My family story goes back to the towns of my four grandparents — the Bregante’s from Riva Trigoso, the Sacco’s from Cosenza, the Vella’s from Porticello, and the Ventimiglia’s from Santa Flavia. Although all are from the boot and ball, each family carries its own unique culture, recipes, heritage, and of course, Patron Saints.
The Bregante’s story begins in 1916 on the San Diego Wharf. The Sunset Fish Company, owned by my great-grandfather and his sons, was a massive fish counter much like today’s Pt. Loma Seafood. It later became Bregante’s Fish Market, and that’s where my aunt launched the world-famous Anthony’s Fish Grotto — an iconic seafood restaurant chain that still operates 80 years later.
Another iconic restaurant is The Godfather Restaurant, owned by the Balestrieri family for 50 years. Connected through marriage via the Vella family, it remains my favorite restaurant of all time.
Over the years, I’ve also had my hand in the industry. I personally owned Vellegante’s Italian Caffè at Lake Skinner in Temecula Wine Country. Additionally, I owned The Skybox Restaurant in Clairemont and Fast Times Bar and Grille in Bay Park.
I learned most of my restaurant business expertise from Al De Philippis at Filippi’s Pizza Grotto, another legendary San Diego institution that has been open for 75 years.
As far as cooking, I learned from my grandfather’s brother, the great Uncle Tony Bregante, who taught me the fundamentals of making a great Bolognese sauce. Later, I would go to Porticello, Sicily, staying with my cousins for a month. There, I witnessed daily old-school cooking from cousin Graziella and her daughters from the Vella Family.
And lastly, my chef at The Skybox and Fast Times was the incomparable Pasquale. He learned his craft at Mr. A’s, where he worked for 10 years. He then went on to Tom Ham’s Lighthouse on San Diego Bay, where he ran their famous brunch for 20 years.
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