La Fornaretta offers authentic Sicilian fare

Cesare and Suzanne Di Lorenzo are creating a unique taste of Italy in Newcastle.Their new restaurant, La Fornaretta, opened March 20.When the Di Lorenzos moved to Newcastle last fall, they were planning to take a year off, after selling their Pasadena restaurant, also called La Fornaretta.That changed a month later when Cesare spotted a small Mexican eatery in Downtown Newcastle and decided he'd like to be back in the restaurant business."I asked the owner if he wanted to sell and he agreed to sell it," Di Lorenzo said recently. "So that became the new La Fornaretta." Suzanne is the heart and soul of the business, Cesare is quick to say. She is the chef, preparing family recipes that date back many years."She is the one who makes this project possible because of her love for the business and everything," he said.Suzanne's roots in the restaurant business run deep - her family owns the Lo Coco chain in the Bay Area, with locations in Berkeley, Oakland, San Anselmo and Corte Madera. Her recipes are highly prized family secrets.In creating the new La Fornaretta, they wanted it to be as much like the original as possible, even bringing on two of their best kitchen employees from the former restaurant.And Di Lorenzo is not quite finished with the décor. He plans to add a projector to show classic movies (but no sound) against an outdoor wall.The couple shares a Sicilian heritage - Suzanne was born in the United States, but her family emigrated from Sicily many years ago. Cesare was born in Sicily and has been in the U.S. about 20 years. "I came (to the United States) with $1,000 and no English," he said.The Di Lorenzos live in Newcastle with their two children - Gianluca, 12; and Gilberto, 13, who attend Newcastle Elementary School. Part of creating a little corner of Italy in their new home is donating to local causes. "We want to always be involved in charity events because we want to give back and be part of the community," Di Lorenzo said. In early May, the couple donated food for the Raising Spirits fundraising event held in Rocklin to benefit needy families."We donated 300 meatballs with homemade bread," Di Lorenzo said. "We ran out in two hours."Di Lorenzo has joined the Auburn Chamber of Commerce and the Newcastle Merchants Association. He also plans to joins the Lions Club.The community has embraced the new eatery."Response has been beautiful," he said.The pizza, thin crust with puffy edges, is a particular favorite, with 20 choices available. The eggplant parmigiana is popular, too, as well as the seafood pasta and other seafood dishes. There's a selection of beer and wine including locally produced vintages. Takeout is available and the Di Lorenzos recently put together a catering menu.Employee Justin Carrabello, from Lincoln, is learning the intricacies of Italian cuisine as sous chef to Suzanne."There's nothing else around here like her food," he said. "Our recipes are unique. It's a little like stepping back to square one. I'm learning everything from scratch."Brian Murphy of Nevada City visited the restaurant for the first time Tuesday. "I just happened to drive by and see it," he said. "I had ravioli pesto."Murphy, who grows his own basil, was taken by the smoothness of the sauce. "It was fantastic. It was a different kind of pesto sauce, really nice," he said. "The service was great, too. They are really nice people."That interaction with their clientele is what the Di Lorenzos enjoy best about being restaurateurs."It is the chance to meet the most diverse diners and different people, different cultures, different backgrounds and different education," Cesare said. The Journal's Gloria Young can be reached at gloriay @goldcountrymedia.com.La FornarettaWhat: Authentic Sicilian restaurant and pizzeriaWhere:455 Main St., No. 4, NewcastleOpen: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m. or 9:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 5 to 9 or 9:30 p.m. Saturday and SundayInfo: Visit www.lafornaretta.net or e-mail lafornaretta@ncbb.net or call (916( 663-1338