Chopped champ, Food Network Star winner Christian Petroni to open Nashville restaurant

Famed Westchester chef Christian Petroni, a Food Network regular who won both Chopped (2010) and Food Network Star (2018), and often appears in Guy Fieri’s "Tournament of Champions," is opening a restaurant in Nashville this month.

Yes, Nashville.

And no, he didn't move there but he will spend time there.

Ella’s by Christian Petroni (formerly Ella's on 2nd), featuring a coastal Italian concept, an open kitchen and a white oak communal chef's counter, opens March 15 in partnership with Red Pebbles Hospitality.

"Nashville's vibrant culinary scene has long attracted me as a chef," said Petroni. "It's a city that celebrates life, and with my own passion for food, music and good company, Nashville feels like the perfect place for my next venture.

"Though I wasn't raised in the South, Italian-Americans in New York City share unexpected connections with Southerners. We're both known for our warmth, hospitality, and deep love for gathering around delicious food, surrounded by loved ones. This shared spirit of welcoming and serving others is precisely the essence I'm aiming to capture with the new Ella's concept in Nashville."

Of interest: First look at rebrand of iconic Westchester restaurant

Petroni’s menu consists of some of his signature dishes (think prosciutto pizza bread and his eight-hour marinara sauce) as well as only-in-Nashville specials such as olive oil fried meatballs with Sunday sauce, ricotta and fresh baked focaccia; Eggplant Parm served Neapolitan-style; Rigatoni Roasted Chicken Ragu; Salmon Puttanesca; and Chicken Parm.

His goal, he said, is to offer a rustic all-day Italian concept inspired by his upbringing and featuring a heartfelt dedication to welcoming guests "home."

Diners can also expect an extensive list of wines, beers, and vibrant signature cocktails celebrating classic Italian drinks such as a seasonal selection of spritz and negroni drinks. Daily brunch is also served.

Petroni, who wears his Bronx personality on his (very) tattooed sleeve, spent childhood summers immersed in the culinary traditions of his grandparents on the island of Ponza, Italy, just off the coast of Naples. His food, for those who've experienced it, draws culinary inspiration from his time in both New York and on the Italian Mediterranean.

Some may recall his cheesy garlic bread served — for the first time — at Yankee Stadium last year. The ooey gooey bread, loaded with garlic butter and a mixture of mozzarella, pecorino, and parmesan, is inspired by the red sauce joints he grew up in and features his eight-hour marinara sauce. It will be back again this year in regular and pepperoni versions at Sections 125 and 310.

More information on the restaurant can be found at ellason2nd.com; more details about Petroni are at christianpetroni.com.

Jeanne Muchnick covers food and dining. Click here for her most recent articles and follow her latest dining adventures on Instagram @jeannemuchnick or via the lohudfood newsletter. 

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Westchester NY chef opening Ella’s by Christian Petroni in Nashville