About Claudio 

Claudio Trudu spent his childhood in his mother’s and grandmother’s kitchens in Northern Italy, learning traditional and family recipes for freshly prepared foods. He developed a more advanced palate traveling around Italy and Europe as he grew up, yet always returned home for the flavors he knew and loved best.  

He has brought his interpretations of family cooking and traditional Northern Italian recipes to life at Mangia Bene, using top quality ingredients imported straight from Italy to maintain the authentic flavors of his home. Everything else is homemade, from fresh mozzarella, to soups, meatballs, sausages and, of course, our extraordinarily popular Bolognese (meat sauce) which sells almost as much by the quart as it does with pasta in the restaurant!

Claudio’s standards are high, and only fresh, good quality ingredients will be used at Mangia Bene; NO microwaves, pre-cooked pasta, preheated soup, or imitation Italian meats and cheeses will EVER be allowed in his kitchen! These requirements, and the fact that everything is made to order, as it should be, combine to give our diners an authentic, home cooking Italian experience … don’t be surprised to see him wandering though the dining room joking with customers and staff when he has time. And if you want to see him extra happy, just tell him to choose your meal for you, as happens in many small restaurants in Italy … be patient, relax, and enjoy your meal!

Buon appetito!

About Carolyn

Carolyn Trudu has a much different background from that of her husband. While she too grew up in her mother’s, grandmother’s and great-grandmother’s kitchens, the food experience was altogether different, as her family was primarily Russian-Jewish, and not Italian! She did however, share Claudio’s love for home-cooked food, and understanding of the importance of using fresh, high quality ingredients.

Carolyn began working in an Italian restaurant during college, and in a sense, ‘the rest is history!’ One job as a hostess led to serving, bartending, and the eventual promotion to management … after which destiny took her to New York City where she and Claudio met!

After 13 years together, four of which were spent in Italy where their son Alec was born, she came to fully share the same passion for food as her husband. Soon after returning to the US in 2001, she and Claudio began to solidify their plans to make their dream of owning a small Italian food shop, come true. In 2004, it happened! Nearly four years, two expansions, and a daughter (Sara) later, Mangia Bene is more than she could have ever imagined.

Though you will usually find Carolyn acting as your hostess, you may find her cooking sometimes too … Claudio has taught her well!

She too wishes you buon appetito, and reminds you that mangia bene means ‘eat well’ … and she is sure you will!