Friday, October 19, 12:00 noon
Members $55, guests $65


HERE AT THE JAMES BEARD Foundation, our idea of romance includes a small trattoria, a leisurely afternoon, and a spread with generous antipasti misti, seasonal fruits and vegetables, simple pastas, and hearty meats. This month, chef Donato Deserio of Manhattan’s Viareggio, will be bringing us romance, Italian-style, one of life’s more delicious simple pleasures.

At his recently opened Viareggio, named after a celebrated town in Tuscany, Deserio’s cooking has quickly become known as "a breath of fresh air," as Zagat wrote in 2001. "At first glance," New York magazine wrote, "There is nothing to distinguish this dining room from countless others. But the kitchen’s another story. Deserio’s deft touch with superbly al dente pastas like creamless rigatoni alla vodka reinvigorates old standards." The magazine continued, "entrees like a subtle Parmigiano-Reggiano-crusted chicken breast in white-wine sauce, and Deserio’s signature cognac-flamed lobster, taste almost new." On WCBS, Bob Lape called Deserio "one of our more gifted and fast-moving chefs," praising his "interesting twists on classics." Lape loved the "salad of fresh greens with gorgonzola cheese and olives and chef Donato’s way with anything from the sea."

Donato Deserio, a native of Mola bi Bari, Italy, trained and worked at restaurants in Italy before coming to the United States. He cooked at top kitchens in New York, including Il Cortile, Maria Elena, and Sign of the Dove, before opening Viareggio, which he runs with his son, manager Giuseppe Deserio.