Sarasota Immigrant Making All His Dreams Come True

Posted: October 19th, 2012 | Author: Chris Jaensch | Filed under: Sarasota Immigrants | Tags: immigration sarasota, Italian cuisine, Italian Food Sarasota, Sicilian Food Sarasota, Tavola Calda, Vespa | No Comments »

One could say that the United States has no food of its own, only the foods that immigrants bring with them when they come here.  Upon arrival, these recipes and traditions undergo a process of experimentation and combination with what they find in this country.  This leads to the many culinary choices we have today.  It also sometimes decreases the authenticity of the food.  We don’t get to taste the REAL DEAL because all the variations cloud over the original.

Giuseppe Prestia has set out to dispel those clouds when it comes to Sicilian food.  His Supernova Cafe will be opening soon on Main St. and will serve authentic and healthy Sicilian food.

Mr. Prestia took a very interesting path to where he is today.  He first came to the United States in 1993 as a member of a Sicilian Folk Dance group and performed at Disney’s Epcot Center and in Tampa.  The experience led him to resolve to move permanently to the United States.  He spent a year in Italy saving the money to make the move and then, as promised, returned to the United States.

For a few months he moved around Florida, picking up jobs at Italian restaurants and looking for the right place to settle down.  He was a plumber by trade and he always kept the goal of starting his own plumbing business in mind.  Eventually he found Sarasota and decided this was the place to start his plumbing business.

In order to get his state license Mr. Prestia had to work for another plumbing company for four years.  This he did, and as soon as he could get his license, Prestia Plubing was incorporated.  That was in 2001.

Giuseppe Prestia in the Prestia Plumbing Van

As Mr. Prestia’s plumbing business grew he found himself on the road a lot and he noticed that it was hard to get a quick meal that was also healthy.  In addition to having a plumbing business, owning a restaurant had also been a dream of his.  He had spent time in the kitchens of Italian restaurants and knew how they were run.  In addition, his family owns a bakery chain in Sicily.  He found that there was demand for quick, healthy meals and decided to capitalize on his ideas and experience.  Together with his father he decided to open an authentic Sicilian bakery and cafe on Main St.

Supernova Cafe is scheduled to open in November.  Mr. Prestia plans for it to be open for lunch and dinner.  It will serve traditional Italian meals and it will introduce the “Tavola Calda”.  This is an authentic Sicilian bread stuffed with almost anything the customer could want.  If you are a vegetarian you are going to love Supernova’s many vegetarian choices.  If you work downtown and are always looking for a place to get a quick meal that is also healthy, Supernova Cafe will be the place to go.

Mr. Prestia also plans on catering and delivering his authentic Sicilian creations all over the Sarasota-Bradenton area.  In fact, he bought a classic white 1962 Vespa just for that purpose.

Supernova Cafe Logo

So far Mr. Prestia has been able to fulfill all his dreams here in the United States.  He plans on continuing to manage both businesses until he retires.  We wish him great success!

Look out for the white Vespa with the Supernova logo driving around town or visit the Supernova Cafe at 1900 Main St.  Ask for Giuseppe Prestia and see if he will show you some of his moves from his folk dancing days!

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