Celebrating his 43rd birthday in a Manhattan Clam House, Crazy Joe Gallo chows down on a seafood cocktail emanating that common level of confidence which had catapulted him through the ranks of the New York underworld.
That aforementioned confidence however was firmly lodged inside of a temporary, temperamental bubble which was soon to be burst by .32 calibre bullets that some would say were more than overdue.
You see Crazy Joe had built up quite the reputation for himself and wasn't scared to strut his stuff and peacock-feather himself round the streets of Brooklyn and afar. A juxtaposition to the old timers who rested upon the Sicilian traditions such as Lucky Luciano and wouldn't dare flaunt their wealth or status in public view.
Crazy Joe was known to be completely calm one minute and then murder someone the next, which he always signed off with his sinister laugh he adopted from the film Kiss of Death.
Gallo was a completely intentional flashy, Hollywood gangster who joked and laughed with reporters. Joe’s best friend was a dwarf named Armando who looked after a Lion that Joe used to intimidate people who owed him money.
These ostentatious displays of power and fearlessness was not the way the more traditional gangsters wanted to be represented and therefore many argue that Crazy Joe danced with devil for far too long and should of actually met his maker on an earlier birthday, not his 43rd in 1972.
Widely believed to be murdered on the orders of Joe Profaci, the cruel ruler of the Profaci Crime Family, that 43rd birthday was indeed to be Crazy Joe's last and as he spent his last few seconds on the earth in Umberto's Clam House, Little Italy, he was eating Scungilli, Shrimp & Clams which is what we're going to recreating below. If you're not interested and now have a taste instead for more about Crazy Joe, you can jump to more about him here.
Ingredients:
480g All Purpose Flour
1 tbsp Baking Powder
2 tsp Salt
2 tbsp Sugar
225g Unsalted, Cold Butter
320ml Whole Milk
450g Fresh Clams
300g Scungilli
6-8 Fresh Shrimp
4 cloves thickly sliced Garlic
1 tbsp Chilli Flakes
250ml White Wine
1 tbsp Tomato Paste
250ml of Fish Stock (you can also use Shellfish or Chicken Stock as well)
400g Chopped Tomatoes
2 tbsp of Salted Butter
Method:
1. Add the baking powder, salt and sugar to the flour and mix well
2. Slice the cold butter into small squares and add to the bowl, coating in flour as you add
3. Using your fingertips, gently work the butter into the flour until all the butter is pea-size and then add the 320ml of milk whilst constantly moving the mixture
4. Once the milk is fully incorporated, remove from bowl and pat it out on a floured surface to around 1/2 inch thick. Cut into circles using a cookie cutter, flouring between each cut to avoid sticking, and place onto a baking tray and into the oven at 200C/400F for 12-16 minute until golden brown
5. Clean the clams by soaking in a pot of water and scrubbing off any sand or dirt on the shells. Rinse and repeat until the water runs clear & steam the clams for 7/8 minutes with 100ml of water until they all open - discard the ones that do not open.
6. On a medium heat, melt 1 tbsp salted butter in a glug of olive oil and add the garlic, sauteing for around 30 seconds until softened but without colour
7. Add the chilli flakes and cook out for another 30 seconds. Deglaze with wine wine and reduce until the alcohol has burnt off.
8. Add the fish stock and season with 1 tsp of rock salt and reduce for around 10 minutes
9. Add the tomato puree to the centre of the pan, cooking out for around 60 seconds and then add the scungilli and chopped tomatoes at the same time and cook for 5 minutes
10. Add the shrimp and simmer for 5 minutes
11. Turn the heat off, add the clams and the butter and incorporate for 60 seconds before adding the freshly chopped parsley
12. Enjoy...whilst keeping an eye on the windows & doors of the Clam House, obviously.
The Life of Crazy Joe Gallo
Joe Gallo was born in the Red Hook area of Brooklyn, New York City, to parents Umberto and Mary Gallo. Growing up in an environment where criminal activities were prevalent due to his father's involvement in bootlegging during Prohibition, Joe's exposure to illicit pursuits was inevitable.
In his early criminal career, Gallo became an enforcer and hitman for Joe Profaci's crime family, known as the Profaci crime family. He engaged in various illegal ventures, including running floating dice and high-stakes card games, operating an extortion racket, and running a numbers game betting operation.
Nicknamed "The Dormitory," Gallo's apartment on President Street in Brooklyn served as his headquarters, where he allegedly kept a pet lion named Cleo in the basement. In a short period, he covertly owned multiple nightclubs in Manhattan and two sweatshops in the Garment District.
Gallo's criminal journey took an intriguing turn when he was allegedly asked to participate in the murder of Albert Anastasia, the boss of the Gambino crime family, by Profaci. The following year, Gallo, along with his brothers Larry and Albert, testified before the McClellan Committee of the United States Senate on organised crime but offered little useful information.
In 1961, the Gallo brothers orchestrated the kidnapping of several of Profaci's top men, seeking more favourable financial terms for their release.
After a series of violent clashes and gang wars, Gallo served a prison sentence for conspiracy and extortion.
While incarcerated, he became known for his artistic pursuits, taking up watercolour painting and developing a deep love for literature.
Upon his release in 1971, Gallo immersed himself in New York high society and even garnered Hollywood attention when actor Jerry Orbach portrayed a character loosely based on him in The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight.
Despite attempts to reconcile, conflicts persisted, leading to the infamous Colombo crime family shooting at the Columbus Circle rally in Manhattan in 1971. Tragically, Joe Gallo's life came to a brutal end when he was gunned down and murdered at Umbertos Clam House in Little Italy during a birthday celebration in 1972.
Joe Gallo's life remains a compelling and cautionary tale, chronicling his involvement in organised crime, brushes with power figures like Robert F. Kennedy, and ultimately, a tragic end to a controversial and colourful existence.