Romano-crusted chicken at Princi Italia

Romano-crusted chicken at Princi Italia Photo by Danny Fulgencio

This dish has followed chef Kevin Ascolese ever since his days at Sfuzzi in Uptown. Wherever he goes, it goes. “We developed it there, and it has just kind of taken off,” Ascolese says. “We’ve been doing it forever.” Now, as Princi Italia’s executive chef, he continues to make the Italian comfort food favorite for anyone who asks. The dish combines Romano-crusted chicken and linguini with tomato-basil sauce. “It’s like a steak-and-potato dish but with chicken and pasta.”