Dr. Ed Iannuccilli - Learning to Cook, Starting a Business and Giving Back

Dr. Ed Iannuccilli - Learning to Cook, Starting a Business and Giving Back

Diane and I love to go to the Farmer’s Market at the Mt. Hope Farm in Bristol, especially in the winter when they host it in the barn. It’s a cozy outbuilding, walled with old siding and ceilinged by a hanging loft. The vendors and the patrons are welcomed by soothing, soft music being played at the far end, just in front of the warming fireplace. Upon entering, we are comforted by the aromas of burning wood, fresh bread, honey, coffee and apple cider. After our initial purchases of bread and honey, we moseyed to the Secrets in the Kitchen table where Karen Greene was selling her delicious marinara sauce. We jumped at it. And we chatted. I was intrigued by her story, one of enthusiasm, perseverance and skill. Karen’s passion for her sauce, made with fresh ingredients from her garden, is well founded. We have returned for more.

For years, Karen spent almost every Sunday in the kitchen watching her mom cook the family dinner. Karen learned from her while hearing the story of Karen’s grandfather, a carpenter and cook who grew his ingredients and raised the animals for the lamb sausages on his large plot of land.  He was born in Lebanon and immigrated to America where he met his French-Canadian wife.

In later years Karen, fortified by the “aroma” of her history, created and perfected her “Secrets in the Kitchen Marinara Sauce,” her first commercial kitchen product. Her efforts were aided and encouraged by the principals at Hope and Main, Warren, Rhode Island’s food incubator business. The sauce has been a favorite of many who have passed through the Hope and Main kitchens and/or visited farmers’ markets.

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

Hope and Main and its founders, Lisa Raiola and Waterman Brown, have continued to guide Karen. Now, not only does Karen Greene teach pasta-making classes there, she has joined the Nourish our Neighbors Buy One, Give One, a splendid civic service offered by the marvelous community-oriented folks based there. Karen will cook family sized dinners, and for each person who buys one meal, another is sent to someone in need in the community. We have ordered from them, and have never been disappointed.

In recent weeks, their arms of philanthropy have reached far and wide. The program provides free ready-to-eat meals made by member companies using wholesome and local ingredients. I spoke with Lisa and Waterman this week, and to date, Hope & Main has distributed 13,584 meals since the outset of this program. Stunning!

There are so many things one might say about The Hope and Main incubator for those wishing to get into the food business. Ingenuity with enthusiasm is their trademark, but it goes even further. Just look at Karen Greene’s path . . .  learning to cook at home, honing her skills, creating a business at Hope and Main, selling pasta sauce, teaching, and now giving back to the community. What a fine example to set for many.

Dr. Ed Iannuccilli - As the author of three popular memoirs, “Growing up Italian; Grandfather’s Fig Tree and Other Stories”, “What Ever Happened to Sunday Dinner” and “My Story Continues: From Neighborhood to Junior High.”  Learn more here.