Chef Luke Palladino Debuts New Pop-Up Restaurant at Valley Forge Casino Resort

Chef Luke Palladino debuts his second restaurant, Fianco, in time for summer.  Chef’s second culinary endeavor at Valley Forge Casino Resort is timed to open just for the region's summer season, which also sees the opening of Valley Beach Poolside Club.

The comfortable and intimate dining spot will not only showcase Chef Palladino’s modern seasonal Italian favorites, it also features his new interpretations of more classic Italian-American fare. Fianco shares a bar with LP Steak and includes a selection of California and Italian wines, as well as new cocktails designed specifically to pair with the chef's Italian cuisine.

Fianco will host dinner guests in a rejuvenated space that was once home to Viviano.  At 1,620-square feet, diners will experience an intimate, old-world vibe in the two-tiered, refreshed casual pop-up ristorante. Fianco – which literally means “next door” - will feature 70-80 seats in an intimate setting, plus a large family-style chef’s table for up to 20 people.

Fianco will operate Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.  Reservations are now live on Open Table or available by calling 610.768.5005. 

“We recognized that Luke’s flair for creating outstanding Italian cuisine and his ability to come up with unique interpretations of classic favorites offered an opportunity to expand our restaurant offerings,” said Jennifer Galle, chief marketing officer at Valley Forge Casino Resort. “We seized the chance to enhance our partnership to provide our guests with another incredible dining option.”

Fianco’s menu features seasonal Italian cuisine, as well as Chef Palladino’s interpretation of classic Italian-American dishes. This new restaurant is the latest addition to the Luke Palladino Hospitality Group, which also includes LP Steak, also at Valley Forge Casino Resort; Palladino’s on Passyunk, Luke Palladino Seasonal Italian Cooking and Luke Palladino Catering.  Fianco reflects Valley Forge Casino Resort’s commitment to continually expand and enhance its amenities to better serve its guests.

STARTING MENU

Antipasti/Salad:

Salumi & Cheese – prosciutto, soppressata, caciocavallo, pecorino Toscano $18
Truffle Arancini – risotto fritters stuffed with truffled sottocenere cheese $9
Calamari Fritti – with pickled shishito peppers & marinara $14
Assorted Olives – marinated with citrus & fennel $8
Clams Casino – smoked chili-garlic butter, crisp pancetta $11
Caesar Salad – garlic croutons, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese $9
Burrata Caprese – burrata-mozzarella, heirloom tomatoes, aged balsamic vinegar, Tuscan oil, basil, $13
Caciocavallo Scallopine – Sicilian cow’s milk cheese sautéed with toasted garlic, mint & Sambuca $11
Octopus Bruschetta – tomatoes, olives, scallions, mint & basil $13
Heirloom Tomato Bruschetta – basil pesto $8

Pastas:

Rigatoni Bolognese – veal, pork and beef ragu, parmigiano cheese $21
Campanelle Alla Vodka – with tomatoes, chilies, cream & parmigiano cheese $17  Add jumbo lump crab $12
Linguine Alle Vongole – clams, garlic, chilies, roasted tomatoes, parsley & basil $20
Fettucine Alfredo – parmigiano cream sauce with mushrooms and marsala $18
Lobster & Shrimp Fra Diavolo – spaghetti, garlic, calabrese chilies, white wine, tomatoes, parsley $42
Spaghetti Pomodoro – New Jersey tomato sauce & basil $16
Spaghetti & Meatball – slow cooked in New Jersey tomato gravy $18
Potato Gnocchi – prosciutto, peas, cream, parmigiano reggiano $18
Jumbo Shrimp Scampi – linguine, chilies, tomatoes, peas & garlic butter $32

Secondi:

Chicken Marsala – Sicilian marsala wine sauce with wild mushrooms $24
Chicken Cutlet Parmigiana – breaded chicken cutlet with tomato-basil sauce, fresh mozzarella & parmigiano cheese, spaghetti pomodoro $24
Veal Chop alla Parmigiana – breaded veal chop topped with tomato-basil sauce, fresh mozzarella & parmigiano cheese $38
Veal Chop Milanese – breaded veal chop topped with arugula, shaved parmigiano, grape tomatoes & aged balsamic vinegar $37
Verlasso Salmon Piccata – tomatoes, capers & lemon, seasonal vegetables $28
Sicilian Mixed Grill – branzino, shrimp and scallops with oregano scented bread crumbs, seasonal vegetables $32

Steaks from LP Steak | 8-oz. Filet Mignon $36  | 18-oz. Bone-in Ribeye $52 | 14-oz. Prime NY Strip $57

Sides:

Garlic Bread – garlic butter, chili flakes, locatelli pecorino $6
Gnocchi – pomodoro or alfredo $9
Broccoli Rabe – chilies and garlic $8
Crisp Fingerling Potatoes – garlic & rosemary $9
Fried Shishito Peppers – anchovy crumbs $8

