For the past 20 years, I’ve lived, worked, married and raised a family in New Mexico – The U.S. Southwest – a breathtaking, awe-inspiring place.

But I have moments when I miss Home.

Home for me is New York. Long Island and Brooklyn, specifically.

I feel the Pull from Both the Ocean of Fire Island…

And the Cathedral-like Brooklyn Bridge in my old neighborhood.

I loved living in Totally Cool, Historic Brooklyn Brownstones.

Both Long Island and Brooklyn are Iconic New York Spots that Call to Me.

So When the Homesick Bug Bites and We can’t hop on a plane to Brooklyn…

I either watch “Moonstruck”…

Or We grab a quick lunch at Mario’s.

Mario’s has the Warmest Wait Staff…

And it’s the only place in town that serves Angel Hair Pasta with a Mama Mia Sized Meatball. One of these Babies could be a Whole Meal.

Or the Very Brooklyn Hot Pastrami on Rye with Pasta and a Kosher Dill.

I learned that there really is a Mario. And Our Paths from New York to New Mexico are Strikingly Similar…

First generation Sicilian-Americans, Mario and Anna Bugarello immigrated to America in 1949 and settled in the Knickerbocker area of Brooklyn. For several years Mario worked as a pizza maker until he opened his first pizza place in 1965 in Queens, New York.

In 1972 a family vacation to Albuquerque reminded Mario and Anna of the climate of Sicily and they moved their family from Brooklyn to New Mexico. Mario and Anna opened different pizza restaurants throughout Albuquerque serving Mama Anna’s Made-from-Scratch old family Sicilian recipes.

Mario and Anna have grown an Empire in Albuquerque.

And Never Looked Back. And that’s a Great Thing for Albuquerque.

But Maybe if They Should Find Themselves Missing Brooklyn….

And the Pull Gets Too Strong and can’t be quenched with Gelato…

They Need to remember that the Warmth of New York will Embrace Them…

With Loud Intense Love and a Side Order of Crazy Cannoli.

Thank You Mario’s for the Magic!