Terrific Takeout: Fabio Cucina Italiana Our Coverage Sponsored by Fresh Origins
Executive Chef and Owner of Fabio Cucina Italiana, our friend Fabio Hakill
The most deliciously authentic crabcake we've had this spring!
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As you may or may not know, Peachy Deegan was first a sportswriter before she was formally a critic of anything, and she wrote professionally as a sportswriter when she was a student at Boston College. Whom You Know is all about the culmination of excellence across the board (Ever to Excel-you know where we got that from) and when we have the opportunity to combine more than one thing we celebrate, we love it.
Back in 2012, we first met Fabio Hakill at his prior restaurant and we were immensely impressed with his culinary talents, which he again demonstrated; however, we were also excited about how much he loves soccer. Or football for everyone reading outside of America. Fabio also plays soccer. We noticed that right when you walk in the door of Fabio Cucina Italiana, which Fabio opened in December 2013 at 214 East 52nd Street you see a soccer game going on the television at the bar...so to all our new friends at the New York City Football Club, know that here at Fabio Cucina Italiana you are dining with one of your own!
Fabio Cucina Italiana is one of the best meals we have had in 2015. It's quality Italian cuisine executed in a healthy way by someone who really does care about every last detail.
Fabio tells us his menu is 90% natural and nothing is artificial.
He uses cream sparingly.
Can you imagine eating super healthy Italian food?
You can here.
For our green salad, we chose the fresh artisan Insalata Della Casa: chopped mixed greens with asparagus, tomato and cucumber. They put the dressing on the side just as we asked and the arrangement was just as beautiful as the degree of freshness was high. We ordered off the menu because it was our first visit, but you should know that Fabio, who has been a chef for 27 years, will create any dish his customers want if you tell him! Not everywhere is that accommodating or as nice as Fabio, and these qualities are just as important as being a great chef if you want to have a successful restaurant business.
We eat a lot of crabcakes, and often people want us to try theirs and everyone tells us theirs is the best. That would be impossible. The Tortino Di Granchio is the best we've had recently, and it is the ultimate in freshness with no breading. It is not fried. It is pure Maryland Jumbo Lump Crab Meat served with pineapple and mango dressing that compliments the crabby flavor we love so well. The mango, pineapple, red and yellow pepper that surround the crabcake are the perfect highlight. We would eat this every day. Also, it is gorgeous.
You will nearly cry when your pasta course of Fettuccine Alla Fabio has magically disappeared on your plate. The homemade fettuccine with veal porcini mushrooms and our best friend white truffles is absolutely divine and every bite is to be savored. The pasta is perfectly al dente and the accents are added in proper proportion. The pasta portions are just perfect and not too small and definitely not too big at Fabio Cucina Italiana. You want to save room for the chocolate cake.
We ordered a most exciting entree: Dentice Al Cartoccio, which arrives like this!
It's not from outer space. It's from Fabio's oven.
Fabio sauteees the phenomenal Red Snapper that is hiding inside. You can tell that Fabio truly exudes joy in his vocation.
Fabio buys all fish himself and he goes to Hunts Point 3-4 times a week.
The red snapper was perfectly moist, juicy and healthy and the oven roasted flavor really is terrific.
Sliced zucchini and tomato, black olives, potato and fresh herbs all compliment the fresh fish flavor and we'd highly recommend you try this.
Peachy is not a recovering chocoholic; she rejoices in her chocoholism. This time she celebrated it with Fabio's amazing warm chocolate cake, which is even better with vanilla:
Fabio lets you control how much vanilla gelato you want to add which is thoughtful.
Look at that lovely chocolate ooze!
Fabio also creates an excellent Torta Nonna lemon grandma cake, and his ricotta cheesecake is even light.
Fabio Cucina Italiana is absolutely Terrific Takeout!
We can't wait to return.
