SD26 Celebrates Fifth Year Anniversary

One of New York’s top Italian restaurants, SD26 on Madison Square Park North, celebrated its fifth year anniversary with a gala on January 20. Guests enjoyed their notable Italian dishes, live jazz and an open kitchen with pizza-making tutorials.

The father-daughter team of Tony and Marisa May, along with Executive Chef Matteo Bergamini, have created a distinctive Italian menu, an evolution from their previous restaurant, San Domenico in midtown, also a longtime NY favorite . Their top plates include spaghettia alla chitarra, brased beef cheeks alla vaccinara and caponata.

The gala’s proceeds benefit the Tony May Scholarship for Italian Culinary Studies awarded by the James Beard Foundation. The Scholarship aims to educate students on Italian culinary traditions and afford young chefs the opportunity to study in Italy for three to six months. May also opens up his own kitchens at this three restaurants, SD26, Palio and San Domenico.

“We represent a piece of Italy in New York,” said Marissa May. Madison Square park is also home to Eataly NY and the future home to Rizzoli.

-Amanda Sztein