They say Brooklyn is New York City’s new Manhattan, the next generation place to savor what’s hot in urban kitchens. Today even Queens has a world-class reputation for cool ethnic eats. But the Big Apple’s genuine gourmet secret may quietly stirring in the Bronx, this section of New York percolating its own epicurean brilliance.

What has me paying homage to this borough? Well, exploring the world of Sicilian flours, luck led me to Beatrice Ughi, owner of Gustiamo, a Bronx-based Italian food import company. On a recent sun soaked Saturday, I biked over from my home in Sunnyside to visit Gustiamo’s Bronx warehouse. The peddling was worth it. Beatrice sells stunning products and is a wonderful host. Besides a mobile wood burning pizza Napoletana truck, she treated me to fabulous local beer from Gun Hill Brewing Company, trays of delicious pandoro and panettone, as well as an olive oil tasting.

Here’s some photos of my picnic with Beatrice in the Bronx.