We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jacopo Falleni a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jacopo thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

Nonna in Italian mean Grandmother. What is the best place to go hide when you are in trouble?
What is the best place to eat the best meal of your life?
Nonna`s home!!
Welcome to my NONNA`s home!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

OWNER/GENERAL MANAGER

Applauded as an artist in the hospitality industry, Jacopo Falleni is well steeped in the facets of his craft. Born in Florence, Italy, he excelled in an intensive curriculum of Hotel and Restaurant Management, graduating with high honors from the Instituto Professionale per I Servizi Alberghieri.

Never one to settle, and addicted to challenge, Jacopo set his sights on the U.S. “I believe that travel is necessary to acquire culture and knowledge. That is why I jumped on the boat to the United States,” states Falleni.

His first experience outside of his home country started in New York City, where he opened Il Gelatone, the first homemade Italian Gelato Shop in Manhattan. The store became an overnight success and began distributing to New York’s finest groceries and restaurants, including Dean and Deluca.

For several years he owned and managed Firenze Osteria, Toluca Lake, California and Café Firenze, Moorpark, California overseeing all restaurant and bar operations. He was constantly polishing the skills of his staff, infusing them with attitudes of warmth, dignity and grace.

Jacopo has co authored the Cafe Firenze cookbook and has appeared in TV shows such as ‘The Real Housewives of Orange County,’ ‘Life after Top Chef,’ in addition to several morning shows. He is the resident mixologist on the podcast ‘Drinking Made Easy,’ with Zane Lamprey. Jacopo creates weekly cocktail recipes and pictures for his website www.jacopofalleni.com and is a contributor to websites such as liquor.com, foodchannel.com and more.

Falleni currently lives in Moorpark, CA where he spends his time inventing interesting pours of pure love for the sipping pleasure of friends, family and guests.

Any advice for managing a team?

For maintaining high team morale, my top advice is this: lead with clear communication, regular recognition of achievements, and a positive attitude. Foster a culture of trust, empower your team, and address conflicts constructively. By embodying these principles, you’ll create a motivated and productive team.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

The best source of new clients for our restaurant business has undoubtedly been word of mouth. Satisfied customers sharing their positive experiences with friends, family, and colleagues have consistently brought in new patrons and contributed to our success. There’s no advertising quite as effective as a personal recommendation.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.nonna.restaurant
• Instagram: nonna_westlakevillage
• Facebook: nonna_westlakevillage
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/nonna-westlake-village-2?osq=NONNA

Image Credits
credit Jacopo Falleni