Chazz Palminteri

The Baltimore City branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) will honor Chazz Palminteri with a Thurgood Marshall Award for the Arts and Humanities at its Freedom Fund Banquet tonight. In 2011, the New York-based actor opened a restaurant in Baltimore's Harbor East neighborhood, Chazz: A Bronx Original . In announcing the award, the civil-rights organization said, "Palminteri has devoted time to visiting city schools, young people in the juvenile justice system and allowing his restaurant to be used as a venue to raise funds for numerous city charities.

Chazz Palminteri talks about acting, writing and his self-named Baltimore restaurant for a web-based show called "Taste Makers. " In the segment , the actor tells host Lisa Mateo about the origin story of the restaurant and says that he is currently exploring expansion opportunities for Chazz: A Bronx Original . "Taste Makers," which also airs on WPIX in New York City, bills itself as the show "that uncovers where the stars love...

Chazz Palminteri talks about acting, writing and his self-named Baltimore restaurant for a web-based show called "Taste Makers. " In the segment , the actor tells host Lisa Mateo about the origin story of the restaurant and says that he is currently exploring expansion opportunities for Chazz: A Bronx Original . "Taste Makers," which also airs on WPIX in New York City, bills itself as the show "that uncovers where the stars love...

The Baltimore City branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) will honor Chazz Palminteri with a Thurgood Marshall Award for the Arts and Humanities at its Freedom Fund Banquet tonight. In 2011, the New York-based actor opened a restaurant in Baltimore's Harbor East neighborhood, Chazz: A Bronx Original . In announcing the award, the civil-rights organization said, "Palminteri has devoted time to visiting city schools, young people in the juvenile justice system and allowing his restaurant to be used as a venue to raise funds for numerous city charities.

As reported in the Baltimore Sun and elsewhere, Robert De Niro had lunch on Saturday at Chazz: A Bronx Original, the Harbor East restaurant opened this summer by his friend, the actor Chazz Palminteri. De Niro was traveling on Saturday from Philadelphia, where he's filming a movie, to Washington, D.C., for the annual Kennedy Center Honors. I was at the restaurant when De Niro visited, with a dog's-eye view of the excitement. Actually it was less exciting than sweet. Palminteri and his Baltimore partners, the Vitale family, were obviously delighted that De Niro, a noted restaurateur in his own right, was coming for a visit.

As a young man living in the Bronx, Chazz Palminteri would escape the city on long drives into the Westchester County countryside where he'd tool along curving, forested roads, staring at the set-back mansions. To a guy with empty pockets, the gated lawns and gabled rooflines looked like money, like class — like success. "Oh my God," he'd say to himself. "I want to be up here one day. " It may have taken decades, but Palminteri finally scored that Bedford, N.Y., address. These days, when Palminteri heads home, he drives along one of those woodsy roads, through one of those exclusive gates, and right up to his very own set-back mansion — a distinguished Georgian of rugged stone and stately gables.

Academy Award-winning actor Robert De Niro lunched at a Harbor East restaurant Saturday. De Niro had an early afternoon meal with actor and restaurateur Chazz Palminteri at his six-month old establishment Chazz: A Bronx Original in the 1400 block of Aliceanna St., according to restaurant spokeswoman Marianne Ortiz. De Niro was accompanied by several other guests, she said. He was on his way to Washington for the Kennedy Center Honors, scheduled for Sunday. Also present for the meal were Sergio and Alessandro Vitale, who run the business with Palminteri.

Chazz Palminteri and his bus-driver dad, Lorenzo, became expert at keeping secrets. They could be gregarious, even expansive, but they knew when to shut their traps. For instance, Lorenzo Palminteri withheld crucial information about a murder that his then-9-year-old son witnessed from the family's Bronx front stoop in 1961. "At the time, I thought those men were fighting over the parking space in front of my building," says Palminteri, an Academy Award-nominated actor who specializes in playing thugs.

Cast members from 1993's "A Bronx Tale" will reunite with Chazz Palminteri at Chazz: A Bronx Original on Monday night for a special fundraising happy hour. "A Bronx Tale" was the movie adaptation of Palminteri's one-man stage show of the same name. Almost 20 years later, Palminteri's love affair with his native borough would in part inspire the Inner Harbor restaurant that bears his name. Guests at Monday's happy hour will meet cast members from the movie, along with other Baltimore celebrities and sports figures who are helping the restaurant launch a new charitable fundraising campaign for the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation.

A few weeks back my favorite film critic noted that ever young filmmaker in America wanted to be Martin Scorsese. But here's what even that genius didn't know: Robert De Niro wants to be Martin Scorsese.That, surely, is the impetus behind the curious "A Bronx Tale," in which Scorsese's chief collaborator for three decades moves behind the camera (while still staying in front of it) to film a corrosive tale about young men and wiseguys on the mean streets of a far New York 'hood -- Belmont Avenue, the Bronx, in the '60s.

Cast members from 1993's "A Bronx Tale" will reunite with Chazz Palminteri at Chazz: A Bronx Original on Monday night for a special fundraising happy hour. "A Bronx Tale" was the movie adaptation of Palminteri's one-man stage show of the same name. Almost 20 years later, Palminteri's love affair with his native borough would in part inspire the Inner Harbor restaurant that bears his name. Guests at Monday's happy hour will meet cast members from the movie, along with other Baltimore celebrities and sports figures who are helping the restaurant launch a new charitable fundraising campaign for the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation.

