'It’s going to be an Italian foodie’s heaven' (3 photos)

For Rosetta Sicoli, being the Guglielmo Marconi Society Cultural Centre’s new general manager is more than just a job.

It’s a mission.

Sicoli is a well-known, award-winning Sault Ste. Marie restaurant personality, the longtime owner and operator of A Thymely Manner.

Beginning her new role Apr. 3 at the Guglielmo Marconi Society, Sicoli is spearheading an effort to revive the society, located within the Marconi Club and Event Centre at 450 Albert Street West, as the true Italian cultural experience it once was.

“Right now we’re known as a banquet hall and that’s going to be worked on, so we will have the Society’s Cultural Centre be at the forefront,” Sicoli told SooToday.

Aspects of the cultural centre will include Italian language classes, cooking classes, and festivals dedicated to the different cities and regions of Italy.

“It’s basically going to celebrate the immigration of the Italians to Sault Ste. Marie and how happy we’ve been here, but now it’s time to make sure our young know about it,” Sicoli said.

“There’ll be wine tasting, sausage making, we’re going to teach it, I’ve got the older people here who can teach it, I don’t want them to pass away and not pass on their cooking secrets, I want the young to be taught by their grandmothers.”

“I was born in Italy, I’m an immigrant, but my grandchildren are not going to know much about where I was born and what my life has been like if I don’t get the cultural centre to be an important part in their lives, I want the young to know.”

Cultural education will be brought in a step at a time, Sicoli said.   

Meanwhile, she plans to reinvent the Marconi Club’s restaurant and establish a takeout service along with it.

“It’s going to be an Italian foodie’s heaven.”

“You’ll be able to have a biscotti and cappuccino and then go home with fresh pasta and some home made Italian ice cream, and hopefully we’ll open that for September,” Sicoli said.

“I’m taking leadership, I’m using all the skills and experience I’ve gained and putting that into play so we can keep the traditional food going here.”

“The women in our kitchen, it blows my mind, they make home made pasta, roll their own meatballs, that’s unheard of in this modern day, they love doing it, they’re proud of doing it and that’s going to continue, along with a little more variety.”

New staff is being hired for the kitchen to help the veteran cooks.

“I said ‘you keep making the pasta and we’ll teach these kids as well.’”

Sicoli emphasized the Marconi Club is alive and well, despite rumours of financial hardship and imminent demise due to a troubled local economy.

“The Marconi’s gone through a lot of ups and downs and rumours have spread like wildfire, but we’re just trying to assure people who have booked their events here to feel sure and comfortable, knowing we are open for business and moving into a new direction.”

The Guglielmo Marconi Society was established in 1912.

The society’s website states it was formed to honour the achievements and memory of Guglielmo Marconi, preserve and promote Italian culture and heritage in the Sault, encourage and support youth participation in sports and recreational activities and create programs and activities for members and their families.

The club, Sicoli said, provided food for Italian immigrants during those challenging early years of the Italian experience in Canada, and owned cemetery plots at a time when Italian immigrants could not afford to bury their own family members and friends.

Sicoli said she appreciates the support and efforts of Joe Orazietti, the Society’s president, Nancy MacDonald, Elettra Marconi Society president, Ida Simon, Elettra Marconi Society vice president (the Elettra Marconi Society being the Society’s ladies branch), Domenic Carota (former general manager) and all of the Society’s members.

“It’s important for them to be named because under their guidance they’ve been saying ‘we’re here, and we’re going to work together and move ahead,’” Sicoli said.