“Al, take it from me, don’t ever let anybody tease you about having grey hair, just tell them they are wisdom-highlights. You’re not getting older, just more distinguished.”🙂
Last evening, Cecile and I headed over to Sorelle Italian Bistro to celebrate Al Chien’s Birthday with his wife Kim, our daughter Michelle, son-in-law Kyle and our little cherub of a granddaughter Lyla, wearing a cute pink little tutu and little pinched ponytail.
Italian cuisine has influenced food culture around the world and for most Italian chefs is viewed as an art form.
Wine, cheese and of course pasta are important staples in Italian meals.
Sorelle was established by the late Francesca Rude’ who was born in Tricarico, Italy and moved to the United States with her parents and siblings when she was eight years old. After 35 years of service at Hewlett-Packard in 2013, she fulfilled a life-long passion for opening Sorelle Italian Bistro in Campbell, CA with her three beloved daughters, Deanna, Teresa, and Loriann. The name Sorelle is Italian for sisters, honors generations of women in her family from her own sisters, her mother and aunts, and her daughters.
We had the pleasure of being served by one of the daughters, Deanna, seen posing for a photo with me in her 49ners sweatshirt in contrast to my Chinese Taoist Tai Chi shirt. Deanna was friendly, accommodating and like myself expressed deep respect, pride and, love for her Italian family heritage. The Romans employed Greek bakers to produce bread and imported cheeses from Sicily as the Sicilians (my ancestral lineage on my mama Maria’s side) had a reputation for being the best cheesemakers.
Sorelle’s, that has a casual, cozy type atmosphere, is known to serve large portions of great authentic homestyle comfort food. We started off with cocktails and wine, complimentary focaccia and roasted-olive oil, a platter of fried calamari, garlic bread, and melted cheese and fried breaded artichokes. Our entrees included Traditional Meat Lasagne, Ravioli La Teresa, Fussili with Chicken and Broccoli with pesto cream sauce, Bucatini pasta with ground sausage, mushrooms, onions, vodka sauce, and ricotta cheese. I feasted on Homemade Cavatelli Alla Mammella with bitter greens, chili flakes, sausage, olive oil and a generous adornment of romano cheese (photo), or what Deanna affectionately referred to as “peasant food.”
After dinner, Al was served a slice of birthday cake, blew out his birthday candle, and opened his presents. Oh no, Lululemon again? Actually, we are both fans of Lululemon, it's all good.
Postscript: Thanks Deanna, for that heavy pour of Cabernet Sauvignon. I left feeling no pain:-) and the food was awesome.
