Today, Monica is sharing the story of how Monica’s Fine Foods and Davoli Extra Virgin Olive Oil met, feel in love and forged a relationship that is blessing people throughout America and Canada with some of Calabria’s liquid gold.
On a hot June day in Sorrento, my husband and I boarded the train for a six-hour trip south to Lamezia Terme. We had purchased our second-class tickets in the US and this was our first European experience … we weren’t sure what to expect.
We dragged our bags into a six-person un-air conditioned-at least that day!-compartment, after weaving through luggage in the aisles on the train. An elderly couple who I fantasized were going to tell us a story about a visit with their grandchildren sat opposite us and and older signora sat by the window.
A nun-who was just transferred to a small town in Calabria-sat beside us. It was truly charming … real rural Italian charm at its best.
The look of grumpiness and smiles on the same faces puzzled us. Our seat companions did not speak English and our Italian was limited to “Buon Giorno” and “Gelato.” It was only when I asked the lady across the cabin if we could open the window that I realized what the other three had been trying to do with no avail.
“No,” she had told them. “You’ll mess up my hairand the noise in the tunnel will hurt my ears!”
We enjoyed watching the rural landscape as we traveled down to Lamezia Terme, where we were met by a friend and his family.
They bathed us in infamous southern Italian warmth and love. They introduced us to Calabria and to the Davoli family who made the most superb tasting pure extra virgin olive oil I have ever tasted in my life.
And this started my love affair with Calabria that I share today through my business at Monica’s Fine Foods.
Mark your calendar.(Calendar)
New Hampshire Business Review March 13, 2009 [SEMINAR] 3/16 Payroll Practices course When: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday, March 16-17 Where: DoubleTree Guest Suites, Boston, Mass.
Contact: Erika Hurst at 210-226-4600 x 2230, ehurst@americanpayroll.org [SEMINAR] 3/16 Legal Update: Key Employment Law Issues When: 8 a.m. to noon, Monday, March 16 Where: Chunky’s Cinema and Pub, Haverhill, Mass.
Cost: $50 GMVHRA members, $75 non-members Contact: Walt Prior, 978-66683-1414 x126 [WORKSHOP] 3/17 Build Your Business Plan in a Day When: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 17 Where: Amoskeag Business Incubator, Manchester Cost: $120 workshop, $49 online plan Contact: Heidi Edwards Dunn, 603-227-0417, h.edwardsdunn@unh.edu [SEMINAR] 3/17 Develop your Business Plan With Sheila Kabat When: 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesdays, March 17-April 21 Where: Bruce Mast & Associates, Exeter Cost: $145 Woman Business Center members, $190 non-members Contact: Woman Business Center, 603-430-2892 x1 [SEMINAR] 3/17 Tips for Making Your Business Writing More Effective When: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday, March 17 Where: Pease Tradeport, Portsmouth Cost: $235 Contact: UNH, 603-862-4234, learn.unh.edu [SEMINAR] 3/17 Business Basics–The Do’s and Don’ts of Starting your Own Business When: 5:30 to 9 p.m., Tuesday, March 17 Where: Amoskeag Business Incubator, Manchester Cost; $49, first person, $30 for each additional person Contact: New Hampshire Small Business Devel. Ctr., 603-227-0417, nhsbdc.org [OTHER] 3/19 Free SBA Consultations Offered at New Hampshire Corporate Division When: 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Thursdays, March 19-26 Where: N.H. Secretary of State Corporate Division, Concord Cost: Free Contact: Alice Zachos, 603-225-1607, alice.zachos@sba.gov [CONFERENCE] 3/19 Women of the Workplace Conference When: 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Thursday, March 19 Where: Murphy’s Taproom, Manchester Contact: Leslie Sherman, lsherman@dred.state.nh.us [SEMINAR] 3/19 EAR Licensing Issues When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday, March 19 Where: International Trade Resource Center, Portsmouth Cost: $95 Contact: Katy, 603-334-6074, ckokko@dred.state.nh.us [SEMINAR] 3/19 Exceptional Customer Service and Support When: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday, March 19 Where: Pease Tradeport, Portsmouth Cost: $235 Contact: UNH, 603-862-4234, learn.unh.edu [SEMINAR] 3/19 New Employment Law–From Soups to Nuts When: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday, March 19 Where: 286 Commercial St., Manchester Cost: $230 Contact: UNH, 603-862-4234, learn.unh.edu [SEMINAR] 3/19 Business Entity Selection Workshop When: noon, Thursday, March 19 Where: Amoskeag Business Center, Manchester Cost: Free Contact: Devine Millimet, 603-695-8717, kmendard@devinemillimet.com [OTHER] 3/21 Trade Mission to Brazil When: Saturday, March 21-28 Contact: Karen Wyman, 603-334-6074, kwyrnan@dred.state.nh.us, exportnh.org [SEMINAR] 3/21 U.S. Small Business Administration Veteran Representative Available for Business Development Assistance When: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday, March 21, Tuesday, April 28 Where: Amoskeag Business Incubator, Manchester Contact: