Vice Magazine’s online show “Munchies,” Williamsburg “Best Pizza” owner and Bensonhurst native, Frank Pinello takes a tour of what he considers the best pizza shops in Bensonhurst on a nostalgic and delicious trip down memory lane.

The short film begins with Frank surrounded by his large and loving Italian family as they prepare to feast on his grandmother’s authentic Sicilian cooking which he cites as a major inspiration for his own pizza shop.

Action then shifts to Frank’s own “Best Pizza” in Williamsburg, a lively and fast growing hot spot for top notch pizza, made with fresh, high quality ingredients all cooked in a 100-year-old brick oven.

It is at this point when we meet Bill, Frank’s free-spirited, yet dedicated delivery man who joins Frank on his journey to Bensonhurst.  Both are determined to cram as much authentic Brooklyn pizza as possible, and they start at 6322 18th Avenue with J&V’s.

Frank lauds J&V’s square slice, for its “crispy bottom, a nice fluffy middle, [and] saucy, cheesy top to it.”

For round slices, Frank heads to 6514 18th Avenue for Da Vinci Pizzeria, which Frank describes as “Classic, these guys know how to do it right.” Bill giggles in approval.

For dessert, Frank and Bill head to 7001 18th Avenue for “Villa Bate Alba Bakery,” to pick up some world class espressos and cannoli. “Amazing,” is the response from a near speechless Frank.

Just when you think Frank and Bill have eaten themselves to death, they head back to Frank’s grandmother’s place for a huge Italian dinner featuring country style stuffed pizza, sausages, and Sicilian pasta.

Frank’s enthusiasm for cooking and food is best summed up by his father Steve.

“He loved to eat … he’d actually advice us on what spice to use every now and then, he’d put his own two cents in,” he said.

Correction (10/25/2012 @ 10:40 a.m.): The original version of this article incorrectly spelled Frank Pinello’s name as Pinelli. It has been corrected, and we offer our sincerest apologies to Pinello and our readers for the confusion.

Source: Texnik via Wikimedia Commons

From the offices of Councilman Greenfield:

Councilman David G. Greenfield today introduced legislation in the City Council that would increase awareness of food allergies by requiring restaurants to post a sign alerting consumers of various common allergies caused by foods served there. Greenfield’s bill, known as the “Food Allergy Awareness Act,” would help ensure that customers and all restaurant staff members are aware of this growing health problem, which affects millions of Americans of all ages and is becoming more prevalent.

The bill would require all restaurants and catering halls to display a city Department of Health poster containing information on food allergies including warnings if any food served contains eggs, fish, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, soy or wheat ingredients. The notification must be posted in a conspicuous place that is accessible to all patrons, and posters would be available in Chinese, English, Korean, Russian, Spanish and any other language as determined by the Health Department. The goal is to promote awareness of food allergies to everyone involved in the food service industry, from the customer to the server or bartender to the kitchen staff. This will reduce the risk of cross contamination and of the customer unwittingly ingesting an ingredient they are allergic to.

“This is a simple, common-sense solution to a serious and growing public health issue. The more awareness we can create about food allergies, the more we can reduce the risk for those people who have to worry about this every time they go out to eat. Any low-cost measure that we can take to save lives is worth it, and this is no exception,” said Greenfield.

As many as 15 million Americans suffer from food allergies, including 6 million children. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there has been an 18 percent increase in food allergies between 1997 and 2007, with the prevalence of peanut allergies among children tripling from 1997 to 2008. With 4 percent of adults and 8 percent of children suffering from food allergies, finding suitable places to eat out has become a major concern for a large segment of the American public. Overall, the eight types of foods to be listed on the posters account for 90 percent of all food-allergic reactions.

“It is clear that more and more Americans are suffering from food allergies than ever before. It is time for our city government to recognize this critical issue and take simple steps like this to reduce the incidents of deadly allergic reactions in our city’s outstanding restaurants,” added Greenfield.

Source: Jaime de la Fuente via Wikimedia Commons

A website has recently gone hyperlocal by making it easy to find the most recent health inspections information on your favorite local restaurants.

EveryBlock takes recent restaurant inspections from New York City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and then maps them.

The website lists the number of violation points a site receives per inspection. The number of points determines whether a followup inspection is required. Thus, 0-27 points means that there is no followup required and 28 or more points means that a followup is a must.

New York Times writer Brian J. McCabe penned a piece that explains New York’s grading system in detail. He mentions that it’s a passing or failing grade isn’t the only thing that matters in a score. The specific score an establishment receives holds a great deal of meaning too. For example, there are three categories of violations that may be observed and a passing grade may not guarantee a noted absence of rats or mice.

Check out the EveryBlock violation ratings page for neighborhood places and see if you can spot the ones that have a whopping 55 violations.

The following is a press release from the office of State Senator Marty Golden:

SENATOR GOLDEN: TWO HOUR METERS TO BE INSTALLED ON 3rd AND 5th AVENUES IN APRIL

Brooklyn – State Senator Martin J. Golden (R-C-I, Brooklyn) today is
announcing that the New York City Department of Transportation has
responded to his request and has approved two hour parking meters for 3rd
and 5th Avenue.

The Department of Transportation has determined based on Senator
Golden’s request that the need for additional parking time along these two
commercial avenues is warranted. The Bureau of Parking will complete the
work to affect this change by April of this year. Continue Reading »