STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Therapy aside, one of the reasons for keeping this food service diary was to remember what life was like in the pandemic. Looking back, it’s become a sobering reminder of just how far along we’ve come on this pandemic journey together.
To refresh our collective memories: last year’s mid-June entry talked about restaurants getting ready to reopen for alfresco service in Phase 2. Now that milestone of June 22, 2020 is a distant memory. But back then Vincent Signorile of Big Nose Kates expressed the uncertainty of those times.
Staff of Big Nose Kate's pose inside the bar October 30, 2020. (Staten Island Advance/ Victoria Priola)
He said back then, “My only real issue is weather. If we have rain all day we are basically forced back into just deliveries and takeouts. Do I tell my staff on those days not to come in? Hopefully we only have to worry about it for two weeks.” Signorile referred to a time that indoor dining was supposed to start up gradually — which it did temporarily over last summer.
One year ago Joe Fauci of La Fontana in Oakwood and La Fontana Sorellina in Annadale operated outside with linens and tried to go about business as usual. He used the restaurants’ parking lots and sidewalks for tables and chairs using up every square inch of alfresco space.
La Fontana welcomes back customers to the bar after a dry stretch in the pandemic. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Si
Right now, Fauci said, “Business is very very good. I’m going to do tenting when it slows down a little. We really don’t have extra staff to put outside right now.”
Overall, Staten Island restaurant owners are experiencing labor shortage, courtesy of lucrative unemployment benefits and workers shifting to careers outside of the food service industry.
On a brighter note, one great thing to come of the pandemic has been all of the great friendships made thanks to Advance readers who have kept in touch. Michele Mershon of Fort Wadsworth kept me entertained with the “Pandemic Culinary Adventures of Disabled Debbie and Michele.” She and her pal Debbie continued to barhop thanks to Access-A-Ride.
By walker and cane, the pair hit up Jac Mao’s tented sidewalk and stumbled into a few speakeasies. Michele recently shared her joy over returning to favorite watering holes without having to give “the code.”
She said of one spot where she is a frequent flyer: “The front door is no longer locked. You can just walk in!”
Michele Mershon of Fort Wadsworth dined with pal Debbie (camera shy) in the Big Nose Kate's yard and loved it. (Courtesy of Michele Mershon)
Last year at this time, one saloonkeeper would black out the bar’s windows and open the door only to neighborhood regulars. State Liquor Authority officials and other government reps never set foot in the place as it appeared closed.
“The owner would see that it was me outside and cry, ‘Don’t worry...it’s ONLY Michele’ when I rang the bell,” deadpanned Michele. It made her channel her inner Groucho Marx and think, “What’s the secret word?”
From left to right: Brendan Collins, Andrew Cavagnaro, James Cavagnaro and Chris Martin, all of West Brighton (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)
Indeed, what a difference a year makes. I was so thankful to have our boys back in school through June. That was not healthy having them so isolated for so long in 2020. The long-term effects of the pandemic are that they are more self-sufficient on their own. They play video games virtually with pals routinely — even on beautiful sunny days. That pains me and I hear that from other parents as well.
But I am delighted to have children back over the house once again. They’ve been making their way out more regularly to the sandlot up the block, something they really loved in the throes of COVID and where some nice new friends were discovered. It’s good to cook for a crowd of hungry little boys and I am over the moon to see people in general. Like having a professional haircut, those are some things that used to be taken for granted. Never again.
Pamela Silvestri is Advance Food Editor. She can be reached at silvestri@siadvance.com.
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