Who’s Who?
LUCIO CORCIULO (Pasta Man)
I left Italy when I was 18 years old and moved to Jersey in the Channel islands, gaining experience in hotel catering, restaurants and even fashion retail. I met Janine there and got married in a tiny church on the beach, however an opportunity came up to work in the wine industry which meant being based in the UK so we moved to Cheshire and settled down to family life.
I love pasta – it’s my favourite meal and at the back of my mind I dreamed of starting a pasta and sauce company. In 2009 I started creating in our kitchen and slowly neighbours and friends started to ask me for more. I took the plunge and left the wine industry. I would work through out the night so that I didn’t disturb family life but my wife threatened to throw me out if I didn’t find premises as all her kitchen equipment was getting broke and we had fresh pasta laid out all over the place so she could not get in to make dinner for our small daughter at the time. In the end she went out and found me a small unit on the farm we are on today.
One month in after setting up my unit, I broke my neck on a mountain bike trip in Wales. I love cycling nearly as much as pasta so I admit to pushing limits a little. I remember going over the handlebars, lying on the ground not feeling my legs and thinking “god if I am not dead, then my wife is going to kill me when she finds out”.
Amazingly I made a good recovery and still jump on the bike much to my family’s concern. We have now grown to larger premises and I still loving getting my hands into the flour but when I get time off I love nothing better than going out for a long road ride, hitting a few balls on the golf course and generally keeping fit.
Playing the guitar (badly) helps me to relax. I still need an adrenaline fix so turning 60 next year I have set myself a challenge of crossing the mighty Pacific ocean from China to Seattle as part of the crew on the famous ‘Clipper’ round the world yacht race.
In the meantime I am looking forward to teaching all you lovely people, the art of making pasta.
Life’s for living!!
Ciao Lucio
JANINE CORCIULO (Thinks she’s boss)
Some would call it a mid life crisis, but after running my own Aesthetics company for 22 years I felt like I needed a new challenge along with a rest!
However it’s not quite worked out that way and I now find myself full on with building the Nonna Teresa brand. From marketing, HR, Food safety legislation, brand developer and operations – Yep, its all me!
It’s a big change going from laser facial treatments to redesigning sauce labels but I am enjoying the change of scenery and really excited to be in the artisan food industry.
Lucio and I working together? Well – lets call that ‘Work in progress’.
Hitting 50 certainly has its impact but I believe in shaking things up and pushing yourself in directions that are outside your comfort zone.
I relax by running, road biking, golf and regular yoga. Weak areas – wine and unable to say no!