Celebrating Mother’s Day Together

Our mother has been the foundation of our family and our guiding light in our lives. We’re celebrating and sharing a few thoughts about what we’ve learned from our mother in honor of Mother’s Day on May 9th.

Meet Marion “Mama” Scotto

 Food has always been a focal point in our family’s life. Some people eat to live, but we live to eat!

Our love of food began with my family in Brooklyn, in 1915. My grandparents owned a poultry market. While it was unusual for women to work outside the home in those days, my grandmother was an important part of the business. Her day was not over until she came home to cook and care for her six kids. 

My mother eventually took over the business. She worked long hours and tried to make the best of what were difficult times during World War II. 

Food rationing was the way of life. So my mother cooked chicken in every way imaginable. I loved to watch her make boneless stuffed chicken; she deboned the chicken breast, stuffed it with mozzarella, sausage, and rice, and roasted it to a golden brown. It was better than roast beef. 

I still use her recipes today, at home and at Fresco. There is something very comforting about cooking these dishes steeped in tradition. 

Before we opened Fresco by Scotto restaurant in 1993, I did a lot of entertaining at home. These days most of my entertaining at home is just for the immediate family—at last count seventeen people, including my eight wonderful grandchildren. My family’s love of food has brought my children and grandchildren together.