When Italian-born and bred Angelo Elia made his method to South Florida practically 30 years in the past, it grew to become very evident that the world lacked high quality Italian delicacies. Having many years of Italian cooking expertise, which started at age 12 in his mom’s residence kitchen in Italy, Elia made it his mission to supply high quality components to conjure up basic Italian staples and make them a mainstay within the tri-county space. His dream got here true with the opening of Casa D’Angelo in Fort Lauderdale in 1998, and success rapidly adopted. Now, Elia oversees The Angelo Elia Group restaurant empire with over 500 workers throughout 4 wonderful eating eating places, 4 Angelo Elia Pizza, Bar and Tapas places and one Angelo The Bakery Bar.
Elia just lately determined to promote the Pizza, Bar and Tapas places to additional give attention to wonderful eating whereas indicating new ideas, places and ventures are forward.
After undertaking his mission of bringing genuine and high-quality Italian dishes to South Florida, his enterprise success reworked into serving to the local people, which has change into instrumental in his endeavors. Elia has made giving again to the South Florida group a major a part of The Angelo Elia Group’s platform. The intensive checklist of philanthropic work contains supporting most cancers foundations, together with the Pink Angels Memorial Basis, volunteering culinary help for Nova Southeastern College’s yearly Celebration of Excellence, working with the famend James Beard Basis, supporting the Funding Arts Broward group and internet hosting annual fundraisers for the Tempo Heart for Women of Broward County.
Who’s been your largest affect within the restaurant trade?
I’ve been concerned within the restaurant trade since I used to be 12 years outdated with my mother. She was my greatest affect in all the pieces I used to be doing. She was very explicit and really robust.
What did you be taught from her?
I realized the fundamentals, that are a very powerful issues in actual Italian delicacies. She taught me all the pieces you wanted to achieve success: the normal sauces, the inventory, the rooster broth, the home made pasta, the recent components, the recent meat and fish, all the pieces.
What impressed you to open your first restaurant?
I left my home in Italy once I was 14 years outdated and by no means got here again as a result of I wished to show that I might do it by myself. I went to New York and stayed there for about 17 years, then moved to South Florida to open my first restaurant.
What had been a few of the challenges opening over 25 years in the past?
I used to be one of many few Italian eating places to open once I acquired right here; most individuals didn’t know what lots of the meals was. They didn’t know what a burrata was. I used to be one of many first ones to begin bringing all the perfect cheese and components and it was a threat as a result of folks didn’t know. It was a problem making an attempt to convey conventional Italy again to South Florida as a result of it was all fettuccine alfredo and issues like that. When you do one thing the appropriate means, folks will come again.
What do you suppose has been the important thing to your success?
Be steady. Be dependable. Use the highest quality components and deal with our company proper. I attempt to be the perfect each day. Every single day is a journey; each day is a problem in life and my spouse has supported me each single day.
How do you handle such a big, loyal employees?
Deal with all people the way in which I wish to be handled. Respect all people and provides them nice pay to allow them to assist their household and never need to search for a unique job. We’re like a small household firm as a result of my spouse and I are the one homeowners, however my workers and I are like a household on the finish of the day. We like one another; we respect one another. Everyone needs to work at Casa D’Angelo as a result of even when we’ve got a few dangerous months a 12 months, we’re nonetheless the perfect and busiest restaurant on the town and I really feel very assured to say that. Workers wish to really feel snug and luxuriate in working and I would like everybody to be handled proper, in order that’s why I’m concerned in all of the roles on the restaurant.
What are a few of your favourite Casa D’Angelo dishes?
The Fiori Di Zucca with zucchini flowers. The veal chop is the perfect. The white truffle within the winter and the black truffle in the summertime are at all times favorites.
What’s your favourite Italian dish?
I like dish of pasta. I like the fundamental tomato-based pasta. It’s one of many nice issues in life. I feel Italian is all about simplicity. If you wish to have an actual stunning piece of fish, all you want is slightly little bit of olive oil and lemon, not one million little objects.
Which native charities are you concerned in?
I’m concerned with lots of them, however a very powerful to me is PACE [Pace Center for Girls Broward]. We’ve raised over one million and a half to this point. Yearly, we shut the restaurant and have a giant get together for them to lift about $100,000 every time. I’m additionally concerned with Nova Southeastern College’s Night time of Excellence, cooking for 500-600 folks.
How did you get entangled with PACE?
A few years in the past, I received a thousand {dollars} in a raffle. Once I went to choose up the cash, I noticed their stunning middle. I took the cash and gave it again to do one thing to assist this stunning facility develop.
Why do you suppose it’s so vital to be concerned with charities?
God gave me life and I like to provide it again.
How does it really feel to see your affect utilized in optimistic methods?
It feels nice. You accomplish a lot in your life and to do one thing like that’s actually superb.
Who has influenced you to assist in giving again?
My spouse actually pushed me to take action a lot with the group. We even have lots of good prospects who come right here and like to provide again, so they assist me with lots of charities.
What do you take pleasure in in regards to the South Florida group?
I like all the pieces about South Florida. I discovered my residence, my spouse and my household right here. I’ve my son and daughter, who’re the thrill of a lifetime. That is my residence and the place I discovered my success in giving again. It’s been a journey. I nonetheless really feel like a 30-year-old man. I sit up for opening new eating places and preserving the journey going and rising my status daily.
Pictures by Eduardo Schneider
