The Italian Village

As a boy who grew on the dirt streets of Sicily, John Balconi knows something about what it means to be authentic Italian. As the son of the town baker, who never wanted to see anyone go without bread- whether they could afford it or not - he knows what it means to be hospitable and to treat people the way you want to be treated.

And since his father died when he was young, John has known nothing but working hard to provide for his family first in Italy, and then as they arrived in America with little more than each other. Through 5 decades, the Balconi family has shared the same food at their restau- rants that they shared at their dining room table at home.