You may have captured a glimpse of one of the temples of Italian cuisine, the restaurant San Domenico, in a film or TV series, without realizing it. Tony May, the King of Italian cuisine in New York, created a near cult following at this acclaimed restaurant. He also established a legacy, which will be carried forth by his daughter, Marissa May. Tony May passed away early this month at the age of 84 after a brief illness.
Besides ownership of the legendary San Domenico restaurant and its Madison Park iteration, SD26, May is best known as the maître d’ and later director of New York’s famous Rainbow Room.
A native of Naples, he arrived in New York, working his way up from a waiter to become the King of New York cuisine.
In 1997, he opened the restaurants Gemini and Pasta Break, which were destroyed in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, on September 11, 2001.
In 1991, he financed the Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners in Piedmont, Italy. In 2006, he created the Italian Culinary Foundation, with the goal of coordinating programs that promote Italian cuisine, wine and table culture.
In 2010, I had an opportunity to visit Tony May and his daughter Marissa at their then newly-opened SD26 restaurant on Madison Park, New York and to sample his marvelous culinary creations. May his memory be a blessing and an inspiration.
