Celebrating what has been and what is to come, Mario Batali joined guests to commemorate the momentous milestone: the 10th anniversaries of his critically acclaimed signature restaurants, B&B Ristorante and OTTO Enoteca e Pizzeria.
The night began with a special reception at OTTO where Mario personally greeted guests, took selfies and signed cookbooks. Festivities continued with assaggi, prosecco and spirits served on OTTO’s lively patio located in the heart of St. Mark’s Square inside the Grand Canal Shoppes. Highlights included a festive cheese and meat display featuring classic Italian cheeses and OTTO’s signature housemade charcuterie; Calzone with ricotta and Prosciutto di Parma and Prosciutto and Arugula Pizza: Prosciutto di Parma, peppery arugula, fresh tomato, mozzarella and Cacio di Roma. They also sipped on Batali’s favorite cocktails: The Venetian Spritz (Aperol liqueur, prosecco, orange slice, olive) and Joe Bastianich’s Flor Prosecco.
Afterward, the group moved to B&B Ristorante where they savored a 4-course meal showcasing a blend of dishes from when the restaurant opened and brand-new Spring additions.
Throughout the rest of this month, B&B Ristorante and OTTO Enoteca e Pizzeria will offer month-long special tasting menus encapsulating the spirit of the restaurants when they opened in 2007. At B&B Ristorante, the anniversary tasting menu will include:
Asparagus vinaigrette with black pepper pecorino zabaglione
Spaghetti with garlic chives, sweet garlic and lobster
“Mint Love Letters” with Merguez sausage
Short rib “al Barolo” with Anson Mills polenta and horseradish
Goat cheese torta
Semolina Budino with rhubarb and mint marmellata
The price will be $99 per person; wine pairings can be added for an additional $99 per person. At OTTO Enoteca e Pizzeria, the special menu will feature various dishes from the restaurant’s original menu, all priced at $10 per dish. Selections will include:
Carrozza: fresh mozzarella, deep fried, served with fresh Italian herbs
Calzone with ricotta and Prosciutto di Parma
Caprese: fresh mozzarella, oven-roasted tomato and basil pesto
Acetaia salad with tender baby greens, cucumber, a hardboiled egg, Prosciutto di Parma, and Aceto Manodori
Grilled radicchio with smoked mozzarella and aceto cavedone
Salumi di giorno
At B&B Ristorante, Chef Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich’s award-winning New York City-based Italian restaurant experience uses only the best local ingredients, treats them as artfully as possible then serves them with gusto. Batali and Bastianich have created an incredible menu paired with Italy’s finest wines in a simple and elegant atmosphere. Batali’s signature dishes appeal to all personalities, from the classic to the adventurous. Bastianich’s wine list showcases selections from every region in Italy, many of them available by the “quartino” (quarter-liter). In B&B Ristorante’s dining room, classical Old World charm meets the stylish appeal of the Las Vegas Strip.
OTTO Enoteca e Pizzeria combines the vibe of an elegant Venetian enoteca with the energy of a crowded Italian train station. The menu is diverse and decadent, flexible and full of variety. OTTO features an ever-evolving menu of thin crust roman-style pizzas, antipasti meats and cheeses, salads, pastas and main dishes, accompanied with a relaxed atmosphere that is perfect for a quick snack, big group or family night out. Pronounced oh-TOH, in Italian, OTTO means “8,” representing the restaurant’s original location on 8th street in New York. Enoteca is the term used in Italy for small, local or regional wine shops where guests may sample wines from area producers.
