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A Classic Roman Feast with Chef Jonathan Benno
Juicy, crisp-skinned porchetta is the key to dinner party magic
![Kat Craddock](https://www.saveur.com/uploads/2024/04/screen_shot_2023-11-06_at_12.18.06_pm_720_02-copy-2.png?auto=webp)
New York City has long been home to chef Jonathan Benno. Although the Connecticut native cut his chops in iconic California kitchens Aqua and The French Laundry, he is best-known for helming two of Manhattan’s most elite white-tablecloth restaurants: Per Se and Lincoln.
After such a distinguished career, Benno easily could have rested on his laurels. Instead, the fine-dining luminary recently gathered an all-star team to launch a trio of new restaurants in the city's central NoMad neighborhood: Leonelli Taberna, Leonelli Focacceria-Pasticceria, and the eponymous Benno. Lincoln alum Ben Ciancioso leads the Leonelli kitchen as chef de cuisine; talented bread-baker Lisa Kalemkiarian runs the Focacceria and provides loaves for all three restaurants; and pastry chef Lindsey Bittner, who has worked at Jean-Georges, Le Bernardin, and Gramercy Tavern, heads up the sweets program, turning out elevated classic Italian treats that would make your nonna pale.
Last week, the whole team threw one heck of a dinner party in the SAVEUR test kitchen.
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