NEW YORK—Buon giorno! Take a European retreat during lunch with Aroma Kitchen & Winebar’s new daytime hours and enticing lunch menu coming this March 2007. Having succeeded in recreating the intimate Italian dining tradition with an inviting seasonal dinner menu and bountiful wine list, Aroma turns its efforts to revamping the oft-ignored afternoon meal with fresh seasonal ingredients and the same attentiveness given to dinner. In the light of day, Aroma’s relaxed, rustic décor and cozy dining room transform the wine bar into an informal Italian bistro ideal for making business deals, breaking from neighboring Soho and East Village shopping routes, or a change of pace from the fast-food alternative. With competitive prices, Aroma’s lunch dishes surpass their worth with signature Italian ingredients such as imported olives, artisanal cured meats and cheeses, homemade pastas and warm breads. For more information on Aroma’s new lunch menu or to interview owners Alexandra Degiorgio & Vito Polosa interested media please contact Workhouse Publicity, publicist Lauren Gould directly by telephone 212. 645. 8006 or via email lauren@workhousepr.com

REDEFINING THE POWER LUNCH
The long forgotten power lunch is making a revival with Aroma’s new lunch menu, guaranteed to reenergize the mind and body with classical Italian flavors and comforting surroundings. Give yourself a mid-day boost by taking the time to savor a satisfying lunch. With a wide array of authentic panini, pastas, soups and salads, alongside a divine selection of cheeses and cured meats, the decadence of the Italian dining experience is no longer limited to dinner. Aroma’s standout lunch dishes combine Mediterranean influence and imported Italian ingredients into plates that serve up equal doses of flavor and culture. To view a full lunch menu or to obtain additional information please visit www.aromanyc.com

LUNCH STANDOUTS
panini
sicilian tuna, capers, olive pesto  10
mortadella, provolone, red pepper & cannelloni puree  7
prosciutto cotto, fontina croissant  6

pastas
ricotta cavatelli, shrimp, pesto  14
strascinati “sorrentina”, mozzarella, tomato sauce 12
gratin of gnocchi, sausage, fontina, pesto béchamel  11

salads + vegetables
organic mesclun, beets, toasted walnuts, ricotta salata, basil, mint   7
apulian artichoke parmigiana, thyme, smoked treccione 12
seasonal vegetables frittata  8

sweets
sicilian pistachio crème brulee  6
homemade vanilla gelato brioche  5

Relaxed. Intense. Italian. Aroma Kitchen & Wine bar is an Italian restaurant intent on taking guests to refreshingly new levels of Italian food and wine enjoyment. Located next to the Bowery Bar in the East Village at 36 E. 4th Street between Bowery and Lafayette, Aroma feels like a secret wine bar in Rome. From the moment Alexandra Degiorgio greets you at the door, to the first scent of wine selected by Vito Polosa visitors to Aroma experience a casual, honest environment and dishes that capture the flavor and soul of Italy. It's a cozy space, yet it feels expansive. The wine list includes over 150 Italian wines, divided by region, including an extensive “by the glass” program. With seats comfortable enough for dining at the bar, a dining booth in the back and a sidewalk veranda, the restaurant seats 30. Additionally, Aroma’s Farmhouse Room, a private, subterranean escape, is accessed through a narrow staircase and winding catacombs and comfortably seats 20 guests.

MENU AND VENUE INSPIRATION
Alexandra Degiorgio and Vito Polosa’s childhood in the Mediterranean was founded in a culture with a strong, stable culinary tradition where great pleasure is derived from food and where dining is an experience to be savored. Great meals lasted for hours, bringing family and friends together. These meals were always prepared with local and fresh ingredients and with love, care and attention.
Since moving to New York, Alexandra and Vito have seen the same passion for food and drink but found the experience is rarely savored or remembered here. This passion is also often hindered by a fear that delicious food cannot be healthy for you. After they met in November 2002, they created an escape in their home by hosting frequent dinners to celebrate friendships and family, food and wine. They dreamed of creating a restaurant that would bring back the values of fresh, local food that is carefully prepared coupled with wonderful wines and genuine service. Alexandra Degiorgio and Vito Polosa opened Aroma Kitchen & Winebar in March 2005 with a vision to take guests to new levels of Italian food and wine enjoyment, making every meal a memorable experience.

ATMOSPHERE
Aroma is a study in contrasts: The urban/rustic interior features exposed brick, a dark wood bar with natural edges juxtaposed with mirrors framed with brushed steel. The room is softly lit by both contemporary chandeliers and flickering candles. Brought together by their shared passion for food, wine and entertaining, owners Degiorgio and Polosa are both as active behind the scenes as they are in front of the house. Alexandra, a native of Malta, was formerly a consultant for American Management Systems (AMS), an international information technology firm. Vito, from Potenza, Italy (just South of Naples) has extensive experience in service as waiter, head waiter or manager at such NYC restaurants as Fiamma, Da Silvano, Bice and Il Gattopardo. Most recently, he was a wine salesman for Winebow, one of New York's largest wine and liquor distributors. The team brings passionate, focused intensity to the art of relaxing hospitality. They plan to share their enthusiasm with wine tastings, directed pairings and other educational programs.

HOURS
Aroma is open Monday – Friday 12PM – 12AM, Saturday - Sunday 6PM – 12PM. Lunch is served Monday to Friday 12PM – 3PM. Dinner is served Daily 6PM – 11PM. Aroma is open for "aperitivo" Monday – Friday, 4PM – 7PM.  

Aroma is located at 36 E. 4th Street between Bowery and Lafayette. For more information call 212-375-0100 or visit aromanyc.com.