Want the dirt on the local food industry? "Good Old Dad" shares his secret recipe

NEWS RELEASE

NADINE ROBINSON

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Local food legend, Enrico Ianni-Palarchio, has launched a book sharing his entrepreneurship secrets and steps for a happy life. Palarchio is the man behind Paesano Foods, Rico's Frozen Foods/Good Old Dad, Rico's Restaurant and The Godfather restaurant (among others). Most of the Sault's current food industry worked for Rico in their formative years.

The back cover describes the book, and Palarchio's recipe for success: "Mix two countries, one war, ten parts hard work, a couple of mentors, a pinch of luck, a dash of ingenuity, a pound of persistence, and a man who wouldn't quit; and you get a delicious story spanning six decades of entrepreneurial endeavours… [Rico] offers up sage guidance in entrepreneurship through tales of his colourful, tragic, and triumphant life in Southern Italy and Northern Ontario."

"It started out as a book to share stories of my life with my grandkids," said Palarchio. "But thanks to local author, Nadine Robinson, it has grown into something bigger, for everyone to hear my papa's proverbs for a good life, and to learn my secrets of success. People like my crazy ways, like when I hung my sausage sign upside down on purpose… everyone can learn something from my book about being entrepreneurial and living well, even if they're not in the food business."

Forks in the Road: Adventures in Food Entrepreneurship with Enrico Ianni-Palarchio, the Man Who Never Quit, is available online at Amazon at for $14.95 USD.

A book launch including a pasta and meatball dinner will take place at Superior Heights High School on May 17, 2017, at 6pm. Rico's Frozen Foods is providing the food, with event service from Jason Zachary, Superior Heights culinary arts teacher, and his students. Local food celebrities who worked for Rico will toast/roast him at the event. All proceeds go to Rosedale Public School's graduating class trip to Montreal.

"Rico likes to give back, like when he ran charity pasta dinners while receiving cancer treatment in Sudbury. He is generous with his time and food," said Robinson.

"So, whether you're looking for a Mother's day gift or an autographed book to round out your summer reading list, we hope you'll join us at the book launch and dinner. Writing the book for Rico, I'm amazed at what he overcame. At one point he even loses the business named after him, but eventually prevails, buys it back, and passes it on to his son. I hope readers will find him as charming, and his wisdom as useful, as I have."

Tickets for the May 17 pasta dinner and book launch are available in advance by calling Nadine at 705-943-9972 or emailing her at [email protected]. Adults $15, Children $10, Pre-order books $15 CAD. A limited number of books will be available at the event for $20. More info is also available on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/forksintheroad/

About Rico: Enrico "Rico" Ianni-Palarchio was born on September 8, 1935, in Campora San Giovanni, Comune di Amantea, Cosenza, Italy. As a child, he was apprenticing to be a tailor by age seven, and he and his family had to hide in a cave through part of World War II to stay safe from the bombings. While Rico was still a teenager, his papa fell ill with malaria, and Rico needed to find work to support his whole family.

Rico began turning the skills he had learned in his childhood adventures into business after business, in Italy, and later in Canada. In 1981, he had six businesses operating successfully, and at his peak, he was employing over 200 people. His influence is still felt across the community, through people he mentored having opened their own businesses and with the family members now running his operations including Paesano's Butchery and Food Market, Rico's / Good Old Dad Foods, and Rico's Catering. Rico is known as the man who never quit.

About the Author: Dr. Nadine M. Robinson is an international award-winning freelance writer, a regular columnist for the Postmedia Network, and is the co-author of the Canadian bestselling book Mantracking: The Ultimate Guide to Tracking Man or Beast. Originally from Ottawa, Nadine is passionate about life, telling stories, and inspiring others. Now living in Sault Ste. Marie, Nadine has travelled to over 51 countries, and earned a Doctorate in Business Administration from Athabasca University while writing her first book, teaching part-time at Algoma University, and raising two children.

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