How Piccola Cucina is redefining Sicilian dining in New York City | amNewYork

Piccola Cucina Sicilian Osteria on Spring Street in New York offers Sicilian dining experiences shaped by childhood memories from Catania. Opened in 2013 as an expansion of the Prince Street location, it continues to meet growing demand for authentic Sicilian cuisine. The chef’s mission is to transport diners to Sicily through food, atmosphere, and hospitality, while preserving regional traditions and balancing imported Italian products with locally sourced ingredients. The menu includes less-familiar Sicilian dishes such as granita and pane cunzato. Ingredients come from local farmers’ markets and directly from Italy, including DOP mozzarella, Sicilian red shrimp, Calabrian charcuterie, and pasta imported from Campania.

"Since opening in 2013 as an expansion of the group's Prince Street location, the restaurant has continued to meet the growing demand for authentic Sicilian cuisine. From red shrimp to volcanic wines from Mount Etna, Piccola Cucina is bringing southern Italy to New York City in a dining experience of memory, tradition, and regional cuisine."

"Guardione says the mission stays the same: to transport diners to Sicily through food, atmosphere, and hospitality. Piccola Cucina is the pure essence of Italy, brought to New York City, Guardione said. From Catina to Soho Born in Catania, Sicily, Guardione says his childhood memories continue to shape every menu across the group's restaurants."

"I try to prepare my food the same way I remember from childhood, he said. Whenever I am deciding on new dishes for our menus, my starting point is always the flavors I grew up with. That approach has helped distinguish Piccola Cucina in New York's crowded Italian dining scene by introducing dishes many American diners may not be familiar with, including granita and pane cunzato a traditional Sicilian bread dish."

"For Guardione, authentic Sicilian cuisine means preserving the traditions he grew up with while balancing imported Italian products with locally sourced ingredients. Authentic Sicilian cuisine in NY means doing my very best to convey my passion and experience in my homeland's food to our customers, Guardione said."

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