on the side streets of new york

Gradisca — 126 West 13th StreetThere is no doubt that the pasta is homemade at Gradisca, for the Italian “mama” can be found stationed right up front making the dough. Caterina, the restaurant owner’s mother, travels to New York from Italy every few months to lovingly knead pounds and pounds of pasta for her son’s restaurant. What fun it is to stop by when she is there and observe as she breaks dozens of eggs into the center of a large wall of flour and shapes the resulting dough for her well-known tortellini. However, she explained, she must always return home again so that she can prepare the same delicious meals for her other son who still lives in Italy.

To read more, visit Manhattan Sideways (sideways.nyc), created by Betsy Bober Polivy.