Cari Amici di Sotto Sopra,  

October is here, the weather gets cool and crisp and we finally get to experiment with fall produce. I love the fall season.

When it gets cooler you can have heartier meals, you can even eat by the fireplace if you are lucky to have one. As temperatures start to drop, I like to sit on the sofa under a blanket and read a gazillion cookbooks and biographies. I remember in Italy going to my grandmother's on Sundays during the fall and she would have chestnuts on the fire, nice and roasted. My brother and I spent hours peeling and eating chestnuts while my grandmother was gossiping with my father ...who knows about what? I remember them always whispering to each other like someone was listening in from the outside. I thought, they are IN the house, why are they talking like this? It brings a smile to my face to think of it now.

Speaking of books, I'm reading Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business by Danny Meyer. My dear friend and Sotto Sopra patron, Steven Rivelis, sent me a copy recently. It's about hospitality and the principles of making people happy. Let me recommend the book for an enjoyable and informative read. His biography is truly inspirational. I'm a huge fan of Denny Meyer and his Hospitality Index.( a list of publicly traded companies that are ranked in order on how well they interact and treat their customers).

This book will continue to guide Sotto Sopra for training and staff meeting discussions through 2012 and beyond.

HOLIDAYS  

Hoping this newsletter finds all of you well, in good spirits and ready to celebrate the upcoming holidays. 

Remember to call or e-mail Monika 443.850.9523 (my wife for you newcomers) to book your holiday gatherings in December that suit you best. We sell the first 3 weeks of December pretty fast, given the variety of our menu and the appeal of the dining room for parties - it looks like a million dollar room trust me! Just check the photographs.  

This week we're getting a 100 pound pig from Pennsylvania. I am not sure what we will do with the pig though my wife suggested I sleep with him in hopes of a psychic message. The pig will tell me how he wants to be presented to the crowds - LOL.  No, I'm seriously laughing because unknown to you I'm totally capable of it.  Keep following us on Facebook, Twitter @sottosopra or make sure to read our e-mail bulletins which will let you know the night "Porky" will be served.

Have fun cooking this month and remember Italian food is the best in the world - Period!

Riccardo , Monika e la piccola Amelia