Lorenzo’s Pizza and Pasta: Reliving My Childhood
I wrote this piece for my Travel CloseUp Website, where I do restaurant reviews, but I felt it was also relevant to this website, so I decided to post it in both places. Something I don’t normally do. Hope you enjoy it.
This is also my submission for the
W is for Writing Challenge Jeff has put forth on C is for Cooking
Isn’t it amazing how a taste of something can bring you back to the past? One minute you are sitting enjoying a sweet treat at the end of a pizza and pasta dinner wondering what your angle should be for yet another Italian restaurant review and in the next moment you are an eight year old child sitting in the Italian hall enjoying the same sweet treat with your Pap-Pap. Sometimes, it has been so long since you had that particular taste that you forgot that it even existed. In that same moment that you are tasting this long-forgotten delight, moments in your life you had also forgotten come flooding back, now full of emotion because they had been forgotten for so long you did not realize how much you missed those simple, wonderful moments that you had no idea you would miss so much later at the original time you experienced them.
When I was young, visiting my grandparents in Western Pennsylvania, on those occasions that we went out to eat it was usually either to Santoni’s or the Italian hall. My grandparents lived in a very small town in the hills so there really wasn’t a lot of choice when it came to dining out. However, dining options were ethnically diverse, the towns were full of immigrant families from all over Europe. Of course, there were lots of Italians. But there were also Poles, French, Greeks and Germans -it was kind of like a much scaled down version of New York City – all different ethnic groups living in their own neighborhoods, close to one another, sharing the foods of their home countries.
Each of these immigrant groups had their “halls” – little gathering places where they served the foods of the various Mother countries, where people came to eat, relax and socialize. Whenever we went to the Italian hall or Santoni’s, one of the mom and pop Italian restaurants in town, my Pap would always order me Spumoni for dessert.
Spumoni is an Italian Ice cream treat that originates in Naples. However as I have learned, most Italian immigrants to America have been from the South of Italy. Therefore, most of what we think of as “Italian food” in America is mostly Southern Italian cuisine that has been adapted to the American kitchen. Then these dishes are served in all the Italian restaurants with perhaps some regional favorites from the owner’s family. Spumoni is no different –ย it is Napoletan however, it can be found in many Italian restaurants throughout North America. It usually is comprised of three different ice cream flavors – Pistachio, Chocolate and Strawberry that is swirled with maraschino cherries and pistachios and laced with rum. Many times it has layers of whipped cream as well. It is sweet and delicious -a symphony of flavors in the mouth. It was not recently, having had it as an adult again that I realized what that characteristic flavor was the rum!
Now, let’s get back to the present day. We are still on our search for the perfect Italian style pizza in Ocala. This has taken us to many Italian restaurants, but we have yet to find the perfect pie. Sometimes the crust is good- nice and flaky, but then there are too many toppings and it drags down the crust, but more often than not, the toppings – cheese and sauce are great, but the crust is all too New York style- big and floppy.
So we asked around and heard a lot of good things about Lorenzo’s Pizza and Pasta at Quail Meadow. The restaurant is owned by Sicilians from Sicily which is a good start. It is a laid back, informal, mom and pop kind of restaurant, which is another good point – reminding me a lot of being back at the Italian hall and on the night we went, it was packed. So clearly, it has quite a following. This night we decided to try their Napoletana Pizza- being this is a famous pizza choice in Italy and since pizza originated in Naples, it is the oldest type of pizza in the world. The pizza was described on the menu as round, thin and hand-tossed which sounded perfect! We also ordered a Clams Marinara to compare to the one we had at Sammy’s Italian Restaurant a few months back.
Immediately when the pizza was brought out, we could see that it had the famous New York style crust. However, the cheese and sauce were delicious. So all in all, it was a good choice.
The Clams Marinara was also good – I prefer a chunkier sauce with clams but the flavor was good and rich and the pasta al dente. So after dinner we are feeling like something sweet. I check out the menu and notice that they have Spumoni, a dessert I hadn’t thought about in years and since I am already feeling like I am at the Italian hall, I figure we should go all the way! It was incredible. The presentation was beautiful- the three layers lay out on the plate, big cherries poking out of it, sprinkled with powdered sugar! The taste was even better, during the first bite, everything about being at the Italian hall came back to me all these years later. Immediately I was brought back to that childhood feeling of being safe, secure, full belly, no worries too big to handle and I was again fascinated at how a taste can really bring you back. I am a “professional foodie” so I understand how a taste or smell can take you back to a place you associate with that sensory perception, but it had been a long time since I had thought about Santoni’s or the Italian hall, and in that moment, it was all there like yesterday- the sights, the sounds, the smells, my grandparents, everything. So I know just where to go when I am missing the good old days, right out to Highway 27 and Lorenzo’s and I am really looking forward to unlocking other sensory triggers that I know are buried in there somewhere.
