STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — On Staten Island, where classic Italian restaurants are woven into the local food fabric, music has never been an afterthought. And as viral moments like Barilla’s pasta‑timed playlists spark fresh conversation about mood music and mindful meal consumption, many local chefs say certain soundtracks have been on their minds for decades. From the dining room to the bowels of the kitchen, music sets the tempo as much as the temperament, guiding the easy flow of both food and service.
Bocelli in Grasmere even draws its name from the famed tenor Andrea Bocelli. Sometimes you’ll hear his music there. But at Joe Mozz’s cheese factory in Port Richmond, you really hear the music.
Giuseppe Badalamenti, better known as “Joe Mozz,” says the songs help guide his workdays spent crafting hundreds of pounds of fresh mozzarella…