1 Mar 2008
Joseph Mancuso, Head Chef, and Co-Owner of Fontinello’s Italian Cuisine in Murrells Inlet, says the secret to his success is his Italian heritage and his family’s love of the art of Italian cuisine.
His mother, Jeanette DeFalco Mancuso, came to the United States with her parents from Naples, Italy. Her parents owned several restaurants in Naples and Jeannette went on to become a gourmet chef. She cooked privately for stars like Paul Newman. It was through his mother that Joseph developed his talent for cooking. His mother taught him the art of homemade pastas, sauces and breads. “Every Sunday my mother would prepare a five course meal for our entire extended family, simmering sauces for hours, making breads, amazing desserts, delicious meat dishes and of course lots of pasta. It was a very traditional Italian household and I learned from the best, my mom.”
Joseph’s father was from Sicily. While, his mother was the cook in the family, his father, Albert Mancuso, was the winemaker. He made homemade wine that was served at every family meal. “Our family, as is with most Italian family’s, loved every aspect of the family meal. Sunday dinner was an all day event in our house. Easting should not be rushed, it should be savored, experienced, enjoyed. Good food, great friends, great wine, it is how we lived.”
It was inevitable that Joe would end up in the restaurant business. He opened Mancuso’s in 1992. The restaurant, steeped in Mancuso family tradition and Mama Mancuso’s recipe’s was an instant success on the Grand Strand. The restaurant enjoyed very loyal customers for over 10 years. Over time, Joe opened three more restaurants in the Myrtle Beach area.
After leaving Mancuso’s and the restaurant business for five years to spend time with his young daughter, Joseph came back to his roots. Fontinello’s Restaurant opened in Murrells Inlet in January of this year to instant rave reviews.
Joe’s partner, Kim Amadeo, also grew up in a traditional Italian family. Their partnership at Fontinello’s Italian Cuisine is based on the concept of families live by, Good Food, Good Wine and Great Friends. “We prepare every meal with the same traditions our family’s taught us” they said. “Our customer’s seem to love not just the food but the experience of spending an afternoon or evening with us, just like family.”
So, it is the traditions and teachings of our families that shape what we know and love. In this instance, Joseph Mancuso, thanks his Italian heritage and family for allowing him the gift of doing what he loves.
The Coastal Journal, Written By Sherrill & Bruce Schaefer
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