The same census and 1900-1901 New York City directory show Antonio living with his wife and children across the street at No. 345, a no longer extant building. In his oral history, Robert Zerilliexplains that the business evolved from Antonio’s founding to serve baked goods such as biscotti and cakes, later renaming itself Veniero’s Pasticceri. Following Antonio’s death in 1931, the business would continue to be run by members of the family. In 1970, Frank Zerilli, Robert’s father and a cousin of the Venieros, bought the business. As a teenager, Frank Zerilli had worked in the bakery and learned a great deal working under Antonio.
Zerilli shares great stories of both the family and the neighborhood connected to Veniero’s, including Antonio’s managing to avoid firebombing by the Black Hand, (Mano Nero gang — a mafia extortion racket), neighborhood quarrels with other bakers and pushcart sellers, and a legal fight over the ownership of a coffee-sipping parrot.
Zerilli was born in 1962 and by that time his family lived in New Jersey. He would sometimes join his father for the workday in the East Village, and in his interview, Zerilli shared the sights, smells, and sounds of the East Village in his early years through the eyes of a child. One of the sounds that dominate his memories was the constant mix of English and Italian throughout the streets and small businesses in the area. As a teenager, he would work at Veniero’s, and lived in one of the apartments in the upper floors at No. 342, rent-free.
The neighborhood has changed quite a bit over the course of Zerilli’s tenure, and he talks about gentrification, as well as changing ethnicities and business and building ownership. On a side note, he mentions the East Village’s punk rock scene, and Joey Ramone coming to Veniero’s to buy a cake. Veniero’s itself has changed over the years too, adding items like red velvet cupcakes, which Zerilli discusses his reluctance to include. One of the many things that hasn’t changed, though, is that Veniero’s is still very much a family-run business, with Robert and his three sisters at the helm as co-owners.
VATICAN CITY — Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected pope, the first time an American will lead the Roman Catholic Church. He chose the name Pope Leo XIV.
The 69-year-old new pontiff appeared at the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica and said "Peace be with all of you!"
He said he wanted his message of peace to "enter your hearts, reach your families and all people, wherever they are."
He thanked his fellow cardinals for selecting him, and spoke in Italian, Spanish and Latin. Having spent years working in Peru, he thanked his former diocese in the South American country, "where a loyal people has shared its faith and has given a lot," he said.
He also spoke warmly of the late Pope Francis and concluded by leading the crowd in prayer.
He appeared after white smoke streamed from the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel, signaling the 133 cardinals inside had elected a new pope.
A roar erupted from the crowd when they saw the white smoke, which was shown on several large screens in St. Peter's Square. Enormous bells of St. Peter's Basilica began to ring, tolling the news that the Catholic Church has a new pope.
The vote came on the second day of the papal election process known as the conclave. Church experts had named other possible candidates and had not expected an American to win the papacy.
President Trump quickly congratulated the new pope. "It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country," Trump said on social media.
Brandon Johnson, the mayor of Pope Leo's hometown of Chicago, expressed his excitement, writing: "Everything dope, including the Pope, comes from Chicago!"
Rome has been brimming with elation, as thousands gathered near the Via della Conciliazione to be present for the historic moment when the new pope is announced and presented to the world.
Once a successful vote was complete, the most senior cardinal asks the newly elected pope, "Do you accept your canonical election as supreme pontiff?"
After he accepts, he is then asked: "What name do you wish to be called?"
The cardinal electors then paid homage and pledged obedience to the new head of the church, and thanked God while the new pope was taken into a sacristy and fitted with papal attire.
Finally, the pronouncement was made in Latin — "Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Habemus Papam!" ("I bring you tidings of great joy: We have a pope!") — and the new pope gave an apostolic blessing to throngs of faithful.
SUNDAYS Are For SUNDAY SAUCE
And CHURCH
Serves 2.
For this recipe, you will need:
1/4 cup (40g) raisins
5 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil (plus extra for drizzling as a topping)
Bread crumbs (you can use as much as you like, about 1/2 a cup will do but feel free to use more!)
1/4 cup (30g) pine nuts
1 garlic clove, peeled and cored
2 heaping tbsp. capers
~10 Kalamata olives, halved
5.5 oz. (160g) spaghetti
Salt
Fresh parsley, chopped
Place the raisins in a small cup and fill with water so they can soak. Meanwhile, put a large pot of water on to boil.
In a small skillet, add 2 tbsp. olive oil and the breadcrumbs over medium heat. Toast them, stirring frequently, until they begin to turn golden. Set aside for later.
In a bare skillet, add the pine nuts and toast them over medium heat for 1-2 minutes. Set them aside (you can pour them into another dish to reuse the pan).
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