The Tradition Continues

We're not sure we believe the first Mario in our long history of great performers was a passenger on one of those ships Columbus came over on.

One day Chris and Mario were trading stories about the Old Country, although at the time, it wasn't called "Old" since they hadn't found the new one yet.

Anyway, they were talking when Chris said something about the beautiful sea and how he could go for some food. Holy Calamari! Mario saw a lantern up in his head. Sea? Food? Seafood! it was marriage made in, well, on the ocean.

Once they landed, Mario with his new reputation, (taking fish out of the water and preparing them so they actually tasted pretty good) found he could do the same with all kinds of game or vegetables. He became a very popular guy, especially at lunch and dinner time.

Columbus left to go back to the "Old Country" but Mario stuck around, opening what we believe was the first italian restaurant in America. We're not sure if he called it Mario's but he developed a good clientele among the natives and the new arrivals. With expansion on his mind he planned to open "several places to eat food" up and down the East coast. Unfortunately, he got carried away (by a bear) and his plans went with him.

The next Mario was lucky enough to become the chief cook on the winning side of the Revolutionary War. People say it was his minestone soup that kept the troops warm on those cold winter nights.

Another famous Mario surfaced during the roaring twenties on the west side of Chicago. We hear this Mario was a very mediocre tailor. Yea, a tailor, One day a few gentlemen came into his shop to get a repair. it seemed a knife had somehow created a hole in the sleeve of one of the men's suits. While Mario sewed, one of the fellows, the one they called Big Al, sampled the sauce warming on the old pot belly stove. Well, a loaf of bread later, Big Al wondered what else Mario the Tailor could cook up, when he tasted his Chicken Vesuvio; Cacciatore, and this wonderful cold salad made with pasta, Big Al made Mario his personal chef.

Unfortunately, Big Al "went away" compliments of our government and Marion thought about going back to tailoring. Luckily he stayed in the food business.

There have been other famous Mario's throughout history. Wherever there were hungry people who wanted quality at a fair price, there was a Mario.

Today, a tradition continues as the newest chapter unfolds Mario's in Carol Stream will carry on the value and the special treatment of its most important ingredient: You, the patrons. So, relax and enjoy. You're writing history with every mouthful.