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FOODIE
Porto
Vivo Celebrates First Year In Town
By Peter Sloggatt/foodie@longislandernews.com
There were stretch limos, a red carpet,
and a crowd at Huntington’s Porto Vivo restaurant this
past Saturday. The event was a gala anniversary party celebrating
the upscale restaurant’s first year in Huntington, as
well as a fundraiser to benefit the Multiple Sclerosis Society’s
Long Island Chapter. A dressed-to-impress crowd of VIPs and
guests sipped martinis and champagne and enjoyed a world-class
menu.
Porto Vivo owner Joy Mangano greeted guests at the door. Best
known as the woman behind the Miracle Mop, Huggable Hanger
and other lifestyle inventions sold on the Home Shopping Network,
Mangano wore a sleek black gown with silver accents. At her
side was Frank Sepe, her co-host for the evening, looking
sharp himself in a black tux and a tan nearly as dark. Sepe,
a fellow Long Islander whose fitness products are also sold
on the television network, said the evening’s cause was
near to his heart as he has several relatives who suffer from
MS.
It’s been a year to remember for Mangano. The stylish,
three-level restaurant on Gerard Street that is her first
venture in the restaurant business was launched a year ago
with a gala opening party that had the town buzzing. If Saturday’s
party is any indication, last year’s buzz will pale in
comparison.
Guests arriving at the gala walked a red carpet, stopping
to pose for photos. Inside, the party filled all three levels.
Bar staff hustled to keep the martini glasses filled and a
DJ kept a party beat going. Upstairs, guests were kept busy
looking over the array of raffle prizes and items donated
for a silent auction. Among the packages getting the most
attention was a suite of Joy Mangano’s lifestyle items.
Hangers, sheet and comforter sets, luggage – folks needed
those clever reading glasses Mangano sells to take in the
full inventory.
Of course, fundraising is important, but this party was about
the food, and consulting chef John Doherty didn’t disappoint.
Passed hors d’oeuvres were elegant and sophisticated
in both look and taste. Our favorite? The fig with gorgonzola
cheese and prosciutto was a delicate mouthful of sweet and
salty. A sippable hors d’oeuvre of cucumber soup with
frisee and a toast round was served in a novel acrylic cone.
And falling somewhere in between was a ceviche of delicate
fluke served in a martini glass.
Main courses were set out in several stations, each with its
own chef, on the restaurant’s main floor. For this Foodie
at least, it was difficult not to be a glutton. At the seafood
station were fresh oysters, cracked crab legs and lobster
tails and claws. A squeeze of lemon and dab of cocktail sauce
was all that was needed. Next door was the hot stuff where
a chef carved off sliced of prime rib and served homemade
gnocchi with a delicious Bolognese sauce. It was impossible
to make the rounds only once.
Just when we thought we had no room left, the dessert station
was opened. Porto Vivo’s pastry chef set out an array
of tarts, cream puffs, homemade truffles and some more exotic
items. Among them, our favorite was a blood orange sorbet
with lychees dressed with a lemon “soup.” Sweet,
tart, light and very sophisticated.
The only better way to end the evening… taking home a
raffle or silent auction prize. And there were dozens of guests
who did.
We’re looking forward to next year.
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