Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Zuccarone.
Hi Anna, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
We moved from Italy ( Napoli) in 2013 , with the dream of a new life , and quickly realized that it wasn’t that easy…..at all !
My daughter Sofia was 8 and she started her 4th grade here , facing bullying from her classmates ( only girls ) . So the start wasn’t easy for her . Me and my husband purchased our first business in a busy area but totally wrong for Italian food , but again we didn’t know anything about locations and demographics here in USA….so we quickly realized that it was a huge mistake . Locked in a 4 years lease we decided to close continuing pay the rent , and my husband accepted a job in a very busy Italian restaurant in the tourist area , and then in a well known Italian restaurant in Dr Phillips, he remained there for 8 years as executive chef when we finally got the opportunity to get our own restaurant in Avalon park . Mangia was established in 2022 and in only 14 months we were ready to move in a bigger location in the beautiful downtown of Avalon park . The huge support from our community made this possible, the bond between us is strong as only as family members can be!! I really think that our success is the combination of authentic food, nice ambiance and the real family atmosphere and spirit that makes people feel like home . Dining at mangia is not only sitting at the table and eating but is a full experience, we always try to bring Italy in every bite…because in every dish there is a story . Chef Rosario is a talented chef, member of the APCI ( association professional chefs abroad) , and I’m the delegate for the same association in Florida ,I’m a culinary ambassador for the Italian cuisine, also member of the Comites ( working with the Italian government) representing and supporting the over 65k Italians living in the south east .
We are very proud of what we achieved in those 13 years, but anything was given for free. We never stepped back , we never gave up our dream . We can definitely say that the American dream still exists for people who come here to work hard , follow the rules and respect the country. We faced difficulties but we made it !!!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Language barriers , differences in lifestyle were not easy to overcome
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Because we faced a lot of challenges and difficulties start a life here , I always help my Italian fellow who wants to move here to not make the same mistakes we made .
What do you like and dislike about the city?
Multicultural people and cultures is very important.
The beach is far from Orlando ( we are used to live by the beach in Napoli )
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mangiavalonpark.com/
