Gian Luca got married to Laura last Sunday, in a beautiful service at a church a few blocks from Washington Square, in the Village, where they live. I was honored to ‘witness’ the ceremony as his best man, and sit with his family at the reception, at Aurora Restaurant in Brooklyn (Williamsburg). Here are some artifacts:

La mozzarella di bufala with heirloom tomatoes. I'd never seen orange tomatoes served at a restaurant. I love New York.

Dear God, how on earth did they manage to make so tender the grilled octopus? And the potatoes so tasty? Granted, I hadn't eaten all day, but still.

Cauliflower with a fontina fondue. How is it that Italians like cauliflower so much?

Il primo: pappardelle with wild boar ragu. Delicious! (But Luca's is better.)

OMG. I'm full. The flowers are really beautiful.

La spigola, with tasty herbs...and broccoli. Oh dear. Since when do Italians eat broccoli like this?

Lots of people ordered the grass-fed beef. It looked quite tender.

Just for cutting - tiramisu was the dessert of choice, from one of their neighborhood Italian shops. I was too busy eating it to photograph it. Oops!

Laura ordered this after seeing it in Italy. I want this too (but not the little dog in the basket). When's my turn?!

Imported from Rimini. Little bundles of love. So simple. A perfect day in every way.