Miguel Moralez, 603-225-1601, miguel.maralez@sbaogov [OTHER] 3/21 New England Products 25th Annual Trade Show When: March 21-23 Where: Portland Sports Complex, Portland, ME Contact: Giraffe Events, 207-781-5756, nepts.com [OTHER] 3/21 Naval Aviation–Then and Now When: 2 p.m., Saturday, March 21 Where: Aviation Museum of New Hampshire, Londonderry Cost: Free Contact: Vincent Devino, 603-669-4820 [SEMINAR] 3/24 Granite State Ambassadors Hospitality Training Classes When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., March 23-24 Where: Concentra Urgent Care, Londonderry Cost: $35 Contact: Stephanie Seacord, 603-772-1835, sseacord@lemd.com [SEMINAR] 3/24 Vaccinate for Life: Immunization Conference When: 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Tuesday, March 24 Where: Grappone Conference Center, Concord Contact: Malone Cloitre, 603-895-1514 x3 or mcloitre@snhahec.org [SEMINAR] 3/24 Using Smart Impactful Targeted Marketing Initiatives to Reduce Cost and Generate Business When: 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 24 Where: wedu Office, Manchester Cost: Free Contact: wedu, registration@wedo.com [SEMINAR] 3/24 N.H. Automotive Dealers Association (NHADA) Education Foundation When: 9 a.m. to noon, Tuesday, March 24 Where: Daniel B. McLeod Center, Bow Contact: Devine Millimet, devinemillimet.com [SEMINAR] 3/24 Business Process Improvement for All Managers When: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesdays, March 24-April 7 Where: 286 Commercial St., Manchester Cost: $395 Contact: UNH, 603-862-4234, learn.unh.edu [SEMINAR] 3/24 Constructive Conversations When: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday, March 24 Where: Pease Tradeport, Portsmouth Cost: $235 Contact: UNH, 603-862-4234, learn.unh.edu [SEMINAR] 3/24 Mobile Applications Platforms When: 6-9 p.m., Tuesday, March 24 Where: Chordiant Software Auditorium, Bedford Contact: SWANH, 603-868-5477, info@swanh.org, swannh.org [SEMINAR] 3/25 Application Writing Workshops for Nonprofits, Cooperatives, and Municipalities When: 8:30 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, March 25 Where: Littleton Area Learning Center, Littleton Contact: CDFA, 603-226-2170, nhcdfa.org [SEMINAR] 3/25 Key Elements of Project Management in Engineering Surveying When: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday, March 25 Where: Pease Tradeport, Portsmouth Cost: $275 Contact: UNH, 603-862-4234, learn.unh.edu [WORKSHOP] 3/25 Social Media Marketing Workshop When: noon to 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 25 Where: Hannah Grimes Center, Keene Cost: Free Contact: Jen, 603-352-5063, jen@hannahgrimes.com [NETWORKING] 3/25 ABC “Meet the Generals” Night When: 4 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, March 25 Where: Holiday Ion, Concord Cost: $50 Contact: Associated Builders and Contractors, 603-226-4789, info@abcnhvt.org [WORKSHOP] 3/25 Labor Laws and Work Experience When: 9 a.m. to noon, Thursday, March 26 Where: Rivier College, Nashua Cost: $35 Contact: Institute on Disability, 603-228-2084, iod.unh.edu/events [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [OTHER] N.H. Lodging & Restaurant Association Spring Ski Jamboree Tuesday, March 24, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p. m. in our site concentra urgent care go to web site concentra urgent care
Enjoy a day on the slopes with your fellow hospitality associates. Packages include skiing/snowboarding or non-ski activities as well as continental breakfast, BBQ lunch, apres ski party with live music, raffles and more. Discounted accommodations available. Loon Mountain, Lincoln, $65 NHLRA members, $75 non-members. Discounts available. Contact: NHLRA, 603-228-9585, nhlra.com [NETWORKING] Stonyfield Entrepreneurship Institute April 16-17 New England Center, Durham Presented in partnership with UNH’s Carsey Institute and the Whittemore School of Business and Economics, the annual conference brings together New Hampshire entrepreneurs with a panel of experts, including Gary Hirshberg, chief executive of Stonyfield Farm Yogurt, Jeffrey Hollender, president of Seventh Generation of Budington, Vt., and Michael Swack of the Carsey Institute. Cost to attend is $200. Scholarships are available. Thursday dinner and breakfast and lunch on Friday are included. For more information, visit carseyinstitute,unh.edu/Stonyfield or contact Susan Colucci at susan.colucci@unh.edu or 603-862-2821.
[WORKSHOP] The Homemakers Health Services Auction Online Auction March 2-23 Live Auction March 28 NHBR.com GO TO NHBR.COM FOR UPDATED AND EXPANDED BUSINESS EVENT LISTINGS FROM AROUND THE STATE Send calendar items to editor@nhbr.com. Please include date, time, place, contact person, cost, and a brief description of the event. Items must be received a month before the event in order to ensure publication. For more details visit nhbr.com.
Fantastic story.
Six hours with no AC? Trust, I would have to open a window.
Sounds pretty miserable, doesn’t it?
.-= nyc/caribbean ragazza´s last blog ..Favorite Things: Mondi Pasticceria – (danger!) =-.
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