Paolo Telese Honored for Cooking Excellence

When people think of Paolo Telese, they think of

The slice of Italy in North Bellmore offers contemporary Italian dishes including pasta, steak and pizza, and for his excellence in the kitchen, Telese was honored as Chef of the Year at the annual Long Island Critic Food Awards on April 2.

Telese, a Merrick resident who is also a member of the , was happy to receive the honor, which was a bit of a surprise to him.

“Did I expect it? No, not at all,” he told the East Meadow Herald. “I’m very excited.”

From the East Meadow Herald:

Paolo, who lives in Merrick, grew up in New York and spent most summers in Abrutzi, Italy, where his parents have a second home. His roots are reminiscent in his dishes.

Elisa's is open from 4 p.m. to close on Monday through Saturday, and from 2 p.m. to close on Sunday.

"At Elisa’s, you get all that Italian heritage right here on Long Island," says the restaurant's website. "Coming together to create one extraordinary dining experience that’s second-to-none. We thank you for joining us, and we look forward to your next visit. Don’t be a stranger!"