BROOKLYN MAGAZINE

There’s a mini Italian food empire growing in Fort Greene, and the two women leading it brought back from Italy a passion for food and a savvy for business. 

MISSBISH

Chef Silvia Barban, born and raised in Northern Italy, arrived in NYC nearly five years ago, bringing her rich expertise of Italian cuisine with her.

CHEFS OF NEW YORK

Food can change a person’s life. Perhaps cooking something special for someone can make their day a little better. I love that.

THE NEW YORK TIMES

LaRina Pastificio & Vino, an inviting new Italian neighborhood restaurant in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, offers an extra perk: a retail counter well stocked with food made both in-house and imported from Italy. Silvia Barban is the chef and an owner.

BRAVO TV

The cheftestants collaborated on a stunning six-course meal.

BROOKLYN MAGAZINE

“You Can’t Buy Happiness, But You Can Buy a Bowl of Pasta,” reads the sandwich board outside of LaRina Pastificio & Vino, a Fort Greene newcomer from the Aita team. “And That is Pretty Much the Same Thing."

THE VILLAGE VOICE

We make everything ourselves,” says Silvia Barban, chef and another of LaRina’s partners. “Every day, we make fresh pasta, of course, but I like to put my own twist on things.” 

AMNEWYORK

Among the eight contestants is Silvia Barban, the executive chef of Aita in Clinton Hill and the executive chef and owner of LaRina Pastificio e Vino in Fort Greene.

BROOKLYN PAPER

“Just being on the show for me is a big achievement,” said Silvia Barban, who co-owns Italian eatery LaRina Pastificio and Vino in Fort Greene and is the executive chef at Clinton Hill’s Aita. “I’m a huge fan of ‘Top Chef’ and it was a dream come true.”

DELAWARE ONLINE

Silvia Barban, Jim Smith, Katsuji Tanabe and John Tesar, four contestants who competed in the season 14 of “Top Chef: Charleston, South Carolina,” will be cooking at the 20th annual Meals on Wheels Delaware fundraiser at the DuPont Country Club.

NEW YORK POST

Fort Greene newcomer LaRina, whose chef Silvia Barban is currently competing on “Top Chef,” will have the feast for both brunch and dinner.