Susanne Boscarolo, owner of Ciao Baci, was born and raised in a small mountain village in Switzerland, where she says there was little crime and everyone knew each other. “We had a lot of freedom growing up. We walked to and from school and spent the winter months skiing. During summer break we would take road trips to the Italian Riviera. Gelato would make you forget the long, hot hours cramped in a small car.”
In the early ‘80s, Boscarolo left Switzerland to see the world. She moved to Norway, where she worked for an international cruise ship. Later, she accompanied her then-husband to Little Rock, as he had accepted a job at Jacques & Suzanne. In July 1985, the couple opened Ciao’s Italian Restaurant, and then in June 2001, Boscarolo opened her own restaurant, Ciao Baci, in Hillcrest.
She was scared, but she didn’t let fear oppress her. “Opening a new restaurant, or any business, for that matter, is always scary,” she says. “You put an idea and yourself out there and hope it is well received.”
And well received it was. Almost a decade later, Ciao Baci is still going strong. Boscarolo must be doing something right.
One thing we know for sure is her commitment to giving back to the community. She gets to use her restaurant expertise in more ways than one as co-chair of this year’s Corks & Forks: Eating Well, Doing Good, a restaurant tasting and wine pairing, which will be held from 6 to 9 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 30, and will benefit Potluck Food Rescue. She became involved with the organization years ago when Ciao Baci served food at the event, and she became a board member two years ago.
She was co-chair of Corks & Forks last year, so serving in that role this year is familiar territory. “I know most of the chefs, and I understand their food and what makes the best wine pairing.”
Established in 1989, Potluck Food Rescue’s mission is to “alleviate hunger by bridging the gap between excess food and the hungry.” According to their website, PotluckFoodRescue.org, more than 100,000 pounds of good, wholesome food is discarded daily in Pulaski County. In 2009, the organization rescued more than 4.5 million pounds of a wide variety of food from restaurants, hospitals, caterers, farmers, farmers’ markets, corporate cafeterias, specialty food stores, bakeries, dairies, schools, wholesalers and more.
The food is collected by Potluck’s trucks and distributed for free to a number of locations and programs, including Kids’ Pantry sites, soup kitchens, day centers for seniors and veterans, homeless shelters, women’s shelters and food pantries.
Corks & Forks is the organization’s largest fundraiser, and the proceeds it yields are necessary to fulfill the organization’s mission. “Support from this event helps us keep our trucks on the road, picking up good food and getting it into the hands of those who need it most,” Boscarolo says. “Potluck helps feed more than 6,700 individuals a week.”
“I’m very passionate about Potluck because, without this great organization, so much food would go to waste,” she says. “We constantly find new food donors and pick up nutritious food seven days a week. We also organize workshops for parents to teach them how to make healthy food on a budget. No child or adult should have to go hungry in our land of plenty.”
Food for Thought
Soirée: What’s the hardest thing about running a restaurant? The most enjoyable?
Susanne Boscarolo: You never know what’s going to happen on any given day. Also, there is always something that needs to be done or improved upon. You’re constantly looking at how to make things better and come up with new ideas that your guests will enjoy. The best is to have happy customers that come back again
and again.
Typical day?
I work out if it’s not 100 degrees outside. I love to run the River Trail or climb Pinnacle Mountain. I have breakfast, tend to my herb garden, do paperwork, check on the restaurant, meet with my chef to discuss specials, etc. I like to go to the River Market to check on local produce, might have lunch with a friend, open up at 4 p.m. and close at 2 a.m. I’m, of course, not always there till closing; I have a wonderful staff!
Family?
My daughter, Laura, was born and grew up here. She just received her MBA from the University of Las Vegas. She comes back when she can, and I like to visit her there! My Baci team and great group of friends are just like family. I have my parents, two sisters and one brother who live in Switzerland. I am very fortunate to have the best of both worlds.
How many hours a week do you work?
There is never a set number of hours; we are open six days a week, and I’m there most of the time.
When you’re not working, where do you like to eat?
I like Sushi Café, The Pantry…too many to name. Little Rock has a great selection of outstanding restaurants.