Father’s Day is always a tough day for me as I am sure it is for anyone who has lost their father.    This year with the launch of Bellisari’s, I thought I would reflect on what it means to me and try to look at it with a different set of eyes.

My father was probably one of the most talented people you would ever meet, extremely athletic, chef, master carpenter, party thrower extraordinaire and the most intimidating figure on two legs (at least from his six kids perspective). That man could have you shaking in your boots with a mere glance and catch you in a split second if you thought you could outrun the trouble you were in. Even if he was in the midst of cooking for a football team, the neighborhood or an entire Bahamian Island he would still have eyes in the back of his head to watch us.

I think that is why it is so ironic that our last visit together was so different. I had just had my first child, two weeks into it and had no clue what I was doing yet.  What I did know is that my son cried…a lot. At that point I did not know what colicky or sensory issues were.  I thought all newborns cried 24 hours a day.  Since our family could not go without a meal my dad said, “lets get out of the house and get some lunch”.  So he and I loaded up went to lunch and on the way home I remember as my son cried and cried my father reaching his large stature over the front seat rubbing my sons head and putting a pacifier in his mouth and calming my son so easily that I just sat there bewildered.  Wow, I thought, add that to the list of things I didn’t know he could do...but will always remember him doing.

Hold on tight to those daddy’s today…. times are fleeting. 

Happy Father’s Day

That one friend who doesn’t know how to cook….

We all have that one friend who can’t cook.  That one friend who brings a box of crackers and a block of cheese to the party. The one friend who never has a dinner party at their house because they wouldn’t know where to begin and would be way too overwhelmed.  You all know who you are and let’s talk about why you are that person.

I feel very strongly as a parent it is my role to teach my children their way around the kitchen.  I feel it lends itself to better eating habits, better socialization skills and a better future partner.  We all have days that we don’t want the mess or the aftermath of the kids “helping me” in the kitchen but remember that small amount of time and patients can eliminate that title of “friend who can’t cook”.

Start with simple things like kitchen safety, baking brownies, making pasta or even making scrambled eggs, soon those eggs can turn into a rustic frittata that your child is making for your Sunday family brunch.  Create cooking competitions in your kitchen and print out simple certificates for the winner.  It would take an hour out of your day this summer when you are looking for things to do and will create a child that adds grilled chicken and roasted peppers to their ramen noodles while they are away at college.  You never know what or who you may inspire so do your kids a favor and take the time! 

In our wonderfully crazy and hectic days of kids, family, errands, work, sports and life in general, it is great to have some simple uses for your favorite products.

When I come across an item that I love to use in a recipe, I work tirelessly to find other uses for that item.  Once I love something I taste, I want to keep tasting it!

That’s why I created six products with recipes for every dining experience. Our sixth product, a Blue Cheese, Honey & Shallot Spread, will be launching later this month. Our gourmet sauces and spreads include recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, burgers and flatbreads.

I love each and every one of the recipes on our website, but I want to share my favorite recipe with you – our Breakfast Street Bake drizzled with Bellisari's Saigon Street Sauce. It starts your day off right, feeds a large group and just makes you really appreciate why you love food to begin with.

Enjoy!

We have been asked to define the term “Gourmet Convenience" that we use on our jars. To me, the terms “gourmet” and “foodie” have definitely been overused in our industry, but for this food geek, I still get excited when I step foot into a gourmet food store or gourmet section of a grocery store.  Now-a-days you can turn on a number of cooking shows, pick up any food magazine, or scan the internet and quickly become versed on what society considers “gourmet food."  Gourmet is something that involves high quality and unique flavors that you have carefully put together with a passion.

Now as my boys tell me, not everyone gets as excited as I do about food and think my passion is a bit misguided. That being said, I don’t think I am alone in my excitement in the world of gourmet food.

As a busy working mom I try to keep myself sane by surrounding myself with moms who feel as exhausted and overwhelmed as I do, but also love good food.  When we meet to talk about a book, a cuisine from a specific country, or even just to have a glass of wine, we all feel the need to bring a dish that is considered “gourmet”.  That is indeed the aftermath of the "foodie industry" that has taken over our society.  To attend an event with cheese and crackers just doesn’t cut it anymore.  We not only have to be on top of our game at work and home, we now have to even step it up a notch when we are trying to relax with our friends.  You and I both know that our friends do not care – they're just happy to see us, but we feel that, as moms, we have to be it “all” and present the best.  

Well, that is where gourmet convenience comes into play. At Bellisari’s, we strive to make that gourmet appetizer, entrée, or breakfast dish taste amazing without taking a long time or multiple ingredients to prepare. We want you to walk into that party feeling confident that the appetizer you made is amazing and no one has to know it was amazingly easy.  Your mother-in-law doesn’t have to know that you started cleaning two hours before she arrived for Easter Brunch, and started cooking a half an hour before as she gushes over how hard you worked on this amazing meal. To me that is Gourmet Convenience.

Since we have just launched Bellisari’s, I thought I would tell you a little about myself and how I came to be a “foodie.” I graduated with a degree in Business Administration with a minor in Retail Administration. Throughout my early career, I worked for The Limited here in Columbus and Target Stores in South Florida.

In 2001, I went out on my own and opened a small gourmet retail shop in Old Downtown Upper Arlington called Bellisari’s Italian Market. We offered gourmet prepared foods, wine and cooking classes for both adults and children. It was at Bellisari’s that I could combine my experience in retail with my passion for food. Growing up in an Italian American family, food was such an important part of our culture and our lives, and it still is today. Food to me means bringing family and friends together for any occasion. While teaching cooking classes, it is the importance of these “occasions” that I cherish. I try to encourage others to gather as a family for a meal or around the island simply to be together.

In 2012, I began this role of Director of Product Development for the Annette James Group.  As a single mom of two young boys this role was a natural progression in my career. I spend the day doing something that I love, creating gourmet products and recipes. What busy mom wouldn’t love this job? Through the sauces and spreads we're creating, I get to remind our customers that just because we are busy, doesn’t mean it can’t be gourmet. That is why we truly believe in our mission of “Gourmet Convenience.”

We are the Bellisari's- a family that has always been about food and fun. Growing up in a large family, my memories are filled with the camaraderie, laughter, storytelling, and, of course, great food. Looking back, growing up to love food and family has inspired my professional dreams and goals. Today my dreams are coming true with the creation of Bellisari's gourmet convenience. I am so excited to share our delicious products with you and the world.