People In Profile Fourth Quarter Kent County
A special thanks to all of our profile participants this issue. Get to know them here, check out their websites and follow them on social media. All linked here.
click on the magazine above to read the flip-thru version
Joe Garramone Junior
Chef/Owner Joe Garramone began his career at the young age of 12, working for his father in the kitchen of Roma. Over the years he has worked his way up and ultimately taken over Roma when his father, Giuseppe retired in 1999. Chef Joe prides himself on consistent, well-executed dishes. “Guests have been coming here for over 45 years and have an expectation. My goal is to exceed their expectations every time they visit.” Joe has elevated the Dover dining experience while still keeping the tradition his father created in 1973. Through the years, he has added his own signatures while still keeping the staples in place that started the business. In December of 2015, Joe along with his wife Kristin, developed a fresh twist to Roma; Sul Tempo. Sul Tempo Cocktail Lounge has already proven to be a risk worth taking. “Sul Tempo allows us to build our brand while maximizing space. Kristin and I worked night and day on this vision. Watching Sul Tempo develop, while elevating the dining experience at Roma has truly been my greatest accomplishment in this industry. When you find someone just as passionate in the experience, as well as the end result, the sky is the limit.” Joe uses the space to support local fundraisers, nonprofit organizations and other local outreach programs. Recently, Joe has worked with Meals on Wheels Delaware, Heart Association, and Habitat for Humanity, just to name a few. “I have the opportunity to give back to the community that has supported our family business for years.” Dover has found a winning combination.
Kristin Garramone
Kristin’s passion has always been hospitality. Kristin began her career in the hospitality industry at the age of 15. She was mentored by Chef Tom Hannum at the renowned Hotel DuPont. Starting in the commissary, she moved her way up through the DuPont kitchens and 3 years later entered the Culinary Program at Johnson and Wales in Rhode Island. After her time in Rhode Island, she returned to Dupont and continued building her career. She decided that to fully understand and appreciate all aspects of the industry she had to touch all of the pulses. Kristin spent the next four years bartending, waitressing and managing local eateries. Though she loved what she was doing, she missed the kitchen hustle, so back to the kitchens she went. Kristin has run some of our state’s staple upscale restaurants, including; Back Burner in Hockessin, 1717, Dome (Platinum Dining Group), River Rock Kitchen and holding her last culinary title as chef at the Dupont Country Club. After leaving the kitchens, Kristin has held titles of; Food and Beverage Manager, Director of Hospitality and also has traveled as a Regional Director of Food and Beverage. When husband Joe began discussing adding an upscale cocktail lounge to Roma, Kristin knew this was a winning combination. “We had a lot of work to do to get Sul Tempo opened while elevating the service in Roma. It has been by far the best, and most challenging experience of my life. Joe handles the food, and I handle the service and operation. We get each other and know the challenges of the other’s day-to-day. Our goals and expectations are the same, and we push each other to make that happen. We are each other’s biggest cheerleader, and to me, that is magic.” Both Kristin and Joe are extremely active when it comes to giving back. Kristin has been on the Sip and Savor Committee to support Meals on Wheels Delaware. The 2016 Heart Ball supporting the Heart Association was also another outlet that Kristin found she could help raise money and make a difference within the local community. “We have a venue that is perfect for helping to give back. We have to take advantage of every opportunity to help.” While loving the community and the business, Kristin and Joe always find time to reconnect on their boat, or running around playing with their three dogs; Cooper, Valia and Vincenzo (Vinny).
Matt Bacon
I had no idea the adventure that awaited me in that kitchen! Under the watchful eye of Executive Chef Joe Garramone, I started at the dish pan. After 11 years, at my home away from home, I am proud to serve as the Executive Sous Chef. My duties begin with being a productive member of a well-constructed team. As such, I do anything I can to make Roma the very best it can be; from helping new hires acclimate to the rigors of the kitchen, to assisting Chef Joe in any way that I can. My specific duties are to execute the grilling, frying, and broiling of food, as well as shift among cooking stations as needed to complete orders. I especially enjoy plating the food and am passionate about making the dishes look amazing.
The kitchen at Roma is my life. My immediate goal is to learn as much as possible every single day to improve my skills and develop my technique. I would eventually like to see myself in an executive chef role. Down the road, I would even like to be an owner and chef, like my respected mentor, Joe. I now see myself as a mentor for the younger, newer members of our team. I want them to learn the art of responding to difficult situations in a way that is helpful. My goal is always to motivate and inspire them – and I love to see them grow into their own role on our team.
I take great pride in what I do. I want every customer to have a wonderful experience and want to return repeatedly. This industry is very different from many in terms of what makes a person successful. The “heat” of a professional kitchen is a challenging atmosphere and can be stressful at times. I work hard to always keep a cool head, take my time, and manage my emotions. I want every part of what I do, to be done well and executed correctly. In addition to preparing high quality food and being a good team member, I take all of my responsibilities seriously.
I love to have opportunities to give back to the community, working at Roma’s I am often involved in community service giving back to the people that support Roma.
I am passionate about doing things the right way and I love it when people teach me to look at situations from all different perspectives. I place a high priority on learning new things every day – I even still learn things from my mom! I appreciate everything that Joe and Kristin have done for me, as they have advised and guided me over the years.
The three things that I am most passionate about in life are my son Matthew Jr., born 1/19/2024, cooking amazing food and taking care of my two dogs Griffin and Beatrice.
To Our Location
We would like to thank Kristin & Joe Garramone, Jr., owners of Roma Restaurant for hosting our Kent County profile and cover photoshoot. Roma Restaurant is a perfect interpretation of a classic, upscale Italian Eatery. Opening their doors for the first time in 1973, Giuseppe Garramone brought a wealth of knowledge regarding food and business to Dover, Delaware. Initially opening as a casual pizzeria, Roma evolved quickly into the premier special occasion, white linen eatery it has continued to be given various awards and accolades for through the years.
Roma Italian Restaurant Sul Tempo Cocktail Lounge
302-678-1041 www.RomaDover.com 3 President Drive, Dover, Delaware
Follow them @sul_roma_dover on instagram & @romadover on facebook
Thank You To Our Photographer
I would like to thank Debra Zeccola of Debra Zeccola Photography of Newark, DE for being our photographer for our profiles and covers photoshoot. Debra has over 28 years of experience as a licensed professional photographer. Debra provides her clients with outstanding photography services for weddings and events, family and individual portraits, baby photos ,and so much more. Debra is a joy to work with, and I couldn’t ask for a more professional photographer than Debra.
Debra Zeccola Photography 302-540-5800 @ZeccolaPhoto on facebook
[email protected] www.debrazeccolaphotography.com
