Last week, my cousin Silvia in Abruzzo face-booked me the gift of a "mimosa". At the time, I was thinking "Great, I could really use a drink (albeit virtual)!" But then it hit me, it wasn't that kind of mimosa, idiota! It's March, afterall and in Italy that means the return of the bright yellow flowers of the Mimosa tree, also the symbol of La Festa della Donna (Woman's Day). In fact, one of my favorite memories of living in Florence was passing under the Mimosa tree on my way to class at the Universita' di Firenze. The tree was literally inches from the doorway and one couldn't help but walk practically under it to get into the building. It was so strikingly beautiful I always tried to stop and breathe it in. As I look at the picture up above I just love the way it reminds me of new beginnings and the passage of time from the cold dead of winter to the warmth and light of spring.
Speaking of new beginnings, I can't tell you how excited I am about the future of Giacomo's. When Stephen and I started our little "Italian" food experiment in 2008 we had no idea where it would take us or how we would get there. We've come so far in so little time and we're still amazed by the number of customers that have thrown their collective arms around us.
Although, the store is currently closed for renovations, I've kept myself busy by working on several projects including the new sandwich menu. Our new menu will include many of our popular signature sandwiches like the Malafemmina and Vegetable Antipasto as well as some fabulous new additions made with some of my favorites like proscuitto and sopressata. We're increasing our vegetarian options too!
Giacomo's is looking really nice on the inside. It's almost completely sheetrocked now which brightens an already light space even more. The best part of the renovation is the addition of about 20 seats which will all be placed along several very large windows. Every seat in the house will now be a window seat which is not really typical in downtown Bangor! We'll that's all for now, folks! More soon....A presto...
Did you know that Casanova's first name was Giacomo? Yes, it's true. I didn't know either! Good thing we've come up with some extra-special offerings for St. Valentine's Day! Here's what you'll find if you stop in this week:
1. Zardetto Prosecco: Fun, fruity and flavorful! Available in full & half bottles -- great with a variety of different foods. Pair them with a box of Perugina Baci and your honey will be impressed by your worldly sophistication.
2. Specialty Sweets chocolate truffles: These decadent handmade creations are made locally right here in Bangor, Maine. You'll find four delicious flavors at Giacomo's - tiramisu, champage, raspberry cream, and cappuccino. A beautifully decorated box of two is just $1.75. As one satisfied customer has recently said: "Specialty Sweets has taught me to love again."
3. Nutella Cupcakes: Who won't just love love love to receive a moist delicious chocolate cupcake covered in nutella frosting and sprinkled with little hearts from their sweetheart? That's true love in my book!
4. Chocolate Covered Strawberry Latte: All this week, we're offering this yummy V-day treat featuring Torani white chocolate sauce, Torani strawberry syrup, lowfat milk and 2 shots of Lavazza espresso. Only $4 for 16oz.size.
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY FROM GIACOMO'S!
How much time do you spend with your friends and family just lingering around a table after a good meal, drinking wine, reminiscing about the ol' days and laughing about the 'new' days? If you're anything like me - not nearly enough! But I want to change that this year.
I had this "Aha" moment recently at Cathy & Bruce's when the discussion turned to Cathy's parents and how much they loved to entertain when she was growing up. During their many dinner parties Cathy's father would take a photograph of the group as a way to remember the moment. Cathy remembers albums and albums full of pictures of their family friends sitting around the diningroom table smiling, laughing, and having fun.
What great memories must have been born from those moments! I too was lucky enough to grow up in a family that valued spending time with their amici. During the week, we were a busy family like any other but on the weekends there was always some occasion that brought us together with our friends, mostly other Italian families. Full of plenty of delicious food and homemade wine, the adults laughed and joked and teased one another in a unique mix of dialects that only they could understand!
As I turn the corner on my 30's I'm realizing just how important it is to spend time with others, enjoying the simple things in life, as they say, like good conversation and a few belly laughs. In today's busy, fast-paced "no time to talk" world, isn't it nice to know that for no more than the price of a good bottle of wine and a pound of pasta you can have a evening that's priceless.
Nothing says Natale to an Italian family more than the annual appearance of Panettone. A delicious, sweet bread studded with raisins and citron and a hint of vanilla, it is traditionally served after the Christmas meal along with a glass of dessert wine (we highly recommend 2006 Maculan Dindarello Veneto Moscato, $21.99). At Giacomo's we're pleased to offer two amazing versions from the Abruzzo region by Rustichella d'Abruzzo, already well-known throughout the globe for their artisanal pastas. Their cherry panettone, elegantly presented in red holiday wrap is one of the best panettones I've ever had, here or in Italy! Delicious black cherries are studded throughout this new twist on a classic holiday cake. A wonderful addition to your holiday feast this year.($27)
Fresh off the runaways of Milan and Paris...Giacomo's T-shirts!! Terrific gifts for anyone who appreciates great food including yourself! These 100% cotton tees are only $15 and are available in S, M, L, XL, XXL.
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We're often asked if Giacomo's caters so I'm here to shout a really loud "si"...we cater! We cater events big and small and every size in between. And no matter what size the catering job (we've made a platter of delicious imported meats and cheeses for a client to impress a girl on their first date) our goal is to make it memorable.
I'd love to share with you one of our finest catering moments which happened just this past weekend. We catered a fabulous event for 75 people at our client's very elegant private residence. It was a fantastic evening of delici
ous food and wines featuring a handsome 15 foot international Grand Buffet which included a variety of imported cheeses (piave, cotswold, drunken goat, smoked mozzarella, gorgonzola, manchego, taleggio, aged asiago, humboldt), meats (finocchiona, soppressata, abrusseze, pannini rolls, salumetti), pate (2 varieties), fresh fruits and vegetables, baguette slices, crackers and breadstickseverything from wheels of piave vecchio, asiago, gorgonzola dolce, sopressata, finocchina salami as well as marinated vegetables and stuffed sweet peppers.
In addition, our waitstaff passed several appetizers including sundried tomato pesto crostini with smoked mozzarella, artichoke brushetta crostini with pancetta, tuscan olive pesto crostini with roasted red pepper, caprese skewers (grape tomatoes, marinated cow's milk mozzarella marinated in olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and basil), whipped gorgonzola and caper croustades (little pastry cups) with glazed walnuts, smoked salmon and cream cheese canapes on pumpernickel squares with red onion and cucumber "salsa", beggar's purses of proscuitto and honeydew melon with a chive tie, and the grand finale was our very own signature cannoli dusted with sugar. 
For me, it was a dream event and a chance to really show off our stuff!
I have to say, my favorite part of catering an event such as this is watching the expression on my client's face when they realize just how much we've exceded their expections. That feels molto buono amici, it really does!
Here's a shot of our crew that worked that event. From left to right (Backrow)...
Me (Milva, William,Josh, Rachel, Rocco, Wendy, and Annalisa (Front row) Amy and Kara.
Thanks guys for another great event!
