A taste of Italy is coming to Penticton.
Caffe d害羞草研究所橧talia, a new authentic Italian cafe, is set to open up shop any week now.
The space at 449 Main Street was left vacant in September when Saint Germaine Cafe and Gallery called it quits after a six-year run in Penticton.
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Once Saint Germaine shut down, Don Gigliotti pounced on the opportunity to bring his dream of opening an authentic Italian cafe to life.
Gigliotti, who also owns Corleone害羞草研究所檚 Pizzeria on Main Street, said he has a vision of bringing a unique cafe with a distinctly Italian vibe to Penticton. It will be the city害羞草研究所檚 only Italian coffee spot.
Caffe d害羞草研究所橧talia won害羞草研究所檛 be like what you would find at a run-of-the-mill chain cafe 害羞草研究所� Gigliotti害羞草研究所檚 newest endeavour is all about representing the Bel Paese.
From paninis to biscotti and, of course, Italian espresso, everything served at Caffe d害羞草研究所橧talia will be what you would find at a typical cafe in Milan or Venice. The coffee beans are imported straight from Italy.
After a sip of a proper Italian coffee, it will be hard to go back to Starbucks, said Gigliotti.
害羞草研究所淢ost of the coffee places here害羞草研究所� they want a Salt Spring Island coffee or a Kelowna coffee. My coffee comes from Italy,害羞草研究所� Gigliotti said.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 the product that I害羞草研究所檓 bringing in that害羞草研究所檚 going to differentiate me from the next guy.害羞草研究所�
While prices could still change, Gigliotti害羞草研究所檚 menu sticks to the classics and keeps prices fair. For coffee, Caffe d害羞草研究所橧talia will serve the staples: espresso, cappuccinos, lattes, americano, mochas and drip coffee. All espresso and steamed milk based drinks are $4, espresso and americanos will be $3, while customers will be able to grab a drip coffee for $2.
For food, the menu features a variety of paninis for $7 , Italian soup for $6 and various Italian pastries like biscotti, cannoli and panettone 害羞草研究所� an Italian type of sweet bread originally from Milan.
| Panettone is an Italian type of sweet bread loaded with candied citron, lemon zest and raisins, and baked in a cylinder, giving it a distinctive look. (Pixabay photo) |
Despite what many people assume, Gigliotti was born in B.C., not Italy. His parents immigrated from Italy to Canada and Gigliotti often visits the country.
害羞草研究所淧eople can害羞草研究所檛 believe I was born here because my voice and the way I carry myself but all my heritage is Italian,害羞草研究所� he said.
Coffee culture in Italy is different than in Canada, and Gigliotti is excited to let Pentictonites know what it害羞草研究所檚 all about.
害羞草研究所淢ost people don害羞草研究所檛 know a lot about what I害羞草研究所檝e got, like even what a cannoli is,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淪o I害羞草研究所檒l be here educating people and keeping things different.害羞草研究所�
For those who don害羞草研究所檛 know, cannoli are tasty Italian pastries consisting of tube-shaped shells of fried pastry dough, filled with a sweet, creamy filling usually containing ricotta.
Since he moved to Penticton from East Vancouver, Gigliotti has a history of giving back to the community. In March, he offered free pizza to people affected by layoffs in the food industry, eventually leading him to give free pizza to anybody in need of food.
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He plans to keep that giving tradition going at Caffe d害羞草研究所橧talia, with a charity fundraiser in the works for the cafe害羞草研究所檚 opening day.
Opening a new business during the COVID-19 pandemic proved to be a unique challenge for Gigliotti, but he made it work in the end. After over two-months of renovations, which required additional COVID-safety precautions, the cafe is almost ready to open.
The last hurdle is passing final inspection, which is coming up in the next few days.
Gigliotti expects to be up and running within one to two weeks from now. At the very latest, he expects the cafe will be open in the New Year.
As a life-long restauranteur, opening an authentic Italian coffee shop has always been a dream of Gigliotti害羞草研究所檚. Once the opportunity arose, he wasn害羞草研究所檛 going to pass it up. Even though Gigliotti himself admits opening a business right now is a big risk, it害羞草研究所檚 a risk he害羞草研究所檇 likely take a million times over.
害羞草研究所淓verybody says you gotta be crazy to open a business during COVID,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 tough times but I have faith I害羞草研究所檒l draw people in.害羞草研究所�
jesse.day@pentictonwesternnews.com
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