(c) travelincousins.com
When we scheduled our tour to see some of the prettiest churches in the Bronx, Tanya and I never expected we would be paying a visit to one of the most beloved shops in Little Italy!
While making our way from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church on 187th Street and Belmont Avenue, we crossed the street to take some pictures of the church. As we continued walking towards Hugh’s Avenue on our way back to the car, we came upon Borgattis Ravioli and Egg Noodle shop.
I commented to both Tanya and Alexandra Maruri, our tour guide, from Bronx Historical Tours, that I had passed this shop many times and had always wanted to check it out. Encouraged by Alexandra to go in and meet the Borgatti family, we two Travelin' Cousins were immediately excited about the visit.
The impromptu stop was undoubtedly one of the high points of our day.
The Belmont section of the Bronx has certainly undergone many changes throughout the last eight decades, however, there’s a comfort in knowing that some things have stayed and remain the same in a neighborhood that is rooted in ethnic tradition.
As I walked into Borgatti’s I was triggered with a rush of memories from my own childhood and Italian upbringing. The only word I could think of to describe it was "old school." It felt like the shops I would go in with my grandmother when she would do her marketing. Specialty shops for everything, owned and managed by families. No slick displays or modern retail fixtures. Just a warm feeling of times gone by when the products and services spoke for themselves.
While making our way from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church on 187th Street and Belmont Avenue, we crossed the street to take some pictures of the church. As we continued walking towards Hugh’s Avenue on our way back to the car, we came upon Borgattis Ravioli and Egg Noodle shop.
I commented to both Tanya and Alexandra Maruri, our tour guide, from Bronx Historical Tours, that I had passed this shop many times and had always wanted to check it out. Encouraged by Alexandra to go in and meet the Borgatti family, we two Travelin' Cousins were immediately excited about the visit.
The impromptu stop was undoubtedly one of the high points of our day.
The Belmont section of the Bronx has certainly undergone many changes throughout the last eight decades, however, there’s a comfort in knowing that some things have stayed and remain the same in a neighborhood that is rooted in ethnic tradition.
As I walked into Borgatti’s I was triggered with a rush of memories from my own childhood and Italian upbringing. The only word I could think of to describe it was "old school." It felt like the shops I would go in with my grandmother when she would do her marketing. Specialty shops for everything, owned and managed by families. No slick displays or modern retail fixtures. Just a warm feeling of times gone by when the products and services spoke for themselves.
Interior of store (c) travelincousins.com
It was clear that Alexandra was a familiar face as she was greeted by the friendly folks behind the counter. She proceeded to introduce me and Tanya, to which we received a warm and inviting welcome.
The rest of our visit was a pure delight as Christopher Borgatti, great-grandson of founder, Lindo Borgatti, imbued us with the history of his family's pasta shop and captivated us with a first-hand glimpse into their specialty pasta making.
The rest of our visit was a pure delight as Christopher Borgatti, great-grandson of founder, Lindo Borgatti, imbued us with the history of his family's pasta shop and captivated us with a first-hand glimpse into their specialty pasta making.
Travelin' Cousins Elisa (left) and Tanya (right) with Christopher Borgatti, great-grandson of founder, Lindo Borgatti (c) travelincousins.com
The store was opened in 1935 by Christopher's great-grandparents, with Lindo Borgatti, the first generation owner of the store. His son, Mario Borgatti, began working at the store at seventeen years old and became synonymous with the store, which is still thriving and going strong eighty years and four generations after its founding.
Pasta noodle cutting machines for all to see the noodles being cut (c) travelincousins.com
Christopher giving me and Tanya a demonstration of pasta noodles being cut in varying sizes (c) travelincousins.com
 Egg noodles in varying widths (c) travelincousins.com |  (c) travelincousins.com |
Borgatti's Ravioli and Egg Noodle Shop still provides the community with quality ravioli and pasta. Moving strong into the 21st Century, the company's products are shipped around the country, via their online store, allowing for their homemade Italian specialties to be savored by pasta lovers near and far!
Christopher was amazingly friendly and knowledgable and took us on a little guided pasta making tour of their noodles. Running the sheets of pasta through the cutting machine, which is in plain view for customers to see, we witnessed varying widths cut before our eyes.
For anyone growing up in an Italian household, with an Italian grandmother, the pasta machine is easily identified in an instant! Of course, Grandma's was much smaller and fit on the table. I still remember making pasta with her and both Tanya and I love the homemade tradition so much that we still continue it with our kids!
Christopher was amazingly friendly and knowledgable and took us on a little guided pasta making tour of their noodles. Running the sheets of pasta through the cutting machine, which is in plain view for customers to see, we witnessed varying widths cut before our eyes.
For anyone growing up in an Italian household, with an Italian grandmother, the pasta machine is easily identified in an instant! Of course, Grandma's was much smaller and fit on the table. I still remember making pasta with her and both Tanya and I love the homemade tradition so much that we still continue it with our kids!
Menu of Ravioli, Pasta and Italian Specialties (c) travelincousins.com
As for the ravioli - which looked unbelievable - fresh, puffy pasta pillows filled with cheese - Christopher showed us the two sizes that they offered. As you can see from the above sign, there is quite a variety of ravioli, as well as pasta, from lasagna, manicotti and cavatelli pasta, to varying flavors such as spinach, whole wheat, mushroom and more!
Borgatti's Ravioli is available in two sizes with a variety of fillings (c) travelincousins.com
Cavatelli - both mine and Tanya's favorite! (c) travelincousins.com
A feeling of reverence for the family patriarch, Mario Borgatti, as well as founder, Lindo, is palpable within the store. Old photos, including beautiful wedding images, line the walls, honoring the memories of the Borgatti men who went before Christopher and his dad, also named Christopher, who continue to run the business.
Beautiful old photos of the family line the walls (c) travelincousins.com
With the death of Mario Borgatti (Christopher's Grandfather) in 2014, a beloved member of the Arthur Avenue community, a tribute was paid with the renaming of the street at the southeast corner of East 187th Street and Hughes Avenue to Mario Borgatti Way. He died at the age of 97.
Fortunately, the store lives on!!
-Elisa
Fortunately, the store lives on!!
-Elisa
(c) travelincousins.com
For Your Information:
Borgatti's Ravioli & Egg Noodles
632 E 187th Street
Bronx, NY 10458
Phone: (718) 367-3799
STORE HOURS
Sunday & Monday: Closed
Tuesday-Friday: 8:30am-5:00pm
Saturday: 8:30am-6:00pm
Online Store:
www.borgattis.com/shop/
Borgatti's Ravioli & Egg Noodles
632 E 187th Street
Bronx, NY 10458
Phone: (718) 367-3799
STORE HOURS
Sunday & Monday: Closed
Tuesday-Friday: 8:30am-5:00pm
Saturday: 8:30am-6:00pm
Online Store:
www.borgattis.com/shop/
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