EPISODE 403. We’ve got a brand new episode with our pal from the Bronx, Giovanni Paolo. Gio is a Bronx-born sandwich artist who is known worldwide for spreading happiness (and mozzarella), eating good and doing things the old school way. The guys speak on everything from growing up in the old New York, to being mama’s boys and rank bakeries with our friend and special guest, Nicky Smalls. Tune in. How you doin’!
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Chapters:
1:00 – No Baloney Gio
3:00 – We’re from Arthur Avenue
6:00 – The Hands Have Changed
8:00 – Credit Card Processing
10:00 – Espresso Everywhere
14:00 – Ya Sister & New York Napolitan
17:00 – Love for the Fans & Haters
20:00 – First Coffee and a Smoke
23:00 – Homemade Holidays
25:00 – Gio the Trend Starter
28:00 – Too Many HYD’s
31:00 – Breaking Balls Together
34:00 – Gio’s Top Catch Phrases
37:00 – Joe Rogan
42:00 – Mama’s Boys of the Bronx
46:00 – Parlami in Napolitan’
48:00 – Italian English
51:00 – Placing an Order
53:00 – Zeppieri & Sons with Nicky Smalls
56:00 – Sfogliatelle Lessons
59:00 – Best Bakeries
1:01:00 – Making Good Mozzarella
1:04:00 – Top 5 Italian Dishes
1:08:00 – Parting Message
47 Comments
What was your favorite part of this episode ?
He ain't lieing
Exactly 💯 percent correct confirmation confirmation
Gio, good guy. Good episode!
My kind of guys
Love this guy. Great guest. Great energy. Great outlook on life.
Ayyeee shout out Caserta!!! My nonna hometown and my sons middle name
I agree NYC talk is from Italians even black, Hispanic and Asian people spoke like Italian accent. Watch some old videos of New York’s.
It’s it true? That Boston New Yorkers hate each other. Because Boston was predominantly Irish and New Yorkers were predominantly Italian at one time?
I love this guy lol Brought a lot of energy
18 espressos. He’s wired.
Raga siete forte!..anche io sono nato in pizzeria in Pitt.
Real deal ginz..shout out Arthur ave
It's Gravy not Sauce
Italian South Philly !
Love my New Yorkers
I agree with Nicky. Gino’s on 187th St is the cannoli king in NYC. He did the pastries for my wedding. Phenomenal.
Great podcast episode as usual. I really like these types of podcasts the best. The local New York guys who own businesses (usually the food businesses interest me the most). I’d love to see more like this. I think the father and son from Circo’s would be great, the L’industrie guys, Mark Iacono, Laura Vitale… lots of good ones I think.
Bring back Mario & big Joe please!
We gotta get this guy together with Joey Diaz, that would be epic
Giovanni is the real deal he's no poser …he is the pride of Italian Americans everywhere… especially here in Belmont ..good man from a great family
Love Giovanni talking about Arthur avenue and reliving the memories…God bless
My favorite mongolian sangweech maker!😊
That's how I've always understood it too – Gravy = meat sauce, Sauce = No Meat in
I relate to what this guy is saying. He my paisan!
where's joe rogan?
He was in Arizona with Sammy the bull
lol
All the old wise guys died in prison or are in prison
That’s why he is living in upstate
Lol
I grew up in the same neighborhood with G in the same time frame as him. We know a lot of mutual people. Stand up guy. As a puerto rican kid growing up in the real little Italy I was spoiled. Between the bakeries, pastry shops and deli's I was spoiled with great eats. Free fresh bread in the morning was the best
Giovanni’s the best deli in westchester
All these videos and yall still make things so awkward and have no confidence
You ate his meatballs ?! Are y’all fucking 5 years old
Growing up Albanian. Fixed the title for you.
This guys a real one.. only watched crazy Vinny and G’s interviews there real ones. I like how he told them not to put fuckin oregano in the sauce.. he’s a real one
Great episode guys. I love hearing the Napolitano dialect. Keep up the good work.
Giovanni you should’nt eat 1lb of macaroni at anytime of the day let alone at 2O’clock in the morning. It’s not healthy, you could cut back a little, no judgement.
Giovanni's deli is definitely the best around. Only thing is the word got out, so every time I go there's a line practically out the door.
The Albanian
Hi guys! Wondering if you know of a good Italian community in Michigan? I went to Bible University in Minnesota, met my ex-husband, who was from Michigan, we married & moved to where he was from here in Michigan. He turned out to be a wolf in sheep's clothing, abusive & l had to let go of the marriage to literally save my life.🙏🏽✝️
I grew up in NY, now it is too expensive to move back home.
I miss the traditions, the kindness, The REALITY OF HAVING TRUE FRIENDS & Family❤️🤍💚.
And the phony/ugly people that live here, is unbelievable!
I just want my 2026 to be Blessed. Since the older Italian family members have passed, the next generation(s) are so freakin self-centered & have no understanding of Love & Family coming together.
It is so freakin sad.
(crying).
God Bless You! Christ Jesus Loves You & so do I🫶🏽🙏🏽✝️
I use to smoke Avanti's 😂 because they tasted like Anisette & reminded my G'PA. My girlfriends & I, who use to ride motorcycles with, thought I was crazy. But getting off a Harley, & weighing a buck 25, with a cigar in your mouth, guy's would flip out! Trying to get them look at me as a person & not because of my 🇮🇹 backside. 😇🫶🏼🙏🏽✝️
Great podcast guys Giovanni very informative
I would like to introduce myself my name is Gennaro of course from downtown Napoli
I own a Neapolitan specialty coffee roasting company
I would love to show you guys the way espresso Napoletano is Roasted
I have been watching your podcast on YouTube for a long time.
I Know Mario for about 35 years when he used to sale chocolate and candy bars outside the Marlboro movie Theatre on Bay parkway in Brooklyn and Giovanni, he is probably related to my best friend also From Marcianise Caserta
Keep up the great work you do to explain the fantastic southern Italian culture here in America Best wishes Gennaro
23:00 I can so relate to that! My grandparents, parents, uncles, aunts are all deceased now. At age 56 I've become the family matriarch. It's weird and I often wonder if I'm doing our family proud. I just try to continue and pass down all traditions that I participated in. This younger generation, though. Ugh. They ask me to write down all our family recipes. I'm just like "What fkn recipes?" We never had recipes. I just grew up helping my Nonna cook. I just learned. We never measured anything, we just eyeballed it. Whaddya gonna do? 🤷🏻♀️
The great sauce/gravy debate! My Nonna called it suga/sugo so that's what we call it.
I say the same thing.. “you got to teach them how to eat”
I am from Malta, and Gio and I briefly messaged on facebook.. He is an amazing paisan! Also, I love your podcasts, Maltese and Itailan culture are practically the same! Siamo cugini!
Giovani is a TRUE gentlemen. Every time I go there he’s always smiling, always happy, and his food is amazing. The meatballs……ooofhaaaaaa.
Bottom line… People love Italians and Italian food. I cook all the same food but never made a video. Great fucking idea bro! Im from MP been going to G&R for 45 years. Glad your family bought the place. Thank fucking God cuz there is no other place around
Hands down best episode. THIS MAN IS A GEM. Im mexican American and his values align with most Americans. He should be a repeat guest!
So happy this interview happened haha
I like this guy.. great podcast, all the why from Netherlands.❤
My man is dropping gems for life