Michael Strahan boasts a résumé full of accomplishments. He’s a Super Bowl champion, the NFL’s single season sacks record holder and a host on Good Morning America, among many other television gigs.
Now the former New York Giants defensive end can check off one more box on the list of things he’s done and places he’s seen: he’s visited the North Fork.
Strahan flashed his trademark gap-toothed smile when he posed for a photo with staffers at Il Giardino in Aquebogue Saturday night. It’s nice to see the NFL Hall of Famer expanding his horizons beyond Campbell’s Chunky Soup.
It’s been quite the month for Il Giardino, which also cracked Newsday’s list of the “best pasta dishes on Long Island.” The Italian eatery, which moved into the former home of the Petulant Wino last year, was the only North Fork eatery to earn that distinction, when the paper recognized its North Fork paccheri. Similar to rigatoni, the pasta is served with goat cheese, zucchini and arugula.
Of course, Strahan isn’t the first sports legend to visit the North Fork in recent years. Friar’s Head hosted Bill Russell, Julius “Dr. J” Erving, Charles Barkley and more for a charity golf tournament in 2012. Barkley also made headlines for singing karaoke at Jerry & the Mermaid’s before the same event in 2011.
Strahan also isn’t the first Giant to visit Aquebogue, home to Big Ed Danowski, who won two NFL championships as a halfback for the team in the 1930s.
