Rain. New York City has been deluged by rain since I arrived yesterday. But that is okay because this weekend is focused on Italian food and culture. This weekend boast the San Gennero Festival, the largest oldest religious festival in the country with an expected 2 million attendees over the two weeks of the festival. In addition we will be eating our way through Manhattan and exploring the Bronx Ferragosto Festival.

Yesterday we braved the element to travel to Mulberry Street and Little Italy for the San Gennero Festival. The street was fairly empty due to the downpour but some vendors were open.

San Gennero Festival Little ItalyRaining day at festival

 

 After walking around for awhile I decided it was time for dinner. The restaurants along the festival route had employees cajoling passersby to stop in as they offered the best Italian food in the city. Really – they all cant be the best. So I picked one at random and boy am I glad I did.

 

 

Da Gennero Restaurant (corner of Mulberry and Hester)

 

I had dinner at a Da Gennero Restaurant (corner of Mulberry and Hester). I ordered penne alla cacciatore (penne pasta with chicken breast, mushrooms, onions and peppers). Very good but the standout was the bread and oil the came with the meal. The olive oil was high quality OOVO with garlic, basil, pepper and a Romano cheese. I admit that I ate half a loaf of bread with it. Some before and after photos.

 

Penne Alla Cacciatora

 

 

After the feast

 

Following dinner I continued my stroll through Little Italy before heading back to my Times Square Hotel. Great start to our weekend in New York City.