Eats & Beats: Tony P’s – family Italian, and Music!

interview with Tony Pasquini

Before we get to the Italian food that Tony Pasquini and his mother Judy serve up at 17th and Clarkson in Denver (and in the Highlands), those sure are snazzy delivery vehicles!  Italian, of course, a fleet of Fiat 500s with racing stripes.  Tony P’s is one of 20 local restaurants serving at KUVO’s signature fundraising wine tasting, feast, silent auction and New Orleans All-Star Rhythm Revue, “Live at the Vineyards” on Saturday, Aug. 9 in Denver.

“We ‘re not trying to be fancy.  We’re not some gourmet Italian place,” says Pasquini.  ”We’re a family place with family recipes, trying to put good food on the table.”  

Much more than pizza, Tony P’s tasty Mediterranean fare is on display this Saturday at “Live at the Vineyards.”  In the interview above, Pasquini describes his appetizer (Stuffed Mushrooms – baked with scallions, garlic, sherry, white wine, secret herbs, and parmigiano reggiano on crostini) and his dessert (flourless, gluten-free chocolate espresso torte).

The other thing that sets Tony P’s apart is the live music.  The Friday and Saturday night house band is the carefully pronounced and jazzy, funky Buckner Funken Jazz.   On Sundays, Denver area churches are providing live music for the Gospel Brunch.  

This month, KUVO kicks off a new monthly broadcast series from Tony P’s every third Saturday or so.  ”We’re going live on the air from Tony P’s on Saturday, August 23rd,” announced Carlos Lando.  ”We’ve got a beautiful lounge upstairs,” said Tony P.   “We’re starting off with blues guitarist  Johnny O, and trumpeter Dr. Rod Buckner will sit in.”

As of this writing, tickets to Live at the Vineyards are still available here.