About Our Family

In the early 1900s, many Italians were in search of the American Dream, and so it was for Nunzio Laurenzana which was later Americanized to Lorenzano, Pasqualina Latanzia, Teresa Zappia, Giuseppe Sergi, and Angelo Modicamore which was also Americanized as Amore.  They all made their way to the new land from the areas of Basilicata, (recently, we found a town named Laurenzana), Calabria (southern tip of the boot), and Sicily.

They were true pioneers – coming to America, unable to speak, read, and write English – yet bringing with them their culture, trades, and ways of life.  Whether it was in the world of produce, as a shoe cobbler, or working on the railroad, they brought with them a zest for life and family.  Terese and Pasqualina had their own cooking styles and all the recipes stored in their head and heart.

Many of the recipes are from the old country – with no written recipes and no measurements – just the taste, smell, and touch of the old Italian ways.  We are blessed with the richness of our ancestors and the life they brought to us, and to this country.

We hope you enjoy Lorenzano’s Ristoranté as we bring back the life we all lived in our family kitchen with 8 kids and 90 cuginas (cousins).  We remember the smell of sauce, the huge, overflowing dishes of pasta, the hot bread with olive oil (which was our daily, after-school snack in the 50s & beyond!) and Mama Lorenzano’s lasagna.  Which is what is served in the ristoranté today.

As Nana Sergi and Nana Pasqualina used to say “Mange, mange, mange!”  (Eat, Eat, Eat!)