March 8th is International Women’s Day. It is the day to honor and celebrate the achievements of women.
In thinking about the meaning of this day, I cannot help but to think of two incredible women who deserve so much praise– Romana Caputo and Antonella Caputo Presta. Both women have led a life of sacrifice and foundational pillars of our company.
Our matriarch and my grandmother, Romana Caputo, was one of the best women there was. Any person who has crossed her path is sure to tell you a memory centered around her cooking skills, generosity, or the class she exuded. A self taught cook, she spent hours in the kitchen– preparing feasts, cookies for weddings or parties, or a simple dinner which was probably the best meal you’ve had. No one who encountered my nonna was left hungry. She loved her family and did everything she could for them, no questions asked. Full of life, it was her mission to make sure all of her loved ones were happy. She did everything she could to lift others up. She was always there for her husband, Angelo Caputo, as his biggest support, his right hand, and his rock through the grueling hours of his hard work. She had the biggest heart and the kindest soul. It is inspired by her beauty and exceptional cooking skills that we get the name of our private label, La Bella Romana. Translated to the Beautiful Romana, Angelo created our private label as a way to acknowledge all she did for our family and company. Our private label has expanded to different departments in our store– our La Bella Romana Cucina and La Bella Romana bakery– as a nod to her exceptional skills in the kitchen. Although gone too soon, she has left a beautiful legacy and we continue to honor her in every way that we can. Her spirit and her mission lives on through her daughter, Antonella.
My mother, Antonella, is the rock of our family and a foundational pillar in our company. She has made it her mission to make sure the legacy and work of her parents do not go unnoticed or unappreciated. The same traits that she so proudly uses to describe my grandparents are the very same traits that she embodies, but she calls no attention to them. She is strong, smart, and protective like Nonno Angelo and generous, humble, and classy like Nonna Romana, that is only scratching the surface. She will never look for credit or draw attention to anything she does, but we would not be where we were today without her. She started working at a very young age. She would take early morning trips to Michigan with Angelo to pick up fresh produce at the age of about 9 years old. She can tell you about the freezing days at the original store on Harlem and Wrightwood, the distinct smell of the store that brings tears to her eyes at just the thought of it, or how they would have to hand write the items for the old “register” system. Plus, she could beat anybody in a bagging groceries competition. She values everyone else’s happiness over her own because her whole mission in life is to make sure that those around her are loved, happy, and cared for. She has taught us the importance of family, which I am so grateful for as my siblings are my best friends. She is always there for advice, a story, a prayer, a meal, and anything else you may need. I was blessed enough to become a mother a few months ago and since have become even more inspired by my mother’s strength and resilience as she raised a family, ran a business, and so much more all at the same time, never breaking a sweat.
I am blessed to have such strong, beautiful women in my life and am so grateful to be able to call Romana and Antonella my role models.
Don’t forget to honor the women in your life on March 8th by picking up mimosa cakes and cupcakes. If you order ahead, you will receive a free Caputo’s cake server! Order here
Happy International Women’s Day to all the beautiful women ❤️
From Our Family To Yours