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Be a part of it... Get to the Heart of it... Advertisement Dining out is a pleasure enjoyed by many and it is even more of a pleasure when the food and service are excellent and the prices are affordable. If you have discovered "'Il Giardino Restaurant" you have enjoyed this pleasure. I! Giardino founded its beginning in 1976 as a small gift and coffee shop called "The Chit Chat" owned and operated by Marisa Cappella. Though the Chit Chat was a successful undertaking for Marisa she was encouraged by many of her friends, who had experienced her delicious Italian cooking, to open her own Italian Restaurant. Marisa did so in 1983 and the Chit Chat underwent complete renovations eliminating the Gift Shop and incorporating a menu which is 100 per cent Italian Cuisine. ll Giardino caters to both the lunch and supper crowds of- fering a different menu at each sitting. The lunchtime menu offers a variety of sandwiches, homemade pastas, soups, salads and desserts. The dinner menu changes to include delicious veal dishes, an assortment of pasta delights, homemade soups, fresh vegetables and salads, well- prepared seafood dishes and of course, to accompany your meal, a variety of fine wines to choose from. The food is always excellent as Marisa does all the cooking herself. No one is able to duplicate her dishes nor able to withs- tand the many hours she spends daily in her kitchen preparing the food. Marisa is assisted by her husband Felix who acts as Maitre d', host, bartender, shopper, maintenance man and many other duites that owning a restaurant requires. Felix and Marisa came to Canada from Italy in 1956, and moved to Midland in 1962. Marisa's early years in Midland were spent raising her 3 children, Gabriel, Edda and Marilena, all of which presently live outside of the Midland area, but whom still return to sample Mom's great cook- 'tA little bite of Italy" ing as often as possible. Marisa also worked as a Tup- perware saleslady for seven years and was later employed by Woolworth for two years. It was at this time that she decided to go into business for herself. Regular customers at Il Giardino know that when they walk into the restaurant they are greeted by a friendly and helpful staff who carry excellent service right to the end of their meal. Customers often linger over a liqueur or a delicious cappuccino ac- companied by a piece of homemade pie or cheese cake. After their meal they often pop their heads into the kitchen to convey their "compliments to the chef"' and at all times they find a smiling Marisa rushed off her feet but still smil- ing. She not always has time between orders to come out and greet her guests, but when she has a chance she does so ensuring that everyone is happy and making sure things are running smoothly. Even though she strives to please all of her customers she knows that you cannot please absolutely everyone and Felix and the staff at times have to go to great lengths to explain very diplomatically why the veal dishes are not served with spaghetti or why the spaghetti doesn't come with meatballs - two dishes that have found their origin in North America but would be an absolute "no, no"' back home. Marisa is dedicated to keeping her cuisine com- pletely unadulterated and traditional and encourages her customers to enjoy it as such. If you take the time to stop in and sample some of Marisa's home cooking, after you are done, pop your head into the kitchen and let her know what you thought. She may be whipping up her Caesar salad dressing, her yummy cheese cake or making spaghetti sauce but she will take the time to say hello and thank you for coming. The store is owned by Phil D. Murphy and is one of nine stores. The Downtown Midland store has been in the same loca- tion for over 20 years selling diamonds, gold jewellery and giftware. The staff which consists of Bill Gray, the manager, Trish Lyons, Rhoda Haughton and Pat Stelter have accumulated P.D. Murphy Jewellers a good number of years service behind the counters of P.D. Murphy's. Bill has been in the jewellery business for seven years and says "The jewellery business is an ongoing education. You're always learning the fascinating characteristics of diamonds especially, as well as coloured stones and how gold jewellery is made and repaired." . Bill is married with two sons and is an active member of the Midland Golf and Country Club as well as the Midland Oldtimers Hockey Team. Says Bill, 'Downtown Midland is a great place to work and to meet people," and you couldn't ask for a nicer town to live in, than Midland."'