​Caci Restaurants today announced the opening of Caci Shelter Island, a second location for the popular Italian restaurant located in Southold on the North Fork of Long Island. Caci Shelter Island will be housed at the historic and luxury boutique hotel, The Shelter Island House, located on Stearns Point Road in Shelter Island Heights, New York.

“I am inspired by the agriculture and aquaculture the North Fork offers, and believe that the access to these fresh ingredients provides me the opportunities to create an unforgettable dining experience,” notes Caci Umbrian-born Executive Chef Marco Pellegrini. “I am really looking forward to bringing this unique menu, as well as tastes of Central and Northern Italy, to Shelter Island.”

Caci, short for Cacioppo, is owned by husband and wife Anthony and Daniele Cacioppo; and Joseph and Kelly Cacioppo. Caci’s partnership with The Shelter Island House came about organically; Joseph has known the hotel’s owners, sisters Suzanne Walsh and Janet (Walsh) Rogler, going all the way back to childhood. Both families grew up in Garden City and spent their summers on the East End, sharing the same experiences and traditions of raising several generations of family on both the North Fork and Shelter Island.

Caci Shelter Island plans to offer a seasonally inspired menu featuring authentic Northern Italian cuisine by Chef Marco that is simplistic, inventive and dedicated to all things fresh and house-made. Locally sourced and imported Italian ingredients along with house made pasta, gnocchi, bread, and gelato are just some of Caci’s specialties. Chef Marco will be Executive Chef to both Caci locations, maintaining a consistent menu and dining experience for the brand.

Daniele Cacioppo describes how their partnership with Chef Marco came to be, “Anthony and I had been in search of the right partner to open up a restaurant on the North Fork since 1995 when Anthony and I bought our first home in Southold. We never thought that we would find him years later while in Italy on vacation. It was a magical connection, Marco’s authentic and simple style was exactly what we were in search of.”

After bringing his family to Long Island from Italy to open Caci North Fork in 2014, Chef Marco has made his seasonal and locally-sourced menu infused with his Northern Italian background a favorite amongst locals and visitors alike. Growing up in the picturesque town of Foligno located in the center of the Italian peninsula, Chef Marco made the decision to become a chef at a very young age. During stints at a number of highly acclaimed restaurants throughout Italy, Chef Marco learned to research and select the finest ingredients by forging bonds with local farmers.

“We love the ability to source as many local ingredients as possible and utilize the wonderful bounties from the North Fork region while combining them with authentic Italian ingredients. We receive deliveries from Italy every week and we source locally as much as possible. As executive chef and partner at Caci Restaurants, Chef Marco brings these lessons and traditions to create seasonally inspired menus combining the cuisine of his native Umbria with his newly discovered American influences.

Caci Shelter Island’s grand opening will be Memorial Day Weekend, 2018. The restaurant plans to serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Guests can choose to be seated in any of the three intimate dining rooms, cozy bar area, spacious covered patio, or opt to enjoy the Happy Hour menu at the bar, outdoor lounge, or on the bocce court. For additional information, hours, & menus, please visit www.cacishelterisland.com or call 631-749-5659.