Marye - July 22, 2007 at 8:22 pm
First..I am back! My computer issues are solved and the world is a happy place again.
Second…I spent a year at a private school in Ocala eons ago. Interesting that you live there…My dad was a trainer on a horse farm closer to gainesville..
and three….your pictures get better and better..
Oh..and four…fresh raspberries do the same thing for me..I will get a sniff of them, or see a picture..or bite into some delightful raspberry whatsit without thinking and I will be 11 years old again eating fresh raspberry shortcake (on biscuits of course) for breakfast at my Aunt’s house. I love those moments.
Toni - July 23, 2007 at 12:43 am
Your post got me thinking about the foods that “bring me back”….I would have to say that blueberries do that for me. When I eat blueberries on my cereal in the morning, I’m a girl in the house I grew up in, eating breakfast with my dad, who ADORED blueberries!
Thanks for the great post!
Figs Olives Wine - July 23, 2007 at 8:18 am
Freshly picked strawberries and malt vinegar on fish and chips for Scotland. Greek salad, cheese pizza, welch’s grape soda, and hot fudge sundaes for America. That’s the meal we’d have on our first day back in the states each summer – a huge treat.
And I’m not sure if you know I married a Sicilian American? We go to Spumoni Gardens in Brooklyn for pizza and, yes, spumoni. I am with you 100% on this!
Sylvia - July 23, 2007 at 12:26 pm
Spumoni reminds my of my childhood,I love the phonetic of the name. A long time I donรยดt heard about this kind of ice cream. Very nice post ,Jenn, full of information and great photos.
The Leftover Queen - July 23, 2007 at 2:48 pm
Hi Everyone! Well I am so pleased to hear that this post is sparking peoples food memories! Such an amazing phenomenon. Smells can trigger things for me too….hmmm..perhaps this is a good article for later…
Marye! Welcome back to cyberspace! Glad to hear that all your computer issues are better! Nice to have you back! Thanks for the compliments on photography! I will be sure to let Roberto know!
Hey Toni! Glad to have brought you back as well. It is so special to experience these moments!
Hey Amanda! A Sicilian American, huh? Well, being that I am one as well, I guess I should congratulate you! I am sure you spend lots of wonderful food related moments together! ๐
Spumoni Garden – that is a wonderful name!Next time you go there, raise a spumoni to my pap for me!
Was it Scotland where you grew up?
Sylvia! What is it about spumoni and childhood? I think we are so lucky! I love the name too. I think my next pet will have to be named Spumoni!
Valli - July 23, 2007 at 3:08 pm
Where I grew up as a teenager there were several places to migrate to on a Friday night for dances and get togethers with friends…the Italian Club, the Portuguese Club, the Polish Club, the “Newfie” Club. They were all great places to gather and stay out of trouble. It is where I learned to dance the polka during the “disco” days in the ’80’s. The food was great as well.. I had my first fish and brewis and cod tongues at the “newfie” club.
Lia - July 25, 2007 at 2:19 am
hmmm its look great and yummy ๐
The Leftover Queen - July 25, 2007 at 8:41 am
Sounds like a great experieince, Valli. Sounds a lot like PA. I wish there was stuff like that these days – you learn so much!
Hi Lia – it is really good!
Steamy Kitchen - July 25, 2007 at 12:56 pm
OMG ….. THAT PIZZAAAAAA!!!
Cris - July 26, 2007 at 7:39 pm
What sweet picture and memories!
The Leftover Queen - July 26, 2007 at 8:34 pm
Thanks Cris!
And Steamy Kitchen! ๐
Italian Woman - August 1, 2007 at 6:50 pm
That photo of you and Pap just made me smile. And I could picture all the little ethnic neighborhoods and taste the spumoni. I’ve never had the real thing like that. We had Neopolitan out in Idaho in the summers, but from the supermarket. No fresh strawberries or dusting of powdered sugar. I never thought about what it should taste like.
The Leftover Queen - August 2, 2007 at 2:29 pm
Thanks Candace! It really was a trip down memory lane for me! Ah, if I could just be in that moment once more!
s'kat - August 8, 2007 at 6:26 pm
What an intense post! I felt like I was tasting each dish along with you. As I’m facing a less-than-exemplary meal tonight, I thank you!!
s'kat - August 8, 2007 at 6:27 pm
ps- my husband, as a child, always wanted to own a restaurant when he grew up. He wanted to call it “Dave’s Pizza & Pasta”.
josephine paparopoli - January 24, 2008 at 12:33 am
Wow, I came across this by accident. My husband owns Lorenzo pizza and Pasta with his sister. I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed the food and that it also brought back good memories of you and Pap. By the way my name is Josie. Please stop by again, you must try the tiramisu…..lol.
Thank you again
The Leftover Queen - January 24, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Hi Josie! How fun! I am sure we will be back. We don’t live in Ocala anymore, but still have family there. Thanks for your comment!