In the Ridgewood neighborhood of Queens, Valentino Food Market (VFM) is a purveyor of fruits and vegetables, as well as gourmet Italian and other dishes. The market’s name has grown to be associated with excellent food, extraordinary service and accuracy. Read more about its long and interesting history and available offers on queens.name.
Family business
The history of VFM stretches back to 1975. It is a family-owned business that works every day. At the age of only 10, Filippo Armato Barone, who grew up in Santa Margherita di Belice in Sicily, went from town to town selling fruits and vegetables. From an early age, he felt satisfied with his diligent work and the rewards he received. At the time, he was raising funds for his own business. In 1968, his hometown was hit by a strong earthquake. The natural disaster literally devastated the area, forever changing the way of life of the locals.
A year later, the Barone family moved to the borough of Brooklyn, New York. Filippo labored diligently, never losing sight of the objective that was his guiding principle. Each step brought him closer to his own business. In the 1970s, Filippo met and married his life partner, Paula. The couple had three children.
Later, Filippo and his brother Ignazio opened a grocery store in Brooklyn. After some time, thanks to the support of his sons, Filippo was finally able to realize his dream by opening an open-air market in Queens, VFM. The entrepreneur succeeded thanks to his diligent work, belief in his business and the tremendous support of his family.
[Filippo Armato Barone (center) with his sons]
Large selection of products
Products are delivered to the market from Watsonville, California, New Jersey and Long Island, New York. VFM sells fresh fruits and vegetables and delicatessen products of the highest quality, using only the best ingredients: beef, pork and poultry, as well as spices from around the world. Every week, the market organizes special offers, i.e., sells certain products at a reduced price.
VFM also offers ready-to-eat meals in large volumes. Whether you are planning a corporate event, a picnic or a party, experienced chefs will prepare unique dishes for you that will satisfy even the most demanding tastes.
Among hot dishes, popular ones are: Chicken cutlet; grilled chicken; breaded eggplant; broccoli rabe (also known as rapini); rice balls; sausage and peppers; meatballs; pasta; frittata (an Italian omelette made with fillings of cheese, vegetables, sausage, or meat); stuffed artichokes; grilled zucchini; stuffed mushrooms; potato croquettes (deep-fried potato balls); grilled sausages; breaded cauliflower; meat lasagna; caponata (a traditional Sicilian dish, a type of vegetable stew made from eggplant stewed with other vegetables).
When it comes to vegetables, fruits and spices, the market’s assortment is impressive. Among the most popular products are tomato, cucumber, beetroot, black radish, asparagus, basil, artichoke, sweet potato, broccoli, green cabbage, red cabbage, Savoy cabbage, celery, cilantro, coconut, pear, peach, apple, grapes, corn, cranberries, dill, parsley, parsnip, eggplant, roasted peppers, garlic, leeks, red onion, Spanish onion, white onion, ginger, horseradish, lettuce, mushrooms, black olives, green olives, oyster, peas, red beans, romaine, rosemary, sage, spinach, butternut squash, gray squash, green beans, tarragon, thyme, tofu, turmeric, etc.