These veggies are Jeanne Muchnick's 'Best Thing I Ate This Week'

Jeanne Muchnick, Rockland/Westchester Journal News
·2 min read

Most people go to Maria in New Rochelle for the pasta and Italian specialities, all lovingly cooked by Chef/Owner Giovanni Cucullo. The restaurant, after all, is a three-time Michelin Guide "Bib Gourmand" award winner, getting accolades in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

As much as I love their pasta and other Italian specialties — the black linguine with lobster, shrimp, garlic, cherry tomatoes and tarragon is a must — my favorite item is their truffle green beans, which are blanched and shocked before being mixed with black truffle paste and truffle oil.

The Sicilian sea salt is the secret ingredient. That, plus the pepitas on top that give it an added crunch.

Lohud food and dining reporter Jeanne Muchnick with chef/owner Giovanni Cucullo and the truffle green beans at Maria in New Rochelle.
Lohud food and dining reporter Jeanne Muchnick with chef/owner Giovanni Cucullo and the truffle green beans at Maria in New Rochelle.

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And, since one can't live by green beans alone, I also suggest Mom's meatballs, which the menu says are made with pomodoro and love (along with whipped ricotta toast), the Hudson Valley mushroom risotto made with mushrooms from Westchester Mushroom Company and the Shrimp in Vadouvan Curry with green peas and jasmine rice. Yes, this is an Italian restaurant — Cucullo named it after his mom as a homage to her recipes and owns it with his brother, Peter. But he's also all about mixing up the classics and offering food that appeals to everyone. I love that items are tagged vegetarian, vegan and/or gluten-free for those with special dietary needs.

Plus save room for dessert. Cucullo is famous for his dannoli, a combination cannoli and doughnut, and also offers a killer homemade Napoleon.

Lohud food and dining reporter Jeanne Muchnick and the truffle green beans at Maria in New Rochelle.
Lohud food and dining reporter Jeanne Muchnick and the truffle green beans at Maria in New Rochelle.

If you want to know where I'm headed next, stay hungry — and stay tuned! The "Best Thing I Ate" is a new series, highlighted Fridays on the lohud_food Instagram page. You can also find it online and in print.

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Jeanne Muchnick covers food and dining. Click here for her most recent articles and follow her latest dining adventures on Instagram @lohud_food or via the lohudfood newsletter. 

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Best Thing I Ate This Week: Truffle green beans at Maria New Rochelle