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[G-Fafif]

Matt Galante?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Staten Island's own.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Galante and Rojas are rapidly turning into the same guy somewhere inside my addled brain.

[G-Fafif]

I remember one thing about Matt Galante. In one of the postseasons when he was here, desperate for Mets content of any kind, I saw on mets.com that there was a bylined piece by said coach about his favorite places for Italian food in the National League. I anxiously and ironically clicked on it, wondering what the gag was, but it was actually "my favorite Italian restaurants," very earnestly recommeneded, in Houston, L.A., wherever.

It didn't sate my craving for Mets news whatsoever.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Galante: Road restaurants fit the bill A connoisseur uncovers the league's best Italian meals NEW YORK -- Matt Galante's knowledge about baseball has never been questioned. The Mets' third base and infield coach is a baseball lifer who can sit and talk about the game for hours on end. But there's more to Galante than being able to teach a youngster how to field a ground ball. The New York native is a connoisseur of fine foods and for this, his monthly column on MLB.com, Galante has taken a different approach. Rather than discuss errors and hits, Galante will talk about pasta and proscuitto as he rates all the hot spots to get a top-notch Italian meal around the National League. His guide is a must printout for players; media and fans before they embark on any road trip this season. These are just a few of my favorites from around the league. I'm sure there are plenty more great Italian restaurants across America. But these are my favorites, the one's I have frequented through all my years in the National League. EAST DIVISION Florida Paolo's Restaurant and Pizzeria, Pembrooke Lake -- They feature home-style cooking with red-checkered tablecloths. All the pasta dishes are great, especially the ones with red sauce. Try the seafood, particularly the calamari appetizer. The linguini with clams and scallops with shrimp are also great. Cappaccio, Bal Harbour -- The tuna, salmon and swordfish are great. Their stuffed artichokes with cheese are also excellent. This place is a little pricey but it's good nonetheless. Philadelphia The South Philly Grill -- It doesn't sound Italian but it really is a good spot. It's very casual and inexpensive and the food is served family style. They have the red-checkered tablecloths as well and seafood is a specialty. The flounder stuffed with crabmeat is your best bet. Atlanta Carabba's Italian Grille -- its part of a chain from around the country but the food is great. The calamari and mussels are great appetizers while the shrimp and veal dishes are wonderful. The linguini with the red clam sauce is your best bet. Montreal Da Vinci's [downtown] -- This is an elegant dining experience. The veal dishes are all very good and the pasta is great. The escargot is a fantastic appetizer while the calamari, though a little different, is very good. WEST DIVISION San Francisco Alioto's Restaurant -- This Fisherman's Wharf hot spot has a great atmosphere and is right on San Francisco Bay. It has great Sicilian specialties, including pasta and seafood dishes. Try the linguini with mussels, clams and scallops of the lobster in marinara sauce. Los Angeles Cafi Luna -- The risotto with chicken and mushrooms and the shrimp scampi are the best. The proscuitto and melon antipasto is also very good. San Diego Bucca de Bepo [Joe's Basement] -- All the fish dishes and all the pasta dishes are great. My favorite is the linguini with red clam sauce. You should also try the linguini frutti di mare, which is linguini with mussels, clams and scallops in a marinara sauce. Phoenix La Fontanella's -- This is Italian home-style cooking with the manicotti and escargot serving as can't misses. They make wonderful lamb dishes and the pasta dishes are perfect. Denver Maggiano's Little Italy -- We have more red-checkered tablecloths and a wonderful atmosphere. The spaghetti, especially the rigatoni, in clam sauce is great. Try the stuffed mushrooms, the chicken Parmesan and the veal scaloppini. CENTRAL DIVISION St. Louis Cunetto House of Pasta -- This is on the hill and it's worth it. They serve generous portions with linguini and red clam sauce being my favorite. The eggplant dishes are great. There are no reservations here but this place is elegant and worth the wait. Guiseppe's -- They're located in old south St. Louis. The chicken cacciatore and the veal marsala and superb. All the pasta dishes are great and they have an old, 60s-style bar. Chicago Tuscany [in little Italy on the South Side] -- These guys feature Northern Italian specialties. They have wonderful veal dishes. It's an elegant restaurant -- a little pricey but worth it. Tufano's -- This is an inexpensive home-style restaurant and bar. It's a favorite among the locals with its basic Italian dishes. The fried calamari is a great appetizer and the homemade pasta dishes are great. You get plenty of food here. Pittsburgh Poli's [on Squirrel Hill] -- Three generations of family ownership have kept this restaurant running very well. It's now owned by Larry Poli, Jr. and the seafood specialties are fabulous. Try the Boston scrod stuffed with crab or shrimp. The zucchini is great, sliced or fried. The linguini and rigatoni are all outstanding. Rico's [near downtown] -- The pasta and veal dishes are exceptional with the Veal Lorenzin serving as the signature dish. That's veal with Swiss cheese, proscuitto and mushrooms. Milwaukee Bartolotta Restaurante -- Try the risotto. The eggplant dishes are all very good and they feature a wood-burning stove. The wood-roasted salmon and the wood-fired pizza are great. Houston Damian's [downtown] -- This is elegant with great atmosphere. Try and get private chef's table off the kitchen. The veal and seafood are superb. Try the linguini pescatore. That's linguini, clams, scallops and lobster in a marinara sauce. It can't be beat. Ciros -- Ciros Lampagis runs this place and it's perfect. There are plenty of pasta dishes and off menu items, all you have to do is ask. They feature a great arugula salad and the red clam sauce over the linguini is always a winner. They feature a weight conscious menu and you can get a great jar of sauce to take home. Cincinnati Scotti's [downtown] -- This doesn't sound very Italian, either, but it is and they have great Italian food. The veal specialties are wonderful and served many ways. Try the bracioleth, which is a rolled stuffed beef in tomato sauce. The Steak Giardinaera is also fantastic. It's prepared with hot peppers, olive oil and capers along with lemon juice and anchovies. As told to Kevin Czerwinski, reporter for mlb.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Carrabba's and Maggiano's?

Does he take visiting relatives to the Macaroni Grille?

[metirish]

In my minds eye I see Galante on the third baseline with his hands nailed to his hips.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I thought I might try and take him up on his suggestion of Poli's in Pitts this summer but instead:

More than a year after it closed, Poli's Restaurant faces ongoing financial obligations that have led the former dining institution's owners to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. According to the filing, the family-owned business faces debts of between $100,000 and $1 million, though specific creditors were not listed. The bankruptcy was filed by Joe Poli on Feb. 28, with the company's registered address listed at his home in Monroeville. The restaurant property is owned by Larry Poli, Joe's brother. The filing marks the latest legal chapter for a legendary restaurant, which opened in 1924. For generations, the Squirrel Hill restaurant lured hordes of regulars through its lobster-knobbed doors with fresh salmon and mahi mahi served with plenty of personal attention from the Poli family. Before such high-end chains as McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant ever considered Pittsburgh, Poli's was known to draw dinner crowds of more than 700 people on weekend nights. The restaurant's more than 80-year run ended in December 2005 when Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Lee Mazur ordered the restaurant closed due to a lack of insurance. ...

Read more: One year after restaurant closes, owners of Poli's seek Chapter 11 | Pittsburgh Business Times

[G-Fafif]

I see Galante's second career as a scout for the Danny Meyer organization didn't work out.

[Guest The Second Spitter]

Geezus. G-Fafif got the coach correct too.

Freak.


Thanks RQA for looking after this.