Last night when we made it to Denver we arrived at one of our top accounts in town, Ristorante Siciliano. I’ve been doing business with these folks for a number of years. The son is entertaining and handles the front of the house meaning all the waitstaff, while his father mans the kitchen. The father took a break last night and came to sit with us as we’re good friends. He was telling me how after his wife died, he went back to Sicily and was not sure what he wanted to do as he was lost without his love. He then decided to get back on the horse of life and came back to join his son.
I knew the family from at least 8 years ago when they had a restaurant down in Castle Pines. Now they’re on 6th Avenue in the heart of town. On Monday’s, a lot of the Nuggets (our basketball team in Denver) come in, every Wednesday a Senator and during the rest of the week, all kinds of regulars. I basically own the list meaning I have most of the wines they sell and they probably spend a good $75,000 a year with me which is a really good account. Anyhow we had a great dinner with two other couples who are going to Italy with us in July. The father kept bringing out special dishes from the kitchen. He cooks really well. He is old school Italian and told our friends what a special couple we are and is very well mannered with things like sincerely kissing Lori on the hand to say hello like out of some 1950 Italian movie. We had a great dinner as they prepared a special table for us known as the Frank Sinatra table. Roses were everywhere, so many that we had to move some. In addition fresh rose petals were arranged in a heart shape in the center of the table. The father thanked me again for all I do for them and told me how his son really loves me. I’ve tried to help him out for years with advice on his wines and on others that he needs that I don’t sell. I also take really good care of them as they take good care of me. It’s an old time relationship that has evolved into more than just business, very old school Italian. They love the boys too and miss them as the son always makes the kids real Italian cream sodas like from Brooklyn when he was a kid.
Loris’ back is out and we found out she’ll probably eventually need surgery. She’s had a hard time walking after sitting all night. Hopefully through steroids and physical therapy she’ll get some relief. We’re going to run some errands this morning and then have lunch with our friends Jeff and Tina before stopping at my Mom’s and heading up the hill. It’ll be in the 60’s down here which is really nice. Hope all’s well, GB.