Dispatches From Dave: Inside the Kitchen at Mercato

I particularly enjoy Mercato in the warmer months — outdoor seating and open windows expand the space — and its combination of casual and quality hit the mark. In this video, chef Mackenzie Hilton, working in the tiny, tiny kitchen, takes me through the preparation of calamari with basil pesto and, on the side, a refreshing salad of radicchio, cannellini beans, pepperdew peppers, and scallions.