Discovery+ Episode Of "Family Dinner" Features Bucks County Restaurant

NEWTOWN, PA — Award winning chef and TV personality Andrew Zimmern will sit down
to eat with the Palino family when the third season of “Family Dinner” premieres Dec. 23 on Discovery+ and the Magnolia app.

The Palino family owns and operates Vecchia Osteria by Pasquale in Newtown, Bucks County, where they have built a reputation for authentic Italian dishes and endeared themselves to the community.

“We cannot express how excited, appreciative and honored we feel to be sharing our journey as a family business, but most of all sharing our love of food and our community,” said Pasquale who immigrated to the United States with his wife, Anna, in search of the American dream. “Make sure you tune in to see all the craziness that makes up our family.”

During the series, Zimmern visits families across the United States to enjoy their family meals and explore how culture influences how and what people eat.

The segment was filmed last March at the Newtown restaurant where Zimmern met Pasquale and his wife, Anna, who have owned and operated the restaurant since 2009. They were joined by their children, Jerry, Nancy, Crescenzo, Aniello and Carmela.

“They were here for three days,” said Pasquale of Zimmern and the film crew. “They cooked with us. They heard our story - who we are. They met our five children who all work with us. It was exciting. The show is going to be like a family dinner - the way we cook, our culture, where we come from - our roots,” he adds. “It’s going to be cool.”

Andrew and the Palino’s sat down to a “Family Dinner” that included pork ragu, Bronzino, escarole pie and sacchetti, little homemade pasta pouches in a creamy sauce.

“At the beginning it was very scary,” admits Anna, especially when the camera crews arrived and started changing everything around. “But they made us feel comfortable. It was a nice experience. We were honored because they contacted us. They wanted to do the show in Pennsylvania and we were among the top two restaurants they considered. It’s a privilege.”

Pasquale said he was impressed with Chef Zimmern, who he described as very knowledgeable and very mellow. Zimmern is a four-time winner of the James Beard Foundation Award.

“He appreciated what we were doing. It was very busy that night and he was very impressed with how we operated,” he said.

Pasquale was also proud of his family, who he said has work hard to make the business a success. “They know it’s not about money. It’s about your name. Your reputation. And what kind of person you are.”

The film crew also visited Acqua E Farina, a brick oven pizzeria operated by Pasquale’s daughter and son-in-law, Sal and Carmela Scalabrino, located just down the street.

“Everyone’s excited to see the show,” said Pasquale. “It’s going to be good for us, but also good for the community. This kind of thing doesn’t happen everyday - a local restaurant in Newtown on the Discovery Channel. It’s good for me, but it’s also good for the town.

“I love it here. Newtown is my second motherland. I love Newtown. I love the people of Newtown,” said Pasquale.

Pasquale said he will never forget how the people of Newtown and Bucks County helped him through the pandemic.

Pasquale said when they needed the town the most, it responded with take out orders and gift card purchases, which literally kept the restaurant alive. In return, Pasquale said they made an effort to keep their costs down until this year when economic pressures and the reality of inflation forced them to raise their prices.

“Things like this give you the gratification that you’re doing the right thing and doing a good job,” said Pasquale’s daughter Nancy. “All the sudden a whole network turns around and acknowledges your work. That’s why I came into work every day. Hopefully I’m making a difference.”

Michael Shavel of Newtown, who was finishing lunch at the restaurant with Kaitlin Shire and Jill Fein, was excited to hear about the upcoming show.

“It’s great they’re getting the recognition they deserve,” said Shavel. “This is my go to place,” he said.

“The food is absolutely wonderful and the atmosphere is great,” adds Shire and Fine. “We always enjoy coming here.

“After we were in Italy this is the first place I came back to to relive the food,” added Shavel. “We have plenty of Italian restaurants. This is the best version of it.”

The show begins live streaming first thing in the morning (typically around 7:30 a.m.) on Dec. 23, but Anna said the family plans on watching the show together on Dec. 24.

“We made a promise that we would watch it together after our Seven Fishes Dinner on Christmas Eve,” she said.

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Reservations are now being taken for the Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve at Vecchia Osteria and at Acqua E Farina.

The Family Dinner episode will be available for streaming on Dec. 23 at Discovery+ and on the Magnolia app. The episode will also be available for view on the Magnolia Network, although a specific air date and time have not been scheduled.