Senate Resolution No. 672

BY: Senator MARTINS

COMMENDING Rob Cervoni upon the occasion of
winning an episode of the Food Network's "Chopped"
television cooking competition series

WHEREAS, Culinary competition enhances the moral and creative
development of the people of this State, instilling in them the value of
teamwork, imparting a desire for success, and developing a sense of
artistic and creative expression; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize the
dedication and commitment of those individuals who distinguish
themselves through excellence in culinary competition; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commend Rob Cervoni upon the occasion of winning an episode of the Food
Network's "Chopped" television cooking competition series, which aired
Tuesday, March 28, 2023; and

WHEREAS, Born in Lake Success and raised in Great Neck, Rob Cervoni,
a young businessman at heart, opened, with the help of family financing,
a 16 Handles frozen-yogurt franchise in the latter village; he operated
it for eight years before leaving to try a new endeavor; and

WHEREAS, With experience and love for making pizza at home, Rob
Cervoni decided to pursue it professionally; he wanted to stand out from
other pizza restaurants, leading him to offer something artisanal; and

WHEREAS, Having eaten Roman-style pizza during summers in the
second-generation Italian's ancestral town, Boville Ernica, Rob Cervoni
was only later inspired to learn to make the Roman-style pizza after
seeing it at an expo in 2016; the style has only begun growing in
popularity in the United States in recent years; and

WHEREAS, Opening his restaurant, Taglio, in 2018, Rob Cervoni and
business partner, Domenico "Mimmo" Tolomeo, began to shift from being a
regular slice shop that also sold artisanal pizza, to focusing on the
successes of only selling artisanal pizza in 2021; their actions are
helping to popularize the relatively rare Roman-style, which resembles
flatbread but is thicker yet simultaneously airier due to its highly
hydrated dough that is given a long rise of up to 96 hours; and

WHEREAS, Quickly following this change, Rob Cervoni quickly became
one of Pizza Today magazine's seven "Rising Stars of the Pizzeria
Industry" in 2022; and

WHEREAS, Following his astounding growth and successes, Rob Cervoni
was recruited by the show, "Chopped" which airs on the Food Network;
after a series of online interviews, the pizza chef was invited to
participate on the show, filming his episode in Manhattan in October of
2022; and

WHEREAS, The episode aired on Tuesday, March 28, 2023,
coincidentally the same date as the first night of the 39th Annual
International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada, where Rob Cervoni would
be showcasing his renowned culinary talents; with his strongest support
system joining him, he watched the episode with his loving wife,
Samantha, and their beloved two-year-old son together; and

WHEREAS, Rob Cervoni, representing his home of Long Island, in a
high-stakes battle against other renowned pizza chefs, a fast-ticking
clock, and the pressure of a massive television audience, arose
victorious in defeating his opponents in the fight to claim the title of
Chopped Champion, rightly earning the illustrious $10,000 prize; and

WHEREAS, It is with great pleasure that this Legislative Body
acknowledges the magnificent talent and representation of excellence
within New York State that is Rob Cervoni, fully confident that he will
continue to enjoy the sparkling successes he has experienced thus far;
now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Rob Cervoni upon the occasion of winning an episode of the Food
Network's "Chopped" television cooking competition series; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Rob Cervoni.