Guess it's not so surprising that a Yankee wanted a taste of the Bronx before suiting up against the Orioles Tuesday. Derek Jeter and Andruw Jones stopped by Chazz: A Bronx Original , the Fells Point restaurant owned by actor Chazz Palminteri, writer and star of "A Bronx Tale. " In the middle of a series against Baltimore, Jeter and Jones ordered a veal meatball, a coal-fired burrata pizza, chicken parmesan and shrimp served over polenta. Considering they were sorta feeding the enemy, the Chazz PR people were thrilled about the star encounter, sending out a press release about the lunch, including the shot of the Yankees smiling with restaurant general manager (and, they add, "huge Yankees fan")

As reported in the Baltimore Sun and elsewhere, Robert De Niro had lunch on Saturday at Chazz: A Bronx Original, the Harbor East restaurant opened this summer by his friend, the actor Chazz Palminteri. De Niro was traveling on Saturday from Philadelphia, where he's filming a movie, to Washington, D.C., for the annual Kennedy Center Honors. I was at the restaurant when De Niro visited, with a dog's-eye view of the excitement. Actually it was less exciting than sweet. Palminteri and his Baltimore partners, the Vitale family, were obviously delighted that De Niro, a noted restaurateur in his own right, was coming for a visit.

Academy Award-winning actor Robert De Niro lunched at a Harbor East restaurant Saturday. De Niro had an early afternoon meal with actor and restaurateur Chazz Palminteri at his six-month old establishment Chazz: A Bronx Original in the 1400 block of Aliceanna St., according to restaurant spokeswoman Marianne Ortiz. De Niro was accompanied by several other guests, she said. He was on his way to Washington for the Kennedy Center Honors, scheduled for Sunday. Also present for the meal were Sergio and Alessandro Vitale, who run the business with Palminteri.

As a young man living in the Bronx, Chazz Palminteri would escape the city on long drives into the Westchester County countryside where he'd tool along curving, forested roads, staring at the set-back mansions. To a guy with empty pockets, the gated lawns and gabled rooflines looked like money, like class — like success. "Oh my God," he'd say to himself. "I want to be up here one day. " It may have taken decades, but Palminteri finally scored that Bedford, N.Y., address. These days, when Palminteri heads home, he drives along one of those woodsy roads, through one of those exclusive gates, and right up to his very own set-back mansion — a distinguished Georgian of rugged stone and stately gables.

The Sun Magazine will be tucked inside your Sunday Sun. Jill Rosen takes you inside Chazz Palminteri's Bedford, N.Y. home. Palminteri, of course, is the name behind Chazz: A Bronx Original , a contemporary Italian restaurant that opened this spring on Aliceanna Street. He's lending more than just his name, of course. There are a few glimpses, which didn't make it into the magazine, of Palminteri's wine cellar. Also in the magazine, David Zurawik takes readers behind the scenes of the "Modern Family" set in Los Angeles for a visit with Emmy winners and Baltimore natives.

Guess it's not so surprising that a Yankee wanted a taste of the Bronx before suiting up against the Orioles Tuesday. Derek Jeter and Andruw Jones stopped by Chazz: A Bronx Original , the Fells Point restaurant owned by actor Chazz Palminteri, writer and star of "A Bronx Tale. " In the middle of a series against Baltimore, Jeter and Jones ordered a veal meatball, a coal-fired burrata pizza, chicken parmesan and shrimp served over polenta. Considering they were sorta feeding the enemy, the Chazz PR people were thrilled about the star encounter, sending out a press release about the lunch, including the shot of the Yankees smiling with restaurant general manager (and, they add, "huge Yankees fan")

When you're watching a remake of a classic thriller, maybe it's better not to have seen the original. You don't know the plot, and you can't compare, so you aren't biased. At least, that's what I'd like to think, since (confession time) I haven't seen "Les Diaboliques," aka "Diabolique," the highly regarded 1955 French film.Even without suffering from comparison, the new version starring Sharon Stone and Isabelle Adjani doesn't thrill as it should. Despite its sleek styling, it simmers without ever coming to a boil.

Russell Brown, executive chef at O'Learys Seafood Restaurant in Annapolis, was in Today's Kitchen on Nov. 18 with Al Roker and Natalie Morales. The funniest thing happened. See, Brown is demonstrating how to make swordfish steak au poivre, and Morales notices that among the ingredients on the counter was white wine. So, Morales asks Brown about it, and then Al Roker makes it seem like Morales was interested because she wanted to DRINK the wine!!!!! You can watch this classic TV moment here . The Wall Street Journal's Speakeasy blog is running Thanksgiving Tips from the Stars -- here's a recipe for Brussels sprouts with pancetta from Chazz Palminteri, which you can try for yourself at Chazz: A Bronx Original in Baltmore's beautiful Harbor East.

Somehow people got it into their heads that Chazz: A Bronx Original was a glorified pizza parlor. Maybe it was the pre-opening articles that documented the pizza discovery tours and fact-finding missions embarked upon by the principals involved with this flashy and thoroughly engaging new Harbor East restaurant. I wrote several of them myself. The pizza at Chazz, produced by an imported and lovingly tended coal-fire oven, is admirable, close to heavenly, but there are other things to love here, some of them maybe even more.