It's Time to Revisit Relationship Dining

Please allow me to reintroduce myself... My name is Paul Segreto. Some people, especially old-time Italian men, call me "Paulie." I'm a transplanted New Yorker born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in Staten Island, NY. I have resided in Texas since 1978 but my heart and soul are truly Italian Brooklyn!

My grandparents were all Italian immigrants from Sicily. Specifically, Messina and Palermo, Sicily. Food is a passion of every Italian and I am certainly no exception. But let's make one thing perfectly clear. Italian food, no matter how well prepared or how exquisite in taste, is only as enjoyable as the friends and family we share it with. 

Well, after almost 14 years, I'm excited to be sharing once again my experiences in Texas Italian Restaurants (including cafes & pizza restaurants) - but please know, I will never speak bad about the business or the food. I will always look for the good in the experience and share accordingly. Of course, as an entrepreneur it's difficult for me not to share an opinion or two, but I'll always have the success of the restaurant in mind.

So, why Italian in the great Lone Star State where there are so many great restaurants that are anything but Italian? I believe the reason is that Italian dining is an experience centered around relationships. Mostly, family! And, I'm passionate about relationships, tradition and family. To me, everything about an Italian meal stems from similar passion.

It's the marriage of courses from antipasto to pasta to entree to dessert that flows in sync with family conversations. It's complemented by wine that brings out the flavors to the umpteenth degree. Yet, a bad wine reminds us how careful we need to choose that we don't introduce the wrong element to the relationship. Next time centered around the table for an Italian meal take note of the smiles during antipasto and dessert but also note the very determined, focused faces during pasta and entree dishes.

I'd also like to take this opportunity to share my original thoughts of this blog from April 5, 2008, the day I first launched, Texas Italian Restaurant Review...

"On this blog I will share my experiences at Italian restaurants throughout Texas. The purpose of this blog is not to criticize anything about the visited establishment. Instead, I will focus on the positive experience and the finer points of the establishment. I will share the conversations I've had with the proprietor and staff and provide a detailed description of the selected menu items and the overall ambiance of the restaurant.

My primary goal and objective in developing this blog is to encourage more frequent visits to Italian restaurants throughout Texas. As many generations of Italians formed and solidified their relationships across the dining table I hope to share and expand this unique, "relationship" dining experience.

I welcome posts for all positive experiences encountered at Italian restaurants throughout the state. In addition, any comments, remarks and suggestions are certainly encouraged and greatly appreciated."

In time I may add in relationship dining experiences at restaurants other than Italian, and I may even change the title of the blog. But rest assured, my focus on positively memorable experiences and restaurant success will remain in tact. In any event, I promise it will be an exciting journey and certainly, a labor of love!

Now, as my Grandma Jenny used to say, "Mangia!"