Torrisi to Open Chinese-Influenced Stand at San Gennaro Fest

Curbed noted yesterday that the San Gennaro fest kind of snuck up on us this year. For what seems like the first time, residents of the trendy Nolita neighborhood didn't send the website long rants about how the yearly street fair is ruining their lives. But that's not all that's new.

Peter Meehan reports that Mario Carbone and Rich Torrisi of the very popular Torrisi Italian Specialties on Mulberry Street are hosting a booth this year. And of course, they're getting quirky with their menu, offering Italian items influenced by the neighborhood that has slowly been displacing Little Italy for the past two decades, Chinatown. On the menu: wok-fried mozzarella sticks, a roast pork sandwich that is a take on char siu bao, and "cream puffs engineered to taste like custard buns." Click through to find out how they conceived it all.
· Little Italy Meets Chinatown [NYT]