Da Claudio, Life after Sandy

Friends of Linda and Claudio Marini are committed to helping them toward a fresh start after the devastation of Hurricane Sandy.  We all loved Barbarini, the charming and delicious Front Street restaurant and neighborhood hub.  We miss our delicious fresh pasta, served in Barbarini's beautiful skylit space; we miss the gelato and the cheese and the salumi we used to take home; but mostly we miss the warmth of our beloved hosts! 

Over the seven years since Barbarini's opening, the Marini's generosity of spirit has filled Front Street and become a part of our lives.  After Sandy's eight-foot surge swept through the restaurant, taking everything with it, pots, pans, food, furniture, and refrigerators, many volunteers went down to the Seaport to work alongside the Marinis and their neighbors to clean up the mess and salvage what they could.  Linda and Claudio were overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and help. 

Now it is time for the Marinis to look to the future.  In the month since Sandy hit, they have come to realize that, with all the damage and limitations, it is impossible for them, in the near term, to move forward in their old location.  In order to begin supporting their family again, they hope to open another restaurant soon, on slightly higher ground but still in lower Manhattan.  While they are currently in search of a space, they have a name: Da Claudio.  As anyone who knows Claudio will attest, his love of life, family and food are the beating heart of any restaurant.  When Claudio fell in love with Linda, he named his midtown trattoria Caffe Linda for her.  Now it is time for Da Claudio to open its doors.

We can't imagine fans of Barbarini will not jump at the chance to see Linda and Claudio back in action, joined by any members of their fabulous staff who chose to follow them.  And if you have never tasted Claudio's food or had him pour you a welcoming glass of Prosecco, you are in for a treat.  The Marini's have given us so much.  It is time to help them out with a financial contribution toward opening Da Claudio.  For all those of us who support them in their effort to put Sandy behind them and start feeding the neighborhood again, there will be an opening night feast.  And there will be many years of Linda and Claudio's delicious warmth for us all to share.  Please join us with your donation today!