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Headshot by Lauren Damaskinos • Photos by Liz Clayman
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What led to your interest in the food & beverage world?
My love of food was instilled in me at an early age. I was exposed to a variety of cuisines as a young kid growing up in Queens. I still remember the pernil [Puerto Rican pork shoulder] my friend Luis’ Grandmother served and the dumplings I ate at his friend Jeffrey’s apartment. It wasn’t until my first job at Italian Wine Merchants, did I realize that food (and wine) could be a career.
Do you have a favorite dish at one of your restaurants?
Chef Silvia Garcia-Nevado just put on a Fabada at Bar Vinazo -- a hearty white bean stew with chunks of pork belly, morcilla and chorizo. It is exactly what I want to eat on a cold winter night.
What’s the best part about the New York culinary community?
That we are all in it together! We all struggle with many of the same challenges (city regulations, staffing, landlords, WEATHER!) and really respect and value each other. The vast majority of us are sharing information and looking out for one another. In a city that is as densely populated with restaurants as NYC is, it's encouraging to know that our fellow operators are our allies.
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Could you tell us a little bit about your book, Vino?
Vino is a culmination of my fifteen years as an Italian wine buyer here in NYC. Over the years, I have visited Italy many, many times and forged deep relationships with winemakers across the country. Time and time again, I would return from Italy, struck by what I believed to be a new direction for winemaking in the country – a refocusing on indigenous grapes, organic and biodynamic farming and minimal intervention in the cellar. Together with my co-author Joshua David Stein, we felt it was important to tell the stories of the winemakers who are producing artisan wines and are pushing the conversation forward.
Are there any ideas brewing for another restaurant venture?
I am always exploring new restaurant opportunities, but my heart lies with my three neighborhood restaurants here in Brooklyn. Brooklyn has been home-base for me for over ten years and it has been so exciting to see the businesses start from nothing to develop into neighborhood fixtures each with their own devoted following. I love getting stopped by friends and regulars on the street who share updates after a recent meal or excitement over a new dish. Sometimes I even get some constructive feedback which is just as welcome!
Follow Along:
joecampanale.com
@faustobrooklyn
@laloubrooklyn
@barvinazo
