S11E4 – A Slice of Italy in Austin

Deep in the heart of the Capital City of Austin a little Italian market began nearly 20 years ago… and today has blossomed into a popular restaurant. Mandola’s Italian Kitchen may sound like a familiar name- and that’s because of the larger-than-life legendary chef behind that kitchen. With Sicilian roots, Damian Mandola has become ‘the Godfather of Texas Italian cooking’ after more than 50 years in the business. He may be famous for his partnership with nephew Johnny Carrabba creating Carrabba’s Italian Grill. But long before Carrabba’s, Damian was making a name for himself in the kitchen with his family’s famous recipes. The food here is as authentic as it gets…with tasty Italian dishes like spaghetti & meatballs, chicken marsala, and even the dreamy Italian gelato- housemade with a machine imported from Italy! Damian’s chicken piccata is a divine dish. Get the recipe HERE. Buon Appetito!