Waking up this morning I quickly realized it was going to be the ‘perfect’ family day prisoners to our home.  Spring snow in Colorado has dumped 8 inches of fresh powder so far with predictions of 18+ inches before the storm moves on sometime Saturday.

This mornings breakfast we finished up the Easter Lamb cake that mom has been making forever and a staple to our Easter family traditions that goes back over 70 years.  What gets my mind wondering is the Easter Lamb ‘cast-iron’ mold itself, a family heirloom that makes all this possible and the stories it holds.

As with all of us, family heritage is the cornerstone and foundation from which traditions, stories and values are born.  This can certainly be found in this family-owned Italian meat company recognized today as America’s oldest manufacturer of Italian cured meats.

John Volpi emigrated from Milan in 1900 with hopes and dreams to find his place and begin a new chapter of his story in America.  He is an artist and craftsman whose talents have blossomed by hard work and dedication necessary to become a ‘Master Salumieri’.  It has taken years honing the skills and talent necessary to understand and search out the perfect raw materials and establish definitive production methods.

Soon the dreams and ambitions of next generation embark on the journey to America, the nephew of John Volpi, Armando Pasetti.  Wide-eyed and energetic, Armando begins an apprenticeship to learn, understand and develop his own talents and skill set necessary to establish a foundation of his own in the family business.  Armando has dedicated his life and dreams to this business and still today holds true to the values and traditions of which it was born.

The third generation and daughter of Armando, Lorenza Pasetti became president of Volpi Foods in 2002.  Today you can find Armando holding down the fort at the Volpi deli, sharing stories of the past with the neighbor faithful, smiling and surely proud of his family and their traditions.

These thoughts of family, traditions and values always bring a smile to my face knowing I have a story just like the Volpi family……