Among all of the dishes on the table on holidays, birthdays, and other special occasions, my favorite was always my Grandma’s spaghetti and meatballs. I loved the meal so much that my parents would try to replicate it, and even had my Grandma come over to teach them to make it, but nobody could make it exactly like my Grandma did. 

            My Grandma was born in a tiny town outside of Dubrovnik, Croatia and moved to the United States when she was a young adult. Concurrently, my Grandpa (who we call Pop) was born hundreds of miles north in another part of Croatia, on the Istrian Peninsula. Pop came to the United States and began working in the restaurant business. Soon, my grandparents met and married and eventually, using Pop’s food experience, opened up a restaurant in Manhattan known as Mario’s Seafood. They operated the restaurant as a family business and the restaurant was an important part of the family for 40 years until he retired. 

            Today, my family is very proud of their entrepreneurial and hard-working roots and also very appreciative of quality family time, stemming from their experience owning a restaurant. My grandparents always shared their successful recipes with the family and food is very important at all of our family events. My Grandma always made sure I had my favorite meal whenever I saw her and even today, my Aunt continues the tradition by always making each of the kids’ favorite meals or appetizers at family events. 

– Paul Lubicich

Relationship:  Grandchild of im/migrant Grandchild of im/migrant