Nini’s Ristorante recreates some Big E favoritesDate: 9/8/2020 EASTHAMPTON – Normally, Western Massachusetts would be celebrating the approach of Big E season, but this year, many will miss all of the food the annual fair has to offer.
The 2020 Big E was canceled earlier this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Every weekend since late August, however, Nini’s Ristorante owner, Aristide “Gianni” Daniele has featured a Big E recreation. He is recreating some of the publics’ favorite desserts and foods.
He said he has chosen items that he can add a Nini’s spin, an Italian spin, on it.
He has made mixed vegetable tempura, the Maine baked potato, fried Oreos, fried cheese curds, the big cream puff, and their candy apples but with a twist.
Daniele’s vegetable tempura was a mix of broccoli, zucchini, mushroom, asparagus, and onion rings coated and fried in a light and crisp tempura batter served with a spicy parmesan ranch dressing for dipping.
The Maine baked potato was loaded with butter, cheddar, bacon, sour cream, and fresh chives.
He paired it with a grilled ribeye steak served with roasted asparagus. He has made fried double stuffed Oreos served with homemade salted caramel for dipping.
His personal favorite, the fried cheese curds, were topped with shaved parmesan cheese, fresh basil, and served with their house creamy parmesan ranch for dipping.
Daniele collaborated with his cousin’s pastry shop, Cerrato’s, to make his interpretation of the cream puff. His cousins made the puff while he made the vanilla bean custard and fresh whipped cream.
Instead of making your average candy apple, Daniele made a caramel apple sangria. He made it with house Chianti, Jack Daniels apple whiskey, ground fresh cinnamon, topped off with ginger ale, and a caramel rim.
Daniele wanted to resemble some normality since the Big E is canceled this year.
He said all the years Nini’s Ristorante has been open, the menu has pretty much stayed the same so his favorite part is being creative with something they normally do not make and exploring items they usually do not carry or prepare.
Daniele has been the owner since 2011 after his father, Giovanni passed. His father was a founding member of Red Rose Pizzaria in Springfield and started Nini’s in 1977.
He said he has received a great response from customers. His Facebook post announcing the caramel apple sangria has received the most attention any of his posts have ever got and he said he finds it exciting for a small restaurant in Easthampton. Daniele said he will continue to do remake Big E items until mid-Sept and it is not something he will do once the fair is able to take place. He says it is a tradition to go to the Big E.
During the coronavirus pandemic hours are Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday, 4 to 8 p.m., and Friday and Saturday 4 to 9 p.m.
Nini’s offers outdoor seating when the weather permits and curbside pick-up is always available.
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