Ralph’s Bar owner tells Cuomo his story. So far, no response.
Updated Jan 28, 2021;
Posted Jan 28, 2021
Ralph s Bar in Dongan Hills opened in early 2020 at the base of Four Corners and Richmond roads. (Courtesy of Ralph Tafuri)
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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The neighborhood bar business took a pummeling from the pandemic. The dining restrictions really hurt, although saloonkeeper Ralph Tafuri hasn’t given up hope for the future. Even though his Dongan Hills bar has already sunk thousands into a street setup that didn’t quite work out, he’s now looking into legally constructing a backyard, outdoor dining section.
Best restaurants 2020: 16 innovators in the food business during the pandemic
Updated Dec 28, 2020;
Posted Dec 28, 2020
Who helped contribute to great things in the Staten Island food world in the pandemic? (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Si
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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. To stay on the positive and finish the year on a “hoorah” note, we celebrate chefs and owners who pivoted during the pandemic with continued optimism and constant innovation.
One can see the fiber of a person, especially kitchen people, when faced with adversity. In some, difficult times bring out the best a mind can muster. Indeed, the darkest days of the pandemic, arguably, might have been between March 16 (when indoor dining became illegal) and about May 1. That latter date is when the business carnage became even more pronounced with the realization of how customers’ seasonal and daily routines had so dramatically changed.
Il Sogno owner tells Cuomo: ‘Sweat, blood, tears’ made my dream. ‘I’m on the brink of losing it all.’ | Pamela’s Food Service Diary
Updated Dec 14, 2020;
Posted Dec 14, 2020
Pedro Canello says welcome to his guests at Il Sogno in Annadale on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020 when indoor dining resumed at 25%. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri
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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Pedro Canello owns Annadale’s fine dining restaurant Il Sogno, a word that translates from Italian to “dream.” The linen cloth eatery has been known for its steaks, wine list and, in pre-COVID-19 times, for its weekend entertainment. But these days, Canello says Governor Andrew Cuomo’s recent mandate to shut indoor dining puts Il Sogno precariously close to going out of business.