One of the Jersey ‘housewives’ is coming to Morris Park, and reality show TV fanatics couldn’t be more excited.
Teresa Giudice, from Bravo’s “Real Housewives of New Jersey,” will be making an appearance at Enzo’s Restaurant, at 1998 Williamsbridge Road, on Wednesday evening, September 29. She will sign copies of her New York Times bestselling cookbook “Skinny Italian” and greet fans.
“I love Theresa. She’s absolutely my favorite,” said Michelle Lifrieri, an avid devotee of the show who grew up in Morris Park originally, but now lives in Throggs Neck.
Lifrieri has actually already met Giudice. She met a number of the housewives a couple weeks ago when she saw them perform in an off-Broadway show, “My Big Gay Italian Wedding,” with her husband in Manhattan.
“I told Theresa I’d see her at Enzo’s,” Lifrieri, who has watched the Bravo show since its premiere. recalled. She also said she had never been to Enzo’s, but her husband is close with the owner, Enzo DiRende.
DiRende, meanwhile, said the event will be a boon for the restaurant. “The place is going to be jam-packed,” he said, “it’s big for the neighborhood.”
Enzo’s has already booked 190 spots in the two separate dinner seatings the night of the event — one at 6 p.m. and one at 8:30 p.m. The restaurant is offering a prix-fixe dinner, $60 a person, during which Giudice will speak for a while and sign copies of her cookbook, which will be on sale.
Those who have not yet signed up can still do so, DeRende said, because the rear of the eatery will be open for walk-in business, and anyone can walk in to get a book signed..
Enzo’s is also building their menu around Giudice for the evening. The bar will offer peach bellinis, a favorite drink of the chef and author, and the set meal will include a pasta dish she likes.
It was Nikki Piscatelli, a friend of Theresa Giudice’s publicist, who set the event up for Enzo’s.
“I was in the restaurant one night for dinner and we were talking about the show, and about Teresa” said Piscatelli, “and I mentioned I was friendly with her publicist. So Enzo said I should get her to come to the restaurant and do a book signing. I reached out, and she is excited about it.”
Piscatelli, who said Enzo’s is her favorite place to eat, also admitted to being a fan of the show, though not at the level of Lifrieri, a friend of hers.
“It’s going to be a fun night,” said Piscatelli. “Her husband will be with her too, they call him Juicy Joe.”
Lifrieri described herself as one of hundreds of Bronx women who she believes are likely to line up for a signature. “I’m going to bring my copy of her book,” she said.
“And I have magazines that she appeared in, and I’m bringing my camera. Whatever I can fit in my bag that day.”
