Last Friday, before leaving to go back to Albania, the four mayors:Mr. Qazim Sejdini, Elbasan; Mr. Stefan Çipa, Sarandë;Mr. Fadil Jusufi,  Berat and Mr. Bardhyl Gjyzeli, Kuçovë; Besnik Fucia, mayor of Kashar, stopped in New York on the way from an official visit to USAID and the State Department in Washington D.C. Joined Honorable Dritan Mishto, Consul General of Albania, they dined at Macelleria Restaurant in Manhattan. The restaurant is owned and operated by the Bitici family, long time restaurateurs in New York City and New Jersey.

Brothers Sergio and John Bitici offered their esteemed guests a most warm welcome, serving the best wine and cuisine available from New York’s local markets. Luckily a local farm reported that baby goats are running much earlier this year, therefore the brothers were able to serve their guests the very first baby roast goat of the season. There was an abundance of Albanian style meze, Raki Rrushi of Rahovec, produced by the Geci family, and robust red wines from the Ceretto vineyards in Piedmont. The meal ended with Macelleria’s desserts such as famous, homemade, New York style cheesecake, aged cognac and fine cigars provide by John Bitici.

The Albanian leaders were impressed with the kind reception that was shown to them in the U.S. and look forward to returning to New York soon.

S.B.