By: Jay Shurling
December 2011
‘Tis the season for baking. That’s how the Alaimo family, owners of LaBella Italia led by
matriarch Anna Alaimo, spends a lot of time getting ready for the holiday. They bake cookies.
LaBella General Manager and daughter Victoria Caruso recalls her childhood back in Brooklyn, New York and being involved with the family bakery.
“We grew up making cookies at this time of year. I can remember being seven years old and standing on a milk crate manning the register, that’s what the holidays meant to me. The smells of the cinnamon and vanilla are present today bringing back those memories now in Hampton Roads”
Almond cookies called Amaretti and Buccelati made of fig are still baked today at LaBella. Cookies so good the Vacation Channel wanted to make sure visitors to Hampton Roads stopped by for a taste of the Alaimo family holiday tradition with Sicilian-born Anna Alaimo. Caruso was excited to see her mother share a piece of their history,” Mom got a chance to make our Amaretti cookie and share the recipe. It was so fun to see her do this, hearing her accent. It was a great family moment.”
Of course, the bakery was the start that led to today’s full service restaurant and the family is ever present in the day-to-day operation. Brother Andrea DiCarlo, Marco Scaramellino and Sister Victoria keep the family traditions in place; simply never compromise quality and take each patron on a trip to Italy during their short visit to LaBella.
“Everything has to be perfect, from the consistency of the homemade Mozzarella, making sure the bread has that texture and to be really hands-on every day. When you come in, we’re talking Italian. We want to make sure the customer has the best experience.”
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