Actor and chef Emilio on his rare Patek and Long Island home
Actor and chef Emilio Vitolo, owner of Emilio's Ballato in New York, recently shared details on his ultrarare Patek Philippe American Beauties Calatrava—one of only 15—his bespoke suits, signature linguine alle vongole, and a definition of luxury centered on family and his 1906 Long Island home.
Key Takeaways
- Vitolo's newest watch is a Patek Philippe Ref. 5089G-149 Calatrava from the American Beauties collection, one of only 15 in the world.
- He dresses old-school in bespoke suits and colorful suspenders, often via a Salerno, Italy partner whose family suit firm opened in 1986.
- His standout dish is linguine alle vongole; he prefers bourbon neat but has been steered toward tequila for health reasons.
- He lives in a 1906 Long Island mansion on four and a half acres and finds exercise in gardening and grounds work.
- For Vitolo, luxury means a happy, healthy family—not status objects alone.
What rare watch does actor and chef Emilio treasure most?
In a Robb Report interview, Vitolo named a Patek Philippe Ref. 5089G-149 from the American Beauties collection as his newest acquisition. The solid-gold Calatrava has a hand-painted enamel dial and is one of only 15 made.
His one-year-old daughter once put the watch in her mouth. Vitolo calls that patina and hopes she keeps the piece to retell the story—an attitude that frames collecting as memory, not museum glass.
He buys through London Jewelers, where Scott handles his account, and still regrets missing the anniversary Nautilus with the Tiffany stamp.
How does his style fit a Long Island dream home lifestyle?
Vitolo's look matches an earlier era: bespoke suits, cap-toe shoes, and suspenders in every color. He tries to dress up daily—button-up, dress pants, a watch, sometimes a tie—and wears a full suit when it cools.
Clothes come from a partnership with a friend from Salerno, Italy, or, when needed, a Hugo Boss 38R off the rack with no alterations. That polished routine plays out against a backdrop familiar to readers of luxury real estate and dream homes: a Long Island mansion built in 1906.
Rather than hit the gym, he works his four-and-a-half-acre property—lawn, trees, gardening—alone. He put Ferrari plans on hold after buying the house, favoring the grounds over new toys.
What is actor and chef Emilio's most impressive dish—and his idea of luxury?
Asked for his most impressive dish, Vitolo pointed to seafood and linguine alle vongole, a plate he says he can make in his sleep. At Emilio's Ballato—opened on Houston Street in 1956 and joined by Vitolo in 2008—fame may win a table, but the back room still requires his personal approval: “I gotta like you.”
End of day, he craves a drink. He is a bourbon fan, citing Willett Pot Still Reserve neat, though his doctor warned him off bourbon's sugar, so he tries to stick with tequila. Success, he says, is knowing his fiancée and child have clothes and food; luxury is a happy and healthy family.
He has also opened a production company with about 14 artists, mostly jazz with some R&B, while keeping mornings for breakfast, puzzles, and pool time with his daughter when the weather allows.