Obituary of Carol Frazzetta

Carol Frazzetta was born in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn in 1937 and moved to Staten Island with her family in 1964. Carol began her professional career in 1972 by teaching a small group of women in the kitchen of her Grasmere home, where she lived with her husband, Joe, and her three children, Terri, Maria, and Joey. Her cooking classes became so popular that her finished basement was converted into a cooking school with an overhead mirror mounted above a stovetop, the family ping pong table covered in a checkered plastic tablecloth, and comfy chairs and sofas for the students to watch her demonstrate her recipes, such as Sicilian pizza or her famous Charlotte Russe cake. As the business grew, she searched for a storefront and found what would become the home of Carol’s Cuisine in 1983. The century-old building located on Richmond Road in Dongan Hills had high tin ceilings, exposed brick walls, and original hardwood floors. The front of the building housed a gourmet retail shop where her students and customers could purchase cookware, bakeware, and homemade prepared foods. After many years of success as a private caterer on Staten Island, she decided to transform her store into a fine dining restaurant. Carol’s Cafe opened in December of 1992. The prestigious Zagat Survey called it “the best restaurant Staten Island has to offer,” and in 2011, Carol’s Cafe claimed the top spot as the highest-rated restaurant in the borough. In 2013, the restaurant was also recognized in the Michelin Red Guide. Carol was the first female chef to prepare and serve dinner at the James Beard House and in 2011, Carol was featured as a guest chef for a fundraising event to aid in the restoration of Gracie Mansion hosted by Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Carol’s biography was also included in the 2004-2005 edition of the International Who’s Who Book of Chefs. Her culinary education included The Cordon Bleu in London, La Varenne in Paris, Marcella Hazan’s School in Italy, John Clancy’s School of Baking in New York City, The Wilton School of Cake Decorating in Chicago, The Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park, The New School in New York City, L’Academie de Cuisine in Maryland, and wine courses at Windows on the World, New York City. Carol was predeceased by her son, Joe, her son-in-law Jeff Lewis, her brother Frank Frazzetta, and her beloved Yorkie, Meatball. She is survived by her devoted daughters, Terri Giudice-Lewis and Maria Giudice, as well as four grandchildren, Amanda and Keith Lewis, and Maxwell and Olivia Allen. She is also survived by her son-in-law Scott Allen, daughter-in-law Theresa Giudice, and her sisters, Jeanne Frazzetta Faillace and Adele Annunziata. Carol is the author of Carol’s Cafe Pasta Sauces, published in 1997, and more recently, her biography and cookbook entitled Kitchen Bitch, released in 2019. Upon her retirement at age 80 in 2017, Carol enjoyed cooking for her family, gardening, and staying up late to view the newest TV shows and movies. Her dog, Winnie, was her constant companion and was always by her side. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to City Harvest, 150 52ND ST, BROOKLYN, NY 11232 or Visit cityharvest.org