Crosstown Chef Will Bring Grab And Go Food To Sayville Location

SAYVILLE, NY —Michael Panarello has been operating Crosstown Chef for the last year, creating meals that residents pick up or get delivered. Now he's opening his first brick and mortar location at 399 North Main St.

Panarello tells Patch how he found himself starting his own cooking company.

"I always loved cooking and I come from a long line of great, old school home cooks, so I did a career change in my 20's, went to cooking school, and the rest is history."

He then worked in corporate dining for 21 years, he said, and decided it was time to start his own business. He founded Crosstown Chef, saw a growth in demand for to-go meals during the pandemic and is now getting ready to open a physical storefront.

"Obviously with the COVID-19 pandemic, meal delivery and meals to go have become more popular, but more than that, a necessity. Also, with families having both parents working full time, the meal delivery has become a must as well."

"Doing a brick and mortar location allows me to expand on my business and give Sayville and the surrounding area something to be excited about: Good, inspired, chef-created meals to be picked up or delivered."

Crosstown Chef will have cold and hot sandwiches, made-to-order salads, hot food, soups, "grab n go sandwiches and salads" and desserts. There will be breakfast, lunch and dinner options, Panarello said.

He also plans to include vegan and vegetarian options.