Partners, Chefs Jody Williams and Rita Sodi have developed a warm, cozy, Italian atmosphere at Via Carota in New York. California native, Jody Williams, got her start in food service at her father’s hot dog stand in San Francisco. At 24, Chef Williams set out to Italy to learn about Italian cuisine and upon her return, became the chef of an Italian restaurant named Tappo in New York City. Chef Williams has also appeared as a judge on the series Chopped as well as in many acclaimed publications throughout her career. Chef Williams is the author of the book, ‘Buvette: The Pleasure of Good Food’ as well as the owner of a Buvette in Paris as well as Tokyo. Chef Rita Sodi grew up on a farm in Tuscany, Italy, where most everything they ate was from the farm. Upon graduation, she worked in the fashion and design industry but kept gravitating towards cooking and especially the food of her childhood. She partnered with Chef Williams and together they own and work at several of their restaurants in New York.
Each dish at Via Carota is made with love and tells a story for guests to enjoy. Some of their most popular dishes include Chef Williams and Chef Sodi’s versions of Cacio e Pepe and Wild Boar Ragu. The fresh pasta in these dishes will make you feel right at home. For a fresh option, the Insalata Verde is a beautiful salad with a variety of mixed greens and a sherry vinaigrette, large enough to share. Guests also can’t go wrong with the grilled octopus (polipo) that comes with fresh green olive pesto. For dessert, you must try the Olive Oil Panna Cotta. The pure olive oil mixed with the creamy panna cotta is a great end to a delicious evening.
Via Carota is currently open for outdoor dining as well as indoor reservations. Guests and staff are required to wear masks during their experience, even while seated at the table. Via Carota has also implemented strict sanitization protocols for all surfaces and has installed in-duct air scrubbers with UV lights to sanitize the air. Staff participates in a wellness check at the start of each shift which includes a temperature check. Via Carota has committed to sourcing only products from suppliers that strictly adhere to health and safety standards that mirror their restaurant’s protocols. They also offer online ordering for contactless pickup or delivery.
Website: www.viacarota.com
Phone: (212) 255-1962
Tony Lagana
Chef Tony is a 42-year veteran of the food industry and is often known by his peers as “The New Product Guru.” Throughout his illustrious culinary career, he’s earned several notable titles and positions including Acquisition International’s “Most Influential Product Development Expert, U.S.” in 2019.
In 1997, Tony also founded Culinary Systems Inc., a group of culinary consultants that assist with culinary training, restaurant start-ups, concept development, and more. Since then, Tony and his team have generated over two billion dollars in sales for their clients in restaurants, retail, and manufacturing.
The strategic, technical, and culinary skills of Tony and his team can be seen on the menus of national chains, in the portfolio of national food manufacturers, and on the grocery shelves of products produced by major retail companies.