About Giuliano

The tradition of cooking and community at Dolce Amore Café began with my mother and father, who were both born in Italy. My mother, Lida was from Milano, and my father, Giuliano, was from Trieste. My mother grew up to be a legal assistant and my father became a chef, learning in the small but cozy kitchen of his mother. Eventually, Giuliano Sr. left Italy. In the 1950’s both of my parents immigrated to the United States, and met years later in New York, falling in love and marrying soon after.

As a new immigrant to the US, my father had to quickly adapt to the fast paced life style of New York City and worked as a craftsman of tile, mosaics, and marble flooring. However, his talent and love of cooking was not forgotten. He continued to be a chef whenever any spare time was found, and that time was spent cooking with his family and with his new extended family - the neighborhood….

I was born in 1960, and was named Giuliano, after my father, as we have the same birthday. My mother was a homemaker & my father excelled in his craftsman work. But as caught up as they were in their primary duties in life, my parents still made their love of Italian cooking the main focus of the home and our family life revolved around the kitchen. Like every Italian family, our week culminated with a big Sunday dinner. Our ritual began early in the morning and was always served at 1pm. Although our home was not large, we never had less than 10 people at our table. The conversation during the meals never ran short and was very lively, and the aroma of homemade baked bread, boiling pasta, and freshly chopped garlic and basil always held heavily in the air - which is why my parents made enough for 25 people as more neighbors were sure to come by!

Today, my wife, Pam, & I are carrying on this tradition as well. We have been happily married 19 years and our family life, too, revolves around the kitchen, with the same passion my mother and father had. Pam is our main hostess and waitress at Dolce Amore Café and we have two children –both of whom helped the family business since they were young children. Both demonstrate the same interest in cooking just as I did when I as a child. My son, Zachary, is an assistant chef in the kitchen and has clearly inherited the “good cooking genes!” My daughter, Abigail, assists her mom with hosting & seating.

Like my parents, I believe in a strong community. Dolce Amore Café provides food for the local churches and synagogues and we are members of the city chamber. In addition, we support many local events and I am a Santa for the City of Delray! During the Hurricane Wilma clean-up, Dolce Amore Café was out of electricity for 10 days and we ended up feeding 14 of our neighbors for 5 days, until all the food ran out.

I believe that a successful business is about a successful community.

I have been in the restaurant industry for 30 years and was very happy to move to South Florida only 9 years ago. We opened the Sunflower Café & BL Corp Catering in 2000, and sold them as successful businesses in 2004. I am very passionate about Dolce Amore Café, which is has been in business for 4.5 years. Thank you for your patronage & I appreciate your business.

-Giuliano

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