Mimmo Gambino was born in Sicily. His experience formed the backbone of his schooling as he worked his way through the ranks in hotels and restaurants, only to leave for America to find work. Because of the language barrier, Gambino was forced to start anew as a busboy and fight his way up once more. He succeeded, opening a restaurant in Manhattan, and when a waiter bragged incessantly about his Long Island, Gambino went to see it for himself. Equally enchanted, he opened Casa Rustica in Smithtown. Though the menu is traditional, there is nothing commonplace about the food: Casa Rustica received an Excellent from The New York Times, and, Gambino says, they're still around after 20 years, so something must be right.
As a child, Benny Gambino didn't know he was going to follow his father into the restaurant business, but upon reflection, he realizes it was inevitable and he couldn't be happier. Gambino attended culinary school at NYIT. He tried his hand in several other restaurants upon graduation, but always knew he would end up partnering with the elder Gambino. The two work on Casa Rustica's menu together, and if the cuisine is 'Italian with a twist', Gambino
is the one bringing that twist. He tries to incorporate new ideas and flavors to keep up with the times without abandoning the traditional roots of Italian cooking. The cuisine, then, reflects the relationship between father and son: they learn from each other as Mimmo imparts the old and Benny brings the new, creating the perfect balance necessary for success. CLICK HERE TO POST YOUR COMMENTS
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