The food movement in Piedmont, Brooklyn has inspired restaurant owners to provide a farm-to-table experience. Rucola is a small Northern Italian style restaurant on a historic corner in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn where the food is simply delicious. From their selection of sandwiches like the roast pork and speck to the freshly made pasta and chocolate torte, you won’t be disappointed. The restaurant features the highest quality of ingredients in and around New York; and their food, wine, and cocktail menus change seasonally to stay fresh.
Cousins Henry Rich and Julian Brizzi are managing partners and ardent believers in the idea that restaurants should serve fresh, local ingredients. Henry, who previously ran a specialty food company for seven years, was the partner responsible for the name of the restaurant (named after his favorite bitter green). Julian has worked in restaurants all of his adult life, and he has also consulted for Gourmet magazine.
In addition to its sustainable farm-to-table philosophy, Rucola also supports local charities, hosting a number of fundraising events including Young New Yorkers and Wellness in Schools. The Young New Yorkers charity is an alternative to incarceration program for teenagers who have pled guilty to a misdemeanor. If the teenagers successfully participate in a series of art workshops and counseling sessions, they avoid jail time and a possible life-long adult criminal record. The Wellness in Schools charity inspires healthy eating, environmental awareness, and fitness as a way of life for kids in public schools across the country.
The Rucola way of thinking and eating is both a new concept and an old one. Before advances in technology, both in farming and transportation, people had no choice but to eat locally. The focus was on local purveyors, which supported the economy and people within one’s range of living. In recent years and in light of environmental concerns and ethical practices in the food industry, more and more people find themselves clinging to the sustainability mindset of yesteryear. Sustainability and the farm-to-table experience is alive and well at Rucola.
Rucola’s Tuna Sandwich
