Thursday, September 19th, 2024. Raffetto’s, Greenwich Village.— A group of 20 or more hungry strangers gathered together at Raffetto’s, a quaint petite pasta joint, specializing in producing 50 different kinds of pasta, including pumpkin ravioli, black squid ink linguine and rosemary pappardelle.
The pasta joint first opened its door in 1906 in the heart of Greenwich Village, Manhattan and has stood the test of time for 110 years. The family, bonded by their loyalty to preserve their legacy, has kept the business thriving, while expanding its territory into a factory in New Jersey where their fresh pastas are made. The motto that’s upheld their longevity is simple, “use the best quality ingredients to produce the best quality pasta”.
It’s no wonder their staying power resonates and aligns perfectly with All Clad, the stainless steel manufacturer who has produced Superior cookware for close to 54 years, extended their highest grade steel to the chefs of Raffetto’s to co-host a delicious 5-course dinner. Featuring their fresh pasta and savory entrees, all dishes were prepared to perfection with the use of All Clad’s popular stainless steel pans, the D5 stainless steel 10” fry Pan, the G5 Graphite Core Stainless Steel 12.5” Covered Pan, and the D3 Tri-Ply Stainless Steel, 5qt Sauteuse with lid.
The delectable 5-course meal opened with a warm welcome from our hostess, All–Clad and chefs, host + creators, Emily Fedner & Sarah Raffetto, who introduced us to a serving of an Aperitivo (appetizer) of well-baked Genova Toast served alla Norma (eggplant) with parsley butter and boquerones (fresh, cooked and vinegar-macerated anchovies). The tasty portions were prepared in All Clad’s D5 stainless steel 10” pan. The All-Clad D5 Stainless is a Nonstick Fry Pan, ideal for browning, searing, and frying foods like eggs, vegetables, and meats. The D5 is fully bonded to the rim. It consists of a unique five-ply construction that is patented and delivers the ultimate even heating and warp resistance. Its flared edges are designed for drip-free pouring, and its oversized, double riveted stainless steel handles ensure a secure grip to avoid slips and spills.
Next on the menu, an Antipasto course. The savory and crispy Mozzarella en Carrozza & Insalate Verde, a fresh mix of raw vegetable robust salad drizzled with shallot vinaigrette served along with a savory and crispy grilled toasted sandwich, stuffed with mozzarella and bits of boquerones woven into the cheese as part of the five course meal. The antipasto course was prepared with All Clad’s incomparable G5 Graphite Core Stainless steel 12.5” covered fry pan. The G5 Graphite is the Epicurious Kitchen MVP 2023 winning cookware of the year, and rightfully so. As All-Clad’s 1st ever graphite cookware, this chef’s favorite combines performance, durability and quality with breakthrough technology, visible on the pan’s surface, for high-speed, even heat and lightweight convenience.
It offers a cook 20% more skillet surface compared to their traditional fry pans and, much like the D5 model, the 12.5” G5 Skillet features a large flat base and flared sides. This pan goes the extra mile, as it is ideal for searing, browning and pan-frying larger foods, such as steak and pork chops. The lid and roomy capacity are a perfect pair for simmered dishes like braises. It is lightweight, heats up and evenly distributes heat to the surface and cools down just as quickly, ensuring safety for the cook, appliance surfaces and dishes after removal from the stove.
Additional dishes served included Sweet corn and Chive Raviolo Al Uovo with a tongue-clicking lingering miso brown butter and served with a delicious Homemade focaccia bread. Prepared in All Clad’s D3 Tri-Ply, Stainless Steel 5qt Sauteuse with lid to brown the butter, The sauteuse comes with a larger depth and ensures even heat distribution for impeccable results. It includes a splatter guard that provides convenient cooking; and is designed, fully bonded to the rim with a unique five-ply construction and is patented and delivers the ultimate even heating and warp resistance.
The star-studded entree of the night was the Shrimp Scampi (also prepared in the G5 Graphite core stainless steel 12 1/2 inch covered frying pan & the D3 Tri-Ply stainless steel, 5qt sauteuse with lid). The Shrimp Scampi was served on a bed of fresh LEMON FETTUCCINE, prepared on site.
As if the delicious dishes were not enough, the five course meal closed with a dessert of Zabaglione, prepared in All Clad’s durable D5 stainless steel 10” frying pan.
Guests of the evening included the likes of Sydney Lee (HGTV, Food network and The Pioneer Woman); and Rachel Gurjar, (Chef, Recipe Developer and Writer) whom I had the pleasure of dining beside with lots of laughter, bonding over the rich and hearty portions of our food, breaking bread and reflecting on the power of connection, food, memories, great wine pairings and so much more. I would highly recommend Raffetto’s if you’re searching for an amazingly intimate space to bring the ones you love closer together and if you opt to bond at home, make sure your cookware is All Clad, nothing sticks better together than their steel.