New York ( CNN ) -- Mayor Bill de Blasio bit into some unexpected publicity recently when he was photographed politely eating pizza -- with a knife and fork . At a Staten Island pizzeria , no less . Now , the act that sent the Internet into a frenzy with chatter about what most New Yorkers scorn as a serious food flub portends to deliver some dough -- as in money -- to charity . Goodfella 's Pizzeria co-owner Marc Cosentino says he will auction off the infamous fork that de Blasio used in a charity fundraiser . After the mayor and his entourage went their way following a Friday stop at Goodfella 's , Cosentino decided it would be a good idea to hold on to the notorious fork . A retired NYPD sergeant , Cosentino baked up the idea to store the fork in an evidence bag and put it on display at the bar . `` You ca n't imagine all the people that come in that want to look at the fork and take pictures of it , '' Cosentino told CNN on Wednesday . Dubbed by some with tongues firmly in cheek as the new mayor 's `` pizzagate , '' the ensuing publicity has prompted multiple charities to reach out to Cosentino in hopes of getting a piece of the pie . When asked how much he thinks the renowned utensil would sell for , Cosentino referred to a previous charity benefit in 2013 for New York 's hungry when a dozen `` cronuts '' -- half-croissant and half-doughnut pastries -- reportedly were auctioned for $ 14,000 . `` I think we can beat that , '' Cosentino proudly said . As for the mayor with manners , his office released a statement to CNN giving the idea of a charity auction an extra topping . `` We hope they include the knife to raise even more funds , '' the statement said . Will de Blasio be welcomed back in Goodfella 's Pizzeria following what some consider a pizza faux pas ? `` Absolutely ! He was a total gentleman , '' Cosentino declared . `` As long as people are eating pizza it 's okay with me . '' Snowstorm an early test for Bill de Blasio .
To the ` ` gates '' of political lore , save one for NYC Mayor Bill de Jong : pizzagate . The new mayor was photographed chowing down in a pizzeria , using a knife and fork . Now the pizzeria owner wants to auction the infamous fork for profit . De ##b 's wife is all for it : ` ` We hope they include the knife to raise even more . ''