MEET THE CHEF: Andrea Esposito of Gusto Ristorante Italiano in Feasterville, Pennsylvania
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5 Reasons to Visit® sat down with Executive Chef Andrea Esposito of Gusto Ristorante Italiano in Feasterville, Pennsylvania.
Executive Chef Andrea Esposito of Gusto Ristorante Italiano in Feasterville, Pennsylvania
Where did you grow up, and where have you traveled to that has helped inspire and shape your cooking philosophy?
When I think about creating authentic Italian cuisine, the words that come to mind are "homemade, seasonal, and traditional." My family, upbringing, and where I was born and raised have greatly inspired my culinary style. My town of origin, Monte di Procida (a small coastal town in Naples) has always been synonymous with the natural culinary resources that the land and sea have to offer. The freshness and genuineness of the ingredients, the smells and tastes of homemade dishes made from recipes that have been handed down for generations; all of which enforced my family’s belief that good food is created from simple, healthy ingredients and done so with passion, love, and hard work. I continue to hold that belief to this day. My restaurant, Gusto, demonstrates all of these qualities in our traditional and authentic Italian cuisine while adding the innovation and avant-garde of today's Italy. At Gusto, all of our ingredients are thoughtfully selected and imported from Italy, using only the best quality ingredients available. All of our pasta, bread, mozzarella, and stracciatella are made in-house following traditional Italian recipes, with the ingredients we import from Italy. We also use seasonal organic produce in our dishes. The menu is characteristic of Italy; the separate courses, the portion sizes, and the combination of the ingredients. The menu is changed every 2 months to offer our guests fresh, seasonal dishes.
Gusto Ristorante Italiano in Feasterville, Pennsylvania
Tell our readers an interesting fact or two about yourself that reflects your cooking style.
An interesting fact about myself is being an old-school man. Some people would say “old-fashioned” and I think that this characteristic reflects the traditional nature of my cuisine.
Tell us about your absolute favorite food and why readers should try it if they haven’t already.
My favorite dish is “Tagliatelle al Tartufo”, tagliatelle pasta with black truffle. At Gusto, we make the tagliatelle in house, use the fresh garlic, and import the extra virgin olive oil and the black truffle directly from Italy. I love how simple and genuine ingredients can create an explosion of flavors.
Gusto Ristorante Italiano in Feasterville, Pennsylvania
What are three ingredients that you simply couldn’t live without?
Three ingredients I could not live without are extra virgin olive oil, fresh basil, and fresh garlic!
We love the art behind plating. What do you love about designing the perfect dish?
A dish is perfect when with only its smell, it makes you have the mouth-watering without even having seen the dish. The quality and the harmonious combination of the Italian ingredients chosen at Gusto underlines, with their smell, the flavor of the food, the colors, and the composition.
Gusto Ristorante Italiano in Feasterville, Pennsylvania
Tell us about one of the most creative dishes you’ve created?
I have created the “Mozzarella Affumicata al Tavolo”, homemade mozzarella smoked at the table. Taking inspiration from the Provola Affumicata and from the Scamorza (typical Italian cheeses), my homemade mozzarella is smoked for few minutes at the table enhancing with its smell the incredible flavor.
Gusto Ristorante Italiano in Feasterville, Pennsylvania
What’s your favorite cocktail or beverage of choice?
My favorite drink is homemade sparkling red wine.
Gusto Ristorante Italiano in Feasterville, Pennsylvania