Dolci:

Tiramisu – espresso soaked ladyfingers, mascarpone mousse & cocoa $10
Affogato – vanilla gelato smothered in frozen limoncello, hot espresso, crumbled amaretto cookies, whipped cream $10

Riccota Zeppole – powdered sugar, moscato zabaglione $9
Cannoli – ricotta, cinnamon, candied orange, pistachios, chocolate $8
Gelati & Sorbet $8

BAR HIGHLIGHTS

Wine selections will feature approximately 20 selections by the glass, including white, red, sparkling and coravin pours.  Wines by the bottle will feature over 200 selections and focus on wines from California and Italy.  For beer lovers, 12 draft lines will be pour with crafts and other customer favorites, plus an extensive bottle and can list.  On top of the existing cocktails, look for specialty Italian cocktails to compliment Luke’s Italian cuisine.

STORY OF FIANCO

Chef Palladino says his latest venture - this pop-up restaurant at Valley Forge Casino Resort – gives diners a fresh, new dining option.  The underutilized, unoccupied event space adjacent to LP Steak provided the perfect opportunity for him to reinvent traditional seasonal and classic Italian-American cuisine.

“My partnership with Valley Forge Casino Resort has given me the space and the ability to showcase different dimensions of my cooking,” said Chef Palladino.  “First, LP Steak delivered on the upscale steakhouse concept area diners were looking for, and now Fianco will provide the casual Italian dining experience that will keep them coming back for unique and different culinary experience.”  

VIBE

At 1,620-square feet, Fianco’s diners will experience an intimate, old-world vibe in the two-tiered, refreshed casual pop-up ristorante.  The space at Fianco will feature 70-80 seats, with 2, 4 and 6 tops in an intimate setting, plus a large family-style chef’s table for up to 20 people.

Gruber Design Associates, who also designed Amis, Alla Spina, Mercato and Vallani, created Fianco’s warm, inviting ambience and comfortable décor with colors featuring pale blues, earth tones and striking wood chef's table, and simple and minimalist black and white artwork.

JOB CREATION

Fianco has created 14 new full and part-time positions, including servers, bartenders, hostesses, chefs and backstaff

VFCR DINING SCENE

Fianco joins several existing fine dining, casual and grab-and-go options at Valley Forge Casino Resort. Other restaurants and bars include LP Steak, Valley Tavern, American Grill, Asian Noodle, Nosh Deli, Italian Market, Center Bar, and the newly opened Valley Beach Poolside Club.

For more information about Valley Forge Casino Resort, visit www.vfcasino.com, like Valley Forge Casino Resort on Facebook and follow @VFCasinoResort on Twitter. For more information about Chef Luke Palladino, visitwww.lukepalladino.com, follow @lukepalladino1 @palladinosepx on Twitter, and like Luke Palladino on Facebook. Stay tuned for LP Steak coming soon on Facebook and Twitter.

ABOUT CHEF LUKE PALLADINO

Chef Luke Palladino is a graduate of the esteemed Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, NY and spent many years living and cooking in Italy. From 1997 to 1999, Palladino was executive chef and partner at Venice’s internationally celebrated Ristorante al Covo. Prior to his time at al Covo, Chef Palladino immersed himself in the culture and cuisine of Italy’s varied regions, spending time at restaurants in Rome, Piemonte, Puglia, Fruili, Sicily and Tuscany.

In the United States, Chef Palladino has worked with some of the country’s most respected culinary talent, including Paul Bertolli Jeremiah Towers, Emeril Lagasse and Todd English. Currently, Chef Palladino owns and operatesLuke Palladino Hospitality Group, Atlantic City, NJ.

ABOUT VALLEY FORGE CASINO RESORT

Valley Forge Casino Resort is the region's only full-amenity gaming resort, located conveniently on the Main Line, just two miles from the King of Prussia Mall and easily accessible from Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Valley Forge Casino Resort offers an unparalleled experience featuring a safe, exclusive 40,000 square feet of gaming space featuring 600 of the hottest slot machines and 50 table games; live entertainment including the Valley Forge Music Fair, which hosts headline comedians and national musical acts; 8 dining options including renowned chef Luke Palladino's LP steak and Fianco; 4 nightlife experiences including the area's hottest DJs at Center Bar, Valley Beach, a daytime poolside and outdoor club and music venue; and Valley Tavern where sports fans can watch their favorite teams on big screen TVs while enjoying pub fare and a wide assortment of craft and draft beers.

Valley Forge Casino Resort offers luxurious accommodations with 485 guest rooms and suites and 100,000 square feet of recently renovated meeting, conference and banquet facilities. Valley Forge Casino Resort is Philadelphia's premier entertainment destination. For more information visit vfcasino.com<http://www.vfcasino.com/>. Find Valley Forge Casino Resort on  Facebook<http://www.facebook.com/vfcasinoresort> and follow on Twitter<https://twitter.com/VFCasinoResort>.