From Italy to Pittsburgh: The Culinary Legacy of the Primadonna Restaurant with Maria and Joseph

Oct 4, 2023

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Imagine opening a restaurant that becomes a local legend - a place where the dishes are made with love, where the ambience feels like home, and where memorable stories are shared over plates of delicious Italian food. This is the inviting world our guests, Maria C. Palmer and her father Joseph Costanzo Jr., welcome us into as they share their story about the legendary Primadonna Restaurant that Joseph crafted in Pittsburgh.

For seventeen years, Joseph owned and operated The Primadonna Restaurant in McKees Rocks, PA. The Primadonna was frequently voted the best Italian restaurant in Pittsburgh, receiving glowing acclaim in local the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and City Paper as well as national publications like The New York Times, New York Daily News, and Playboy. Joseph used his marketing genius to create his own bottled Italian salad dressing sold in stores and offered a Primadonna apparel line, essentially turning supporters into walking billboards. The restaurant’s recipes have been published in many cookbooks, including critically acclaimed food critic Mike Kalina’s Pittsburgh Cookbook. In 2001, The Primadonna became known across the nation as one of the premiere Italian restaurants, earning the prestigious DiRōNA Award. In 2005, after a targeted public investigation, Joseph lost his restaurant and spent time in federal prison. His life and the lives of his family members have never been the same.

Writing a book isn't a walk in the park, as Maria and her co-author Ruthie Robbins found out. Spending many years to meticulously put together their labour of love, On the Rocks (The Primadonna Story). they faced many challenges along the way. Maria opens up about the changes they made, the feedback they received, and the cutthroat competition they faced in the book publishing world. She also gives us a generous helping of the secrets behind the unique recipes included in the book, most of which are family heirlooms or inspired by the vast menu of their restaurant.

Joseph, shares his encounters and experiences and stresses the significance of creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere and how it contributes to a restaurant's success. Maria discusses her experiences teaching Italian cooking classes and provides some invaluable advice to budding restaurateurs and authors. This episode is a savory mix of insights from the worlds of cooking and writing, garnished with personal anecdotes and lessons learnt along their journey. So, pull up a chair, and join us for this heartwarming chat with Maria and Joseph.

Links:
https://mariacpalmer.com/
https://www.instagram.com/joecostanzoprimadonna/
https://www.facebook.com/JoeCostanzoPrimadonna/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rocks-Primadonna-Story-Maria-Palmer/dp/B0C67L5P2Y
https://www.amazon.com/Rocks-Primadonna-Story-Maria-Palmer/dp/B0C67L5P2Y

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