INGOOD TASTE
Jimmy “ Pie ” Gerasole , Owner , Girasole
Candid conversations with the dining scene ’ s most engaging chefs
Girasole 733 Copeland Street , Pittsburgh ( Shadyside ); 412.682.2130 , girasolepgh . com
On the Menu : Modern Italian fare using fresh ingredients in a variety of homemade seasonal dishes , from a Soup of the Day and a Girasole Salad with mixed greens , garbanzo beans , olives and gorgonzola tossed in a sunflower vinaigrette , to lunch and dinner offerings that include Penne Marinara with a choice of grilled chicken , meatballs , sausage or shrimp , Gnocchi , Ravioli , Linguine and Cocoa Fettucine . The Wine Bar is a curated selection of wine by the glass or bottle , slightly effervescent or semi-sparkling options , beer , cocktails and a variety of Nebbiolo .
What is the meaning of Girasole ? Girasole is Italian for sunflower . When our family came over from Italy , the spelling of our last name was changed to Gerasole . When we opened the restaurant , we decided to keep the spelling accurate to the Italian language . Another story about my name comes from my childhood . Everyone would call me paisono , which is Italian for “ my friend .” I eventually shortened it to Pie ( the abbreviated American spelling of the word ) and now I ’ m known as Jimmy Pie — or Mr . Gerasole to a few .
Why did you open Girasole ? My son Gino and I were walking down Copeland Street one day and he told me he thought this restaurant space would become vacant and available soon . He said we should open a restaurant here . Even though I was never in a kitchen in my life , I decided to go for it . That was 23 years ago .
Describe the essence of Girasole . Girasole is an Italian joint . It ’ s a fun place to be . We have live music by guitarist Jamie Wright and special guest singer Ores Mariannu every Tuesday , Wednesday and Thursday . They sing songs in Italian and one of the songs they play is so beautiful that I cry every time I hear it .
Who has influenced the business the most ? My daughter-in-law Jennifer is 90 percent of the success of Girasole . Everything you see on this menu was her creation . There would be no restaurant without her . From the look and feel of the entire place , she was and still is a very large influence and a part of this place .
What local resources do you use for your ingredients ? We use Fede in North Huntingdon for our pasta , Weiss Provision in the Strip for our
Jimmy “ Pie ” Gerasole , Owner , Girasole in Shadyside
meats , Schneider ’ s Dairy for our dairy products and Paragon for our produce , which uses a variety of farms in western Pennsylvania .
What ’ s your favorite go-to meal at Girasole ? Everything I eat here is not on the menu . It ’ s almost made-to-order . I ’ ll get a pasta garlic aioli , hot peppers and onions — they ’ re my favorite ingredients .
What is your go-to meal when you cook from home ? I ’ m never home to cook . I spend my days and nights at the restaurant . This is more like home to me and I ’ m happy here .
What tool can ’ t you live without ? I ’ m a people person so I would say it ’ s my people skills that I use as a tool in business .
What ’ s your best advice for a novice ? Owning a restaurant is a very hard occupation . My recommendation is not to open one !
Other than Girasole , where ’ s your favorite place to eat in Pittsburgh ? If I go out , I ’ ve always enjoyed the food at Dish in South Side .
What ’ s the next big food or dining trend ? I think people enjoy going out again and when they do , they like a place like Girasole — where the food is delicious , the wine is flowing , the music is inviting , and everybody is welcome . n
— Reese Randall
Gnocchi alla Sorrentina ( a potato gnocchi baked in a rich marinara sauce with fresh mozzarella )
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