Neopolitan chef Raffaele Ronca steps outside his comfort zone to explore Spanish and Mexican cuisine at Gordito, his creative, colorful, and well-received new restaurant in downtown Rye. Gordito, at 24 Purchase Street, is next door to Rafele Rye, a popular Italian restaurant that has become a staple of Italian fare since opening in 2018.

Embracing Raffaele’s passion for exploring new horizons, Gordito features Raffaele’s imaginative take on classic Spanish and Latin fare, including tapas, paellas, burritos, salads, desserts, and cocktails.

Raffaele, who grew up in a family of chefs in Naples, has always loved Spanish food since visiting Spain numerous times over the years. But in 2023, while planning the menu at Gordito, he immersed himself even more deeply in the cuisine and culture, learning from the Spanish master himself, José Andrés, in the kitchen of the Washington, D.C., branch of Jaleo, Andrés’s acclaimed restaurant known for its authentic and festive Spanish cuisine. 

Teaming up with Raffaele again are his partners Ann Mara Cacase and Karin Pizzo Kulsar (besides Gordito and Rafele Rye, the three are also among the owners of the popular Italian restaurant Bianca, in Greenwich).

Joining them as partners in Gordito are two fixtures from the original Rafele in downtown Manhattan (with which Raffaele is no longer involved): Elisa Violani, who, like Raffaele, moved to New York from Italy many years ago and who now joins Gordito as the general manager and a partner after running the front of the house at Rafele Rye and before that at the original Rafele; and Fidel Pantoja, who started as a sous chef at the original Rafele before moving on to Rye.

Raffaele and his partners look forward to continuing to present more great food and hospitality.