Joanne Trattoria Cookbook: Classic Recipes and Scenes from an Italian-American Restaurant - Tapa dura

A collection of recipes and anecdotes, inspired by the world famous restaurant Joanne Trattoria, owned by Joe Germanotta, father of Lady Gaga. Family, food, and love are the foundation upon which Joe and Cynthia Germanotta raised their daughters. Built on those same principles, the Germanottas family-run restaurant is world-renowned for its vibrant hospitality, delicious Southern Italian fare, and warm familial atmosphere. Named in honor of Joe's sister who died of Lupus three months shy of her 20th birthday, Joanne Trattoria is more than a neighborhood restaurant; it is a mecca for Lady Gaga fans, a frequent gathering place for celebrities and notable New Yorkers, and a home to its faithful regulars and devoted staff. In his debut cookbook, Joe shares a mix of time-tested family recipes and house favorites-such as Joanne's Meatballs, Papa G's Chicken Scarpariello, and the unforgettable Nutellasagna-and for the first time recounts his inspirational story of fulfilling his lifelong dream of opening his own restaurant. With never-before released family photos, heartwarming testimonials and entertaining anecdotes from the extended Joanne family, as well as a moving foreword by the Germanottas' older daughter, Golden Globe (R)- and six-time Grammy (R)-winning, Academy Award-nominated global icon Lady Gaga, Joanne Trattoria Cookbook: Classic Recipes and Scenes from an Italian-American Restaurant will delight both fans and foodies alike.

Joe Germanotta, or "Mr. G," was born August 9, 1957 in Elizabeth, New Jersey and is the father of Stefani and Natali Germanotta. He has been married to Cynthia Bissett Germanotta since 1983, when the two wed in New York City in the small chapel at the historic St. Patrick's Cathedral. He is a graduate of The School of Hospitality Business, an industry-specific school within the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University. A devoted Spartan Basketball fan, he is a passionate supporter of the team during the "March Madness" NCAA tournament. For thirty-five years, Mr. G has worked for large corporations, owned and operated several businesses, and now works as part of his daughter's management team. In addition to his work in the music industry, Mr. G sits on the board of directors for Lady Gaga's charitable organization, Born This Way Foundation. Joanne Trattoria is his inaugural food-industry endeavor and the realization of his boyhood dream of owning a restaurant.