ITALIANS OF WOLLONGONG: ALCIDE GIULIANI

Alcide Giuliani arrived in Australia, December 1st, 1969 and he was 26 years old. Alcide was a fitter and turner by trade. He headed straight to Stanmore, Sydney, NSW, where he got a job for three months. He initially stayed with an Italian family as he didn`t speak any English, but that only last two weeks. He then moved and boarded with a friend above the Tre Venezie restaurant.

After he finished with his job in Stanmore, he headed to Wollongong. Alcide, had never even heard of Wollongong but took a chance to move forward and try something new. He managed to get a job as a labourer with Transfield, who were an Italian construction company.

After about two months, one of his work colleagues taught Alcide how to weld. They would do this during his lunch break, using scrap pieces of metal. Alcide would eat his lunch as quick so he could to practice welding. After several months he became quite adept, and his employment role changed from labourer to welder.

He worked for Transfield for approximately two years. He lived on site in their camp where the employees were housed and fed. After two years he got another job as a welder with EPT, who were also an Italian construction company.

In 1972 he met Diana Bresolin. Soon they married and moved in together with Diana`s parents, Candida and Giovanni. After the birth of their first child David, and whilst working with EPT, he went to Georgetown, Tasmania for a 3 month work contract. One night he went out looking for something to eat. He found a small pizzeria called Roma Pizza Bar, run by Italian man Vic Ventura. Roma Pizza Bar was a small pizza restaurant in Georgetown that sold pizza in 3 different sizes as well as chicken and roasted potatoes. Serving both in the restaurant and takeaway.

Alcide became friendly with Vic who was in desperate need of help. Back when Alcide was a young boy growing up in Rome, his family lived across the road from a small restaurant. Alcide would often help out in the restaurant doing all sorts of jobs such as cleaning, tidying and making pizza bases on a small scale. Alcide decided to help Vic at his pizzeria, but this was a lot different to what he had done as a young boy. This was working with large volumes of flour and with a large mixer. Alcide adapted quickly and worked at the pizzeria at night whilst doing his contracted work with EPT during the day. At the end of the three months, Vic offered Alcide the option of buying the business and he could live upstairs with his family. He discussed it with Diana, but she declined as all her family were in Wollongong and she didn’t want to leave them.

When Alcide came back to Wollongong he got a part time job at night for Primo Gaggero, who owned a pizzeria in downtown Wollongong (ironically called Pizza Roma), opposite the Oxford Hotel. Alcide worked part time at Pizza Roma for approximately 12 months and decided to finish up with EPT and went full time as a Pizza Chef.

Primo Gaggero purchased a mixed business/takeaway shop in Dapto in 1976 and Alcide ran the business. Diana was helping out in the kitchen and the whole family were living in the house at the back. Due to not having the correct regulatory licence/permit, after 7 months the shop was closed down. Alcide went back to Pizza Roma in Wollongong for about 2 - 3 months. During their time at the Dapto store, Alcide and Diana purchased their first home in Kanahooka and the family moved in.

Primo then found an empty shop in Dapto. He opened the shop as Pizza Roma and once again Alcide was running the restaurant. Diana was still helping, even though she now had two children. After 12 months Primo Gaggero sold it.

Pizza Roma then opened a shop in Warilla. It was a family restaurant, and it was a good business that was running well. Diana again would help working along side Alcide running the pizzeria. They served trattoria style meals such as pasta, schnitzel, simple homestyle foods, desserts and cappuccino. After 12 months Alcide and Diana decide to move on.

In 1978, Alcide and his brother in-law opened a new pizza restaurant called Giulio. Again in Dapto, this time across the road from the Dapto Showground, on the Princes Highway. Diana, Candida ( Diana’s mother) who was a great cook, worked along side Alcide and his brother in-law and Giulio Pizzeria was a great success. They not only provided pizza but the menu consisted of homestyle trattoria meals. Eat in and takeaway. After approximately 5 years Giulio was sold. Alcide never took the name with him.

After a few months break, he approached a friend who used to work with him at Pizza Roma in Wollongong and suggested that they go into partnership together. They found a shop in Windang, on the Princes Highway, and called it Pinocchio. Everything was ready and they were still waiting for the restaurant furniture to arrive. Scheduled to open around Easter, 1983, the suppliers for the furniture were on their Easter break, unbeknown to Alcide. Even thought the furniture was ordered before the break, it wasn’t going to be delivered till after.

With no restaurant furniture, they decided to open anyway, hoping that the takeaway would get them through. People came into Pinocchio ready to dine but with nowhere to sit. Alcide apologised for the inconvenience, but suggested that they could sit on the floor. With the jukebox on, people sat on the floor with their backs to the wall, and had a great time eating pizza and listening to the music. The furniture arrived a short time later.

After two years, Alcide`s partner left and one year later, Alcide sold Pinocchio and moved on and after a short break he was ready to go again. Alcide and Diana now had three children.

In 1987, Alcide`s friend, Italo Corredatti, who used to work at the Capri Restaurant in Port Kembla, wanted to open his own restaurant and began preparations for a fit out, in an empty shop in Cowper Street, Warrawong. As time went by nothing much happened. Italo was struggling with his health and could no longer work. Alcide and Diana discussed it with Italo to take over the lease of the shop. Plans were put into council and Giuliani`s pizzeria/trattoria was born. Alcide and Diana`s first pizzeria/restaurant on their own.

Again, Diana was working alongside Alcide, as well as both her parents Candida and Giovanni, Giuliani`s was a great success. The children would often help out at the restaurant as they got older, and were keen to learn from the outset. Both Adriano and David would eventually run their own pizza restaurants. Giuliani`s ran for six years. It was a highly frequented pizzeria/restaurant. You would usually find the walls adorned with both restaurant and family photos, from current to years gone by, of all their restaurants over time.

