Jeff Orlick (link) introduced me to Joe DiStefano, editor of the Edible Queens blog (link) and I was psyched to be going out with someone who knew what was becoming my favorite foodie enclave of the city so well.
I had originally called Leo’s Latticini and spoken to Irene about coming in a week after Mama just passed away. She asked me “How’d you get this number?” I looked around the internet for a while and couldn’t really find the number I’d dialed anywhere. It was funny, whenever they picked up, it was always “Hello?” and not “This is Mama’s/Leo’s Latticini; May I help you?”
Turns out I got the number from Zagat – 27. They know their stuff.
The Best Meatball Sub on the Planet Yes, it is officially the best meatball sub on the planet. This is one of those H&H moments (link) where I have an idea of what I like and then this ridiculously high-quality item prepared simply trashes my preconceived notions of what’s good and what’s not. I usually like it toasted; this one is not toasted. Usually like my cheese melty and gooey, this cheese was firm. Usually like my meatballs sliced in half so they fit into the bun, if these meatballs were the size of softballs, I couldn’t have cared because I just wanted them in my belly. Thought I wasn’t going to drop another P-Bomb after Danny Brown but here it is – this was the perfect meatball sub. Irene gave us some fresh mutz when we got to the deli, just like at Fiore’s Deli (link). As I was sitting there contemplating the stark white, sopping wet offering, I asked her if she knew about the 30 Rock Sangweech. When I said Fiore, she said “That’s our family.” It turns out that the mutz Chris and I loved so much on the roast beef sandwich started with a grandmother named Fiore back in the old country. They’re related! |
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Italian Wedding Soup I had the entire meatball sub. That’s right. I ate the whole thing. Then I had two bites of the Italian Wedding Soup. Joe asked me if I’d invited him to Mama’s in Queens because he lived here and was Italian. I told him I wasn’t that organized. He told me he didn’t much grow up on this soup but he liked it. I mean, the meatballs were to die for, that’s a given. The broth was quite flavorful and the little orzo-y kind of things were firm to the tooth. |
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Mama’s Cappucino Look at that beautiful thing! A little whipped cream and cinnamon on top. Gorgeous. This may not have been my favorite cappuccino of 93 Plates, but it was certainly my favorite cappuccino presentation. |
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Strawberry Tart These two tarts were more for food porny pictures than a recommendation for the restaurant, then I had a bite and realized that they’re just the right size to have as many as you’d want and not feel guilty about eating them. They have a back patio that’s open in the summer. If you live in this neighborhood and don’t know about this awesome date spot, now you do, and if you don’t use this knowledge, you may be King of Queens but will beget none. |
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Blackberry Tart If the focus was on the front blackberry, this would be the best picture I’d taken of all 93 Plates. |
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Mama’s Cannoli Rachel (link) just told me today that dessert has it’s own shelf in your stomach. I’m inclined to agree with her, because both times I thought I was full, we finished the entire chocolate covered cannoli. I firmly believe that unless the cannoli was made at the store that day and is unrefrigerated, the only way to order one is chocolate covered. I will publish my cannoli manifesto in a future post, but for now, just trust me on this. |
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Here’s our video:
Guest Writer: Joe DiStefano … Here’s his post
Leo’s Latticini
46-02 104th Street
Queens, NY 11368
718-898-6069
