Visiting Food Fanatics chef Tom Macrina stands behind the Gallina family who own and operate Giuseppe’s: Brianna Knoff, Lia Gallina, Sal Gallina, Rosie Gallina, and Angela Collins.
By Daniel Sherrier
Editor
Giuseppe’s Italian Restaurant in Ladysmith is one of the best family-friendly restaurants in the nation, according to US Foods Food Fanatics Top Family Friendly Restaurants Contest.
The restaurant near Ladysmith Road and Route 1 was named one of 10 finalists in the contest Aug. 11. Last Thursday, Tom Macrina, a Food Fanatics chef who resides in Philadelphia, visited Giuseppe’s to compile a report for the judges.
Macrina explained that each finalist is assigned a different evaluator. These Food Fanatics chefs do not participate in the actual judging, which is handled by a different panel of culinary experts.
“Since (Guiseppe’s is) the place I’m going, I’m their cheerleader, too,” Macrina said, adding that he had never been to the restaurant or even Caroline County before last week.
Guiseppe’s made a good first impression on him.
“I think it’s wonderful. You walk in, everybody’s friendly. The place is clean. It’s a friendly atmosphere. It’s someplace I’d like to be,” Macrina said toward the end of his visit, during which he ate a Giuseppe’s meal and interviewed the owners, the Gallina family. “It made me feel at home as soon as I got here. It was great.”
Chef Tom Macrina, left, inspects Giuseppe’s entrees on behalf of the US Foods Family Friendly Restaurant Contest.
The US Foods contest features a different theme each year, and this year’s theme is family restaurants. Judges are considering the children’s menus, family friendliness, and overall fun environment of each establishment.
Community events such as Giuseppe’s school spirit nights are also factors in the evaluation.
The other finalists are The Mill Pizza Buffet and Games in Remerton, Georgia; Eckert’s Country Restaurant in Belleville, Illinois; Salty Iguana in Prairie Village, Kansas; White Fence Farm in Lakewood, Colorado; Randy’s Wooster Street Pizza in Manchester, Connecticut; JJ Twig’s in Lake Ozark, Missouri; Via’s Pizza & More in Topeka, Kansas; Mi Casa Mexican Restaurant in Rancho Santa Margarita, California; and Ruckus Pizza, Pasta & Spirits in Morrisville, North Carolina.
Restaurants needed to submit an application to enter the contest, and Macrina said that “there are a lot of applications” this year.
The top five winners are due to be announced on Sept. 2.
Each winner will receive a $2,000 credit for kitchen equipment and supplies from US Foods Culinary Equipment & Supplies, a featured mention in in the winter issue of Food Fanatics magazine (available Nov. 10), and a profile on the Food Fanatics website.
“I’m already happy I’m in the top 10 in the country,” owner Sal Gallina said. “I went home very happy” the day he learned of his restaurant’s finalist status.
The Gallinas have owned and operated Guiseppe’s for 14 years.
For more information about the US Foods Food Fanatics Top Family Friendly Restaurants Contest, visit www.usfoods.com/contest.
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