In 1993 Giuliani was sold, and after a few months break, they started again. Alcide and his wife Diana had a knack of opening an establishment on the `quick`. They were not fazed at all and with their experience gained over time, they just got better at it.

This time they opened a pizzeria/restaurant in a pre-existing bistro at a Hotel/Pub in Bowral. The Hotel had suffered a loss of clientele over time, and it’s reputation had been tarnished. The new owner/licensee set out to rebrand, revamp and re-energize the hotel. Alcide went into partnership with a previous co-worker to open their pizzeria called Chianti. The hotel itself had a new lounge and piano bar.

On opening night of Chianti they invited many locals. The Mayor of Bowral attended along with other well known identities from the area. They served free pizza and drinks for the next three hours, and it was a huge hit. So many people attended and they loved the food. Alcide claims that Chianti, was the first restaurant to serve pizza in an Australian pub in NSW. Chianti was open for lunch and dinner but with the drive up to Bowral everyday, it became difficult at times, especially with a family. After being open for just over 12 months, Chianti was sold and Alcide moved on.

Alcide then saw a site at Fairy Meadow on the Princes Highway. It was an old service station that had been transformed into a takeaway/diner, selling fast food chicken menu meals. Alcide, along with a friend, purchased the business and the property. Together they opened a new pizzeria/trattoria called Costa Azzurra. The pizzeria could seat 60 people. They had outdoor seating, but with no cover. After a short time, they built a covered verandah for their outdoor diners. Costa Azzurra offered pizza and trattoria style meals with B.Y.O. After 4 years Alcide ended his partnership at Costa Azzurra. Candida was full time at Costa Azzura and after the sale of the restaurant, finally retired.

Alcide and Diana had a well earned break and after doing a stint at the Balgownie Hotel bistro, they contemplated opening again and saw a small shop for sale/lease in Balgownie Road. It was in a row of three and had previously been a restaurant/takeway shop with about 5 dining tables. It really was tiny.

A bit reluctant at first, but the bug bit and they decided to go again. It was now 1999 and IL NIDO was born. By this time, son Adrian was also working part time with Alcide. With the amount of customers that were coming to IL NIDO, the restaurant was not able to accommodate. They ended up purchasing the shop next door to extend the space. Within two years they purchased the third shop and son Adrian became a partner and IL NIDO was fully licensed. Daughter Romina also had a role at IL NIDO. Romina was working full time, but always worked her schedule to be able to help out at the pizzeria. Having gained much knowledge over time, Romina would work both in the kitchen and on the floor.

Their first born son David had left NSW by this time and had been living in Townsville, Queensland, for a number of years. In 2010 David opened his own pizzeria/trattoria and ran it for two years.

In 2017 Adrian took over the running of IL NIDO. IL NIDO was doing well. They would soon open a new establishment at Thirroul called CIN CIN. In 2017 Alcide and Diana were the dynamic duo running the Thirroul pizzeria. With both establishments doing well, they were all incredibly busy.

The year 2020 saw the beginning of the Covid pandemic, and through it all both establishments still managed. Romina and both of her children, son Zander and daughter Danai, were helping out in the pizza restaurants. It was also the year that Adrian purchased a pizza truck. Due to Covid restrictions he was able to take the truck out on the road and deliver straight to customers. Purchasing the truck turned out to be a good decision, especially once restrictions were eased. They were able to do weddings, parties and other events. The pizza truck with it’s wood fired oven could cook a pizza in 3 minutes. Depending on the size of the event, usually two people ran the pizza truck. Larger events may have required a third person. Romina and Zander help out at the events with the pizza truck. They assist with the catering and preparation. Danai works at IL NIDO two to three nights per week, whilst still attending school.

In 2022, after 5 years, Cin Cin, was sold. The also took the name with them. No sooner had the pizzeria sold, that they found a new establishment within a week! It was another pre existing eatery, with a recently refurbished (but small) kitchen. Alcide put in a new pizza oven and soon Cin Cin at Gwynneville, would be up and running. Since opening IL NIDO, Alcide began using Moretti electric pizza ovens. They are double decker and can cook 18 pizza`s at once.

Cin Cin is a licensed pizzeria/trattoria that serves pizza, pasta, risotto, trattoria style main meals, antipasti, side dishes and desserts. Cin Cin also offers takeaway meals including family meal deals. It is a charming and cozy eatery. The food is fresh, the establishment inviting, all in a family friendly atmosphere. Daughter Romina, is back on deck as an all rounder, working the floor, helping out in the kitchen, customer service with pizza making becoming more of her role. I met Romina`s son Zander, who was helping Nonno Alcide make the pizza bases ready for the night`s service. A delightful young boy who is in his first year at high school and who is mature with a lovely nature. He told me he likes making pizza and working along side his Nonno.

So now they have the possibility of a third generation pizza chef in the family. It is truly wonderful to see that children still find the joy in learning off their elders. By the way, Zander, when I asked him if he wanted to be a pizza chef, said that one day he really wants to drive a truck, just like his dad!

Alcide and Diana said that they really wanted to thank all their lovely customers from over the years. They have met so many people and made many friends. Alcide also mentions that he has customers who have stayed with him for a long time, with one couple, from Kiama, following for 40 years!

Alcide Giuliani has been a pizzaiolo for 47 years and counting. Diana has been working along side him for much of that time, with her mother Candida also having an important role and the whole family working in their restaurants along the way. Wollongong now has quite a wonderful selection of Italian pizzeria restaurants. I think it’s fair to say that most of the local people are glad that they are here!