Angie Valentino was born into style. Raised near Milan, the city's fashion culture attracted her at a young age. After studying set design at a performance art high school, she formally entered the industry at age 18 while studying costume design at the prestigious Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera in Milano, simultaneously earning a degree from BCM Cosmetics. Since that time, Valentino has worked continuously as a makeup artist, set designer, and costume designer for major fashion houses, international brands, television networks, film companies, and private clients both in Milan and New York, where she moved in 2015. Her awards include Best Makeup Artist at Los Angeles Fashion Week and New York Fashion Week, respectively. Valentino is in the midst of opening Scarlet Art Studio in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, the name inspired by her signature hair color, where she will, in a sprawling space, offer an array of services for hair, nails, and makeup, as well as face and body painting. We sat down with Valentino for the inaugural edition of “How Italians Eat in America.”
What's your overall favorite food in America?
I'm obsessed with hamburgers, and I love french fries with them. Ever since the first time I came to America in 2010, I am in love with hamburgers. Wow. I don’t care where. Anywhere that has hamburgers is good with me, even after I became vegan because of an allergy, I eat veggie burgers, and I still love them.
On a scale of one to 10, how do you rate Italian food in America?
Okay. Eight. I cannot say 10 because 10 is Italy. It's impossible to go there, but I think the food here, in New York at least, is very good.
Are there any Italian products that you wish you could get here that you can't?
I can find whatever I want right now. Of course, Eataly has everything from Italia, and I think I can find a lot of things Italian here in other places, too. It is not just in the Italian stores but even in the American groceries that have a lot of different kinds of pasta and the other things I can cook vegan in my Italian way. I have a grocery store near where I live in Queens; it’s called Fresh Food. It's not a vegan grocery store, but there are a lot of vegan and vegetarian people who go there, so they have a lot of products for us.
What is your favorite Italian dish to make at home?
My favorite dish, absolutely, is aglio e olio, with the chili pepper, and I always add fresh tomatoes at the end.
Are there any Italian places that you like to go out to eat?
Well, I mean, I'm Italian, so I prefer to cook at home, and, so I don't go to the Italian places too much. I do, though, like a few places in Manhattan for pizza because I don’t make it at home and many places now make very good vegan pizzas. I like Ribalta, the owner is from Naples, and Pizza 28, and Song E Napule. If not for pizza, I really love the place Piccola Cucina, they are from Sicily, and I just learned of a place in Brooklyn, Cremini’s, the owners, a couple, are from Le Marche; she makes incredible asolani olives and pastas like arrabiata; and he makes the best aperitivo.
Any place you haven’t tried yet but want to go?
My Italian friends tell me Don Antonio is very good for pizza and that they have many, many vegan selections. I am told, also, that the owner is a pizzaiola from Lazio and is close to my age. I’d like to meet her and try the pizza. Also, I want to go to Via Carota to see for myself about the, you know, fuss.
Is there a kind of cuisine, other than Italian, that you might go out for?
Oh, yes! I really love Thai food. There is a beautiful restaurant close to Union Square, Thai Villa. I love it. They do a vegan Pad Thai. It's really amazing.
Let’s get back to Italian food. The next time you go back to Italy, where's the first place you're going to go eat?
At my mom’s. She’s the best!