BIZ FEATURE: ITALIAN FOOD COMPANY BRINGS A TASTE OF ITALY TO KEY LARGO & ISLAMORADA

Italian Foods Business homeowners Tony and Isis Wright in no way dreamed of opening a cafe. With a love for Italy and good food stuff arrived an option the two couldn’t go up.

Now, patrons halting by the bar-trattoria style cafe are indulging in genuine southern Italian delicacies, with freshly-built Neapolitan (Naples-design and style) pizza, mouth watering boccas that overflow with toppings, a selection of homemade desserts and a lot more. 

With outdoor dining underneath coated patios, patrons gaze all over the landscaped yard as they consume lunch and supper. They sit at Sicilian lava tables imported from the Mt. Etna location. There is even a desk from Tony’s youth.

Opening in July 2021, Isis explained, the cafe incorporates various factors of the Italian cuisine scene. She said the cafe has attributes very similar to that of an Italian bar where by men and women appear and get coffee and a croissant in the early morning or a rice ball in the afternoon. It is not only a place to seize foodstuff, but it is also a area to converse with persons you know. 

The cafe also provides areas of an Italian pizzeria as well as a trattoria, which Tony describes as an Italian-fashion having institution that is commonly fewer formal than a restaurant. 

“When we introduced, we did not know if we’d open up for breakfast and have paninis, sandwiches and pizzas or if it was likely to be a cafe,” Tony claimed. “We were being going to let the cafe communicate to us.”

The COVID-19 pandemic altered the training course for the Wrights’ following enterprise. The year ahead of, Tony said the assets, previously residence to Papa Johns at MM 98 in the median, caught his eye. He was not specifically positive what he’d do with the place if he resolved to purchase it. But he knew the place had likely. 

In March 2020, the Wrights closed on the assets. Inside weeks, the two reviewed what would come future. They seemed at the Keys and believed about the issues they preferred. That’s when they turned to their summer months sojourns to Naples, the Amalfi coast, Sicily and Taormina. The Wrights revel in the blue sea and lively flowers. They are drawn to traditional Italian elements, from hearty backyard tomatoes and contemporary area herbs to nearby olive oils and contemporary sauce. Sharing the authenticity and warmth of traditional Italian trattorias and eaters grew to become the Wrights’ would like. 

Visiting Italian Food items Corporation is a sensory encounter, mentioned Isis. 

“Visually, there are so lots of stunning points from Italy,” Isis reported. “Then you consume the food items and all these flavors burst into your mouth. Italian cooking is really very simple but flavorful simply because they consider their time. By the time you end your entire eating practical experience you really feel a little something.” 

At Italian Food items Corporation, all products and solutions are sourced from Italy. Fresh, common Neapolitan pizza dough, sauce from ripe, brilliant tomatoes, clean Italian mozzarella and seasonal excess virgin olive oil are among the staples. The Neapolitan pizza’s typical design and style is marked by its signature aspect of fresh new seasoned tomato sauce and flash cooked in an oven. 

Tony mentioned some persons think the pizza is way too juicy in the center. Which is because all the components are clean. 

“It has a gorgeous historical past when we’re conversing about hundreds of decades making the exact style pizza the similar way for good,” Isis said. “It’s going to be much lighter and thinner in the centre. It’s a Neapolitan, juicy pizza that is eaten with a knife and fork.” 

Italian Food Company’s pizzeria is led by the Wrights and the maestro imported from Italy in master pizzaiolo Leopoldo Figlioli. And recently, the group included one more talent with executive chef Ben Loftus. He started off his career in the Florida Keys above 20 several years back, perfecting and bringing French delicacies to distinguished acclaim all through his tenure in Islamorada. 

He was a foodie most loved, elevating the eating expertise at Pierre’s to one of the most effective eating places in Florida. His subsequent roles with Cheeca Lodge and Spa and The Hungry Tarpon expanded his techniques and styles into new American and coastal cuisines. Tony said incorporating Loftus will enable them to provide some vintage and new beloved Italian dishes to the Wrights’ up coming venture — a new restaurant located at the former Bentley’s in Islamorada. 

“He’s acquired the respect and admiration of lots of individuals in the Florida Keys. I get calls just about each working day with genuine enthusiasm and guidance for Ben’s new part with us,” Tony said. 

Loftus said the Italian Meals Firm presents a exclusive prospect to innovate, grow and convey a new cultural eating knowledge to the Keys. 

“Italian cuisine is wonderfully uncomplicated, with so a lot of alternatives to delight visitors. We’ve already reviewed preliminary additions to the menu for Islamorada, and we’ll incorporate specials to the menu as I’ve finished in the earlier,” Loftus said. 

The new cafe in Islamorada will provide indoor dining, two special sitdown bars and an expanded menu, Isis mentioned they’re scheduling to retain the core menu from their Important Largo location within their new restaurant, but they want to increase some seafood dishes. And the Wrights and Loftus mentioned they’re hunting to set the former Bentley’s cafe again on the map. 

“The developing has a feeling to it,” Tony explained. “Everybody arrives and tells me tales. Even the aged Bentley’s owner visited right here a person day and requested if there’s everything he could do. I said it’s possible we can carry back again a dessert. Anyone has this kind of good reminiscences of this position.” 

Isis stated the opening of the new cafe will be in 30 to 60 times. 

Far more information and facts is at italianfoodcompany.com or stick to @theitalianfoodcompany on Instagram.