The Story Of Laura
From Chef Nico Romo
Humble Beginnings
My grandmother, Laura, was born in the small Italian town of Arpino and moved to France with her family when she was two years old. My great-uncles and great-aunts all remained in Arpino, and when my grandmother was small, she and my great-grandparents would travel back there to spend the summer visiting with family.
My Great-grandparents and Laura lived in Lyon in the quartier of Gerland, 7th arrondissement. They were Italian immigrants with very few possessions and their home was a wooded cabaña built with left-over wood.
My Great-grandfather fought in WWI for Italy and WWII for France, and survived both. He sold charcoal for several years and bought the family’s first home when Laura was only ten years old. My grandmother was the eldest sister and the chef of the house. It was her job to do the cooking for the family of 6.
Coming Of Age In Her Own Way
When she turned 18, she met Antoine, her future husband, and my future Grandfather. The day they met, both were attending a fair in Lyon. He was a plumber at the time and the family didn’t approve of the relationship because Antoine was not a “true Italian” by blood. Laura was supposed to marry an Italian man chosen by her parents in an arranged marriage, but she never met this other man, instead she decided to run away with Antoine to escape the family’s disapproval.
Though disappointed in her decision, after some time her family accepted her choice. Laura was strong, independent, and knew what she wanted.
Leaving Her Legacy
Laura and Antoine had 8 children: Josephine, Liliane, Elise, Andree, Josseline (my Mum), Martine, Gilles, and Brigitte. They had 13 grandchildren and loved each one fiercely, never missing a birthday or holiday.
Every time I flew back home to France from America, my grandmother “Mémé’s” house was always my first stop. My aunts, uncle, and cousins would pack into her 2 bedroom apartment, and Mémé would always have bolognese simmering on the stove. The sauce would take 2 days to make, and if I didn’t eat at least TWO servings, she would think something was wrong with me.
Laura truly was such an important part of my life. She was sad I moved away, but also took pride in my accomplishments. It is my hope that she is looking down on me and can see that her tradition of cooking time-honored Italian dishes is continuing to bring people together in celebration of family, and now in her name.
- Chef Nico Romo