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The small-town charm of Westfield, N.Y., in Chautauqua County, lured two West Coast residents to pack their bags and family to move to Main Street.
Tony and Rebecca Pisicoli were new parents when they decided that they wanted life in a slower lane than Pasadena, Calif.
"We started looking for small towns to move to," says Tony, a chef and entrepreneur.
"I dreamt of a picturesque small town, the kind of small town that only exists on movie sets in Southern California. The quaintness of Main Street, the charm of a town square, distinctive architecture that tells a story of time long past. Friendly people, community, and as I wipe the beads of sweat from my forehead, the anticipation of the change of seasons. I vowed to find that idyllic small town, pack my bags and move my family as soon as I could," Tony writes in a Web posting.
One tip led them to Jamestown, N.Y., which ultimately led them to discover Westfield, a town better known for exporting residents (10,000 Maniacs singer Natalie Merchant among them) and growing grapes than luring people in from large cities.
"We definitely wanted a change, and we embraced it," Rebecca says.
So, in the spring of 2006, they moved with daughter Sabella to Westfield, where they continued to operate an online clothing business, Cybell's, and opened a storefront location on, of course, Main Street.
They didn't know a soul. They had no extended family, but, they said, they found one when they immersed themselves in the community not far from the shores of both Lake Erie and Lake Chautauqua.
Westfield's Main Street is neat and clean. The parking is free. It's clear there is a lot of pride in his community, which is home to the architecturally stunning Patterson Library and the McClurg museum. The community Web site boasts of the recreational opportunities to fish, golf and boat, as well as an active arts community.
Tony jumped right in. He's an active member of the Chamber of Commerce and is vocal on community development issues.
So when a local storefront, the home to a former coffee house, became vacant, he and his wife decided to open a restaurant there. Together with partners John and Paula Carver, they opened Sapore Restaurant Coffee & Wine Bar on Main Street.
It's an urban space in a rural community. The walls are exposed brick with artwork, including multimedia, displayed. Tin reliefs, painted in cream, cover the ceiling. An elevator (think New York City loft) connects the three floors. A walk-in fridge that was built into the basement has been returned to working order.
The food is as authentic as the space. "We're using fresh ingredients, with a simple rustic feel," Tony says. "We're using fresh ingredients married with imported ingredients. We marry the foods ... the Mediterranean with local products."
The dinner menu features torta pasquelina, with ricotta, spinach, swiss chard and egg baked in a light and flaky crust. This speaks to their marriage of imported with local -- spring greens with imported ricotta cheese.
"I like to use local wherever I can," Tony says. "I can look at it, inspect it and it supports the local economy."
Tony, who learned to cook from his New York mother and grandmother, showcases what is great about Italian cooking -- from his use of tomatoes and eggplant to his belief in roasting the vegetables to bring out their natural sweetness.
The restaurant is across the street from Moore Park, which features a farmer's market every Saturday morning, starting May 30.
Their latest venture is an e-newsletter, which recently talked about the benefits of ginger and the restaurant's move to begasse products, which are plant-based products that can be made into the "to-go" containers, and can be microwaved and reheated up to 212 degrees, according to the newsletter.
"The idea was to educate," Rebecca says. "It gives tips that are both healthful and helpful."
The couple and their daughter have acclimated to life in western New York. And feel that western New York is accepting them as well.
"We love it here. We really enjoy it ... being able to build relationships with everyone ... We know more neighbors here than in our time in L.A.," Tony concludes.
Original article appears in June issue of Lake Erie Lifestyle
