Dear Restaurateur,
My name is Debra Agnoletti and I am co-owner of Sole Mio in downtown Nashville. Last summer, I started working with Melissa on a project that incorporated fresh, local ingredients on our menu. I gave her direct access to our executive chef, Sheena Brooks, so that they could customize our local selections to fit our “Real Italian Cuisine” concept. She was very diligent at communicating our needs with the farmers and artisans and then bringing a great selection of meats, cheeses, desserts and produce for our approval. One of our initial problems was finding veal that not only tasted good, but was humanely raised. The day she brought the Rose Veal from Porter Road Butcher back for us to sample was the day that I knew she was seriously connected with the farm to table movement. I am a vegetarian, so I relied on my management staff for feedback. My manager at the time had a big smile on his face as he exclaimed “Oh that is the best veal I have ever tasted!” She kept thanking me for the opportunity I had given her with Corbin In The Dell. I knew she had this gift for connecting people and their craft! Sure, I had given her a unique opportunity, but she brought to the Sole Mio table a whole new way of thinking about where our food comes from! We would have never had the time to reach out to all of the people she has introduced us to. Corbin In The Dell helped us build those new relationships with our local farmers and artisans.
Corbin In The Dell has also been our social media content manager since October of last year. I am very pleased with the increase in followers we have experienced and the level of authenticity she has leant to our Sole Mio brand. She has kept a clear and distinct strategy throughout this project. Now she is equipping us with the tools we need to move forward on our own. As we have been working on our 2013 strategy, Melissa reminds me of her two objectives. As she put it, “To do right by me and to keep Sole Mio’s brand and message pure.” I am thankful for her integrity and am proud to have been her start in the world of Corbin In The Dell.
It is quite worthwhile to incorporate local food into your menu. The dialogue that comes with this process is a great branding tool as well. You cannot go wrong with Corbin In The Dell!
Sincerely,
Debra Agnoletti
Co-Owner of Sole Mio