Episode #11
The BRO Show: Season 4 Episode 11 - Mario Vitolo
The Bro Show - Season 4 Episode 11 Mario Vitolo: Emilio's Ballato, NYC Restaurant Legacy, Family Business & Italian Food On this episode of The Bro Show, host Jamie Giovinazzo is joined by Kayla, filling in for Troy Sears while he's in Italy, to sit down with Chef Mario Vitolo of Emilio's Ballato in New York City to talk family legacy, running a restaurant that never changes, and what it actually takes to last in the toughest food city in the world. Mario shares how he knew at eight years old that he wanted to cook, watching his father come home from Ferrara's and study Julia Child and Emeril on his days off, and how a stint in New Orleans under Dickie Brennan taught him hospitality before he ever went full time with the family business. The guys get into the famous no-reservations policy, the small menu that has not changed since his father took over, and why the pork chop with vinegar peppers is the most underrated thing on it. Mario also walks through the seven-hour Bolognese, the linguine and clams, the meatballs, and why sourcing and prep in the morning is what makes the execution look easy at night. Mario also cooked for this one, bringing a grilled chicken parm and a yam and tofu fettuccine with a shallot vodka cream sauce, plus his take on where food culture has gone sideways in America and what he wants his own brand to stand for. Of course, Jamie brings the usual Bro Show energy with the family barbecue that turned into a seven day production, cutting down a hickory tree for the right smoke, homemade nitrate free bacon, the burnt Thanksgiving turkey he still has not forgiven himself for, and the Popeyes DoorDash driver who did not survive the hill. The episode also touches on the new scratch-made soup line launching at Eat Clean Bro. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Special thanks to our sponsors: Eat Clean Bro and Raceway of Freehold – Kia, Nissan, Jeep & Chrysler Follow them here: @EatCleanBro @racewaykia1637 @racewaynissannj @RacewayJeepofFreehold Visit: https://eatcleanbro.com/ https://www.racewaykia.com/ https://www.racewaynissannj.com/ https://www.jeepoffreehold.com/ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ You will also hear about: - Emilio's Ballato's no-reservations rule and the Joe Montana back-of-the-line story - The pork chop with vinegar peppers, "the Brock Purdy of the menu" - Mario's seven-hour Bolognese and linguine and clams technique - Jamie's origin story from a gym locker room to cooking for Carmelo Anthony and LaLa - Eat Clean Bro's new scratch-made soups and chicken bone broth If you're into food, family business, New York City, the Jersey Shore, or just a good Bro Show conversation, this episode is for you. Like, follow, and subscribe for more from The Bro Show. Stay sharp. Stay Jersey. Bro Show out.
