Mr. Wishes got me a really cool cookbook, The Frankies Spuntino – Kitchen Companion and Cooking Manual, for Christmas this past year and I finally got around to making a recipe out of it. I knew right away after reading through the whole cookbook back when I first got it that this “Orecchiette with Pistachios” was most definitely the first thing I wanted to give a try.
Frankie Spuntino Italian Restaurant is a unique Italian restaurant run by two owners by the name of Frank: Frank Falcinelli and Frank Castronovo. They have two locations in New York City; their original location in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn and a second location is in the lower east side of the city. The restaurant started in November 2003 when the two Franks randomly reunited after 18 years and discovered how much they had in common. For instance, they had both grown up in Queens and had culinary training in France. They also both had worked for top chefs in the 80’s and 90’s, such as David Bouley and Charlie Palmer, before running their own kitchens in New York. Coincidentally, those of you from Rochester may recognize the name “Bouley” if you have ever eaten at the Wegman family-owned restaurant Next Door Bar & Grill. Mr. Wishes was “Engineer of Record” on the restaurant, and as he tells me, the menu item was added as a tribute to chef David Bouley, who is one of Danny Wegman’s best friends that spent considerable time consulting with the Wegman’s team during design of the new restaurant.
After this unforeseen reunion, they realized that they both had a longing to revisit the Italian-American cuisine of their childhood and the roots they both shared and cherished so much. They came up with the idea Frankies Spuntino (Spuntino means “an informal meal or a snack; also, a casual Italian eatery” in Italian). This would symbolize both of their culinary values, travel and experiences and be a place where they could cook together. They visualized offering traditional Sunday cuisine such as homemade pastas, sausages, braciole and Sunday sauce. It would all be food that their Grandmothers used to make when they were growing up – home cooked, simple, and made with the freshest possible ingredients. They offer healthy soups and sandwiches, fresh salads, roasted vegetables and small plates at their restaurants.
The main ingredients are Sicilian in emphasis and the mint reflects the North African influence on Sicilian cuisine. I recommend you give this a try! It’s easy and very delicious and has great texture to it: soft pasta and crunchy pistachios. Once you taste it you won’t believe how easy it was to make. The most tedious part of this recipe is the shelling of the pistachios (thanks Mr. Wishes)….the rest is a breeze!
INGREDIENTS:
Put a large pot of water on the boil and salt it well.
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This looks fantastic! I love nut-based sauces, and pistachios are not a nut that I have tried in that form yet! I look forward to trying this recipe.
I had never used pistachios in this way before! I was glad I tried it! Thanks for commenting
this sounds delicious! a really wonderful blend of flavors here!
Thanks for the nice comment!
hahaha mr wishes
Nice hearing from you
I love that Wegmans restaurant! I miss living near there… Anyways, great looking pasta! So green and healthy looking!
Thanks for the nice comment, Vicki! I love Wegmans
This looks so simple and so good.
It is both of those things!
Thanks for commenting, Sharyn 
Yum! Orecchiette and pistachio are two of my favorite ingredients. =) Thanks for sharing this easy recipe, Ashley. I will definitely give it a try.
I’m sure you will love it! Thanks for commenting, Candice!
Oh, this sounds divine! I think I might add some spring peas to it…
Ooo that sounds good!!
Oh, this looks so lovely! Yummy and refreshing, too!
Thanks, Liz!
How fun – I have been looking at “pistachio pesto” recipes all weekend determined to try some (and knowing full well I won’t get the flavorful ones from Sicily but oh well). And here you are with exactly what I need and just deliciously prepared. Just returned from NYC – would’ve tried out the restaurtant. woulda…coulda…shoulda…
Aww thanks for that nice comment, Claudia! I want to try that restaurant next time I’m in NYC. I bet it’s so good!
This recipe looks totally delicious… I’m completely buggin’ over this!
It’s really good!! Thanks for the comment, Katie
This pasta sounds incredible and refreshing =)
Thanks, Peggy!!
I love the color of this dish! Mint and pistachio must be perfect together!
They definitely are! Thanks for the comment, Kaitlin
What a wonderful pasta recipe. I adore anything with pistachio in it.
Thanks for the comment, Kim!
This is going on my To Do List. Definitely!
Thanks for the comment! I hope you enjoy it
Pistacios and mint never occurred to me! Interesting and fresh combination
I wasn’t sure about it either, but it turned out delicious! Thanks for the comment, Paula!
What a great idea for pasta!!
Thanks, Elizabeth!
You can’ t go wrong with two franks and a bunch of pistachios. I don’t care for mint, so I would probably use some basil or parsley, but otherwise, this looks wonderful.
I agree! And I bet it would be awesome with basil or parsley in place of the mint. Thanks for commenting!
I love how simple and flavorful this dish appears to be. I love Italian cooking for its simplicity and robust flavors. Gorgeous pics! I’d love to make this sometime!
Thanks, Maggie! It really is such a simple dish but yet so fancy looking and tasting
Lovely flavours and a gorgeous looking dish, can’t wait to give it a try.
Thanks, Jill!