16Y
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT
APRIL, 2016
Giovanni Lentini: A connoisseur of taste and more STORY AND PHOTO BY AUTUMN SCHANIL
G
iovanni Lentini, born in Sicily, Italy, has always had his hands in the family restaurant business, making delicious Italian fare. Lentini’s parents moved to the United States in 1987, living in Brooklyn for quite a few years before eventually making the move to Sullivan County. Monticello more specifically. In 1991 Brother Bruno Pizza Restaurant in Monticello was born, when Lentini was around eight years old. At the age of 15, Lentini, began taking more initiative in the family business and his role exponentially grew from that point on. In essence, Lentini is now running the show. “I’ve always been into cooking,” said Lentini, “homestyle and in the restaurant.” But his work doesn’t stop there. Lentini has now started bottling marinara sauce, called Lentini’s Marinara, with brother Giuseppe “Joe” Lentini of Peppino’s Restaurant in Callicoon. The Lentini brothers began bottling about a year and a half ago in response to customers frequently asking to buy a jar, a liter, or a gallon of the famous sauce. The same famous sauce recipe that is used on
pizzas and pastas at both Brother Bruno’s and Peppino’s. “We are now selling our marinara sauce in all the local ShopRites as well as Peck’s Markets,” explained Giovanni, “and all production and work is kept within Sullivan County. We want to keep it local.” And again, his work hasn’t stopped there. Lentini also runs Green Express Recycling Corp. with the help of his brother Giuseppe and a few others. Now in their third year of business, they are working hard to bring better recycling to Monticello and beyond, utilizing lifetime friendships with local truckers and fellow business owners. “We all like to work hard. We came from working hard,” said Lentini, of his friends and co-workers, “We all try to work together and work as a family.” And Lentini is now starting up his own insulation company. So when does Lentini have time to breathe in between all of his work endeavors? “I have my Sundays off usually, but I really like to learn. I never stop. I do a little bit of everything,” laughed Lentini, “I was always that type that took everything apart and put it back together.
Young Professionals ‘Featuring 14 up and comers in our business community’ Published by
Catskill-Delaware Publications, Inc. Publishers of the
(845) 887-5200 Callicoon, NY 12723 April 15, 2016 • Vol. CXXV, No. 87
Giovanni Lentini, is a master of many skills and talents, with a community-minded goal set.
“The biggest thing for me is that we support the local community and Publisher: Senior Editor: Editor: Sports Editor: Editorial Assistants: Advertising Director: Advertising Coordinator: Advertising Representatives: Special Sections Coordinator: Business Manager: Business Department: Telemarketing Coordinator: Classified Manager: Production Associates: Distribution:
the local people. We’re all in this together.”
Fred W. Stabbert III Dan Hust Carol Montana Ken Cohen Willow Baum, Kaitlin Carney, Kathy Daley, Alex Rau, Richard Ross, Jeanne Sager, Autumn Schanil Liz Tucker Sandy Schrader Cecilia Lamy, Barbara Matos Susan Panella Susan Owens Patricia Biedinger, Joanna Blanchard Michelle Reynolds Janet Will Nyssa Calkin, Petra Duffy, Elizabeth Finnegan, Ruth Huggler, Rosalie Mycka, Tracy Swendsen Billy Smith, Richard Stagl