Carol Valentini – Carrying on a Family Tradition of Fine Italian Cooking The Valentini name has had a storied history of family traditions, recipes, and restaurant ownership for nearly 90 years. Matriarch Justina Valentini brought the family recipes from the small mountain towns of Sarnano and Fabriano, Italy when she emigrated to the United States. “She was probably the savviest businesswoman I’ve ever seen, and I am proud that she kept her maiden name. She was always one to take care of people, and to have huge family holiday gatherings.” Carol added, “I have tried to follow in her footsteps in maintaining what our family has always stood for and the passion we have for carrying on the family name and traditions.” Some of Carol’s earliest memories are of helping her grandmother in the kitchen. “Even as kids, we would sit and roll the ravioli into balls. We would also help to make gnocchi by hand, putting the signature thumbprint on the top.”
Some of the Hermantown dishes on the menu include a variety of appetizers, salads, pizzas, burgers, soups, and Italian favorites such as ravioli, gnocchi, fettuccini Alfredo, tortellini, carbonara, and several other specialty pastas, and meat, chicken, seafood and vegetarian entrees. Diners can choose from several different sauce types for their meals. “It has been a challenge to make the move to Hermantown to a smaller venue. But we have been lucky that our customers have followed us up here, and every day we are building up relationships with our new customers too.” “We always treat everybody like the family here,” she said. She has a standing joke that after patrons come here a few times, she will ask if want to put on an apron and help out in the kitchen. Carol asserts that the most important element to running a restaurant is a positive environment. “Being a successful business owner is having a great team of people and having the chemistry to work well. I am so blessed with my hard-working employees. my staff is fun and works through all the demands of a relentless job.” ‘Through good times and bad, my family’s restaurants have endured. I am very proud of that! I have always been connected to food and always will be. It is in my DNA. That’s why I am still here and still cooking.” “I owe a debt to the people who have supported us and continue to do so in the new place. Grazie to all of you!” For more information, hours, and menu for the Hermantown restaurant, call 218-206-7557 or visit their website at valentinisduluth.com