Mary Grillo
Mary Grillo was born in Pennsylvania in the late 1800’s. After a disgruntled nephew murdered her parents, she was sent back to Sicily to be raised by her aunt and uncle.
Mary was mother to four children. For the purposes of our story, the most important of these children was Tony, father of Rob Sample who is co-owner of Mother’s. (“Sample,” if you’re taking notes, is a simplified form of Zampaglione, Rob’s grandfather’s name.)
While visiting Tony’s family, Grandma Mary did most of the cooking. Rob fondly remembers her pounding and rolling the meat for the braciole and shaping the meatballs for the sauce. He recounts stories of how he and his siblings fought over leftover meatballs and stovepipes (rigatoni), resorting to guerilla tactics when necessary to get their fair share.
We felt it befitting that we honor Grandma Mary as our first Mother of the Month. She was loved for many reasons, but forever remembered for her cooking.
Mangia! Buon Apetito!
M.O.M. Menu
Breakfast
Genoa & Provolone Scramble
Lunch/Dinner
Pasta y Fagioli
thick pink bean soup with onions, ham & pasta
Italian Chopped Salad
with lettuce, genoa salami, provolone cheese, garbanzo beans, black olives, tomatoes, red onion & a red wine vinaigrette
Fried Ravioli
ricotta cheese-filled, served with tomato basil sauce
Fried Calamari
crispy calamari served with a spicy tomato sauce
Sandwich
Genoa & Provolone
on foccacia bread with dijonnaise, lettuce, tomato & red onion
Dinner
Rigatoni with Meatballs
made with all-natural “Painted Hills” beef, slow-cooked all day with pork, tomatoes & Grandma Mary’s top-secret Sicilian spices
Prawns Scampi
sauteed with olive oil, garlic & parsley, served with rice pilaf and spinach
Chicken Cacciatore
braised with red & green peppers, onions, tomatoes, mushrooms & carrots, served with buttered noodles & sauteed veggies
Dessert
Tiramisu
ladyfingers dipped in espresso & kahlua, with mascarpone & cream