Yes, there is a Teresa behind Teresa Caffé.  Born Teresa Azario in Bergamo, Italy, her youth took her to Brazil where she met Raul Momo Marmonti - "è stato un colpo di fulmine."  In 1960, and newlywed, our parents came to the United States and settled in the Bronx.

Teresa always envisioned having her own caffé and her motivation was both romantic and practical:  our parents wanted all of their children to enjoy a better life and education and they worked tirelessly to make that happen. In the mid-1970s they opened a specialty food store – the very first Teresa Caffé.  Anyone who entered recognized Teresa's passion for life, devotion to fresh food, dedication to wholesome ingredients and perhaps most importantly her undying commitment to hospitality.

In 1982 we opened Teresa II in New Brunswick. By 1987 we had an outpost on Nassau Street. And in 1991, with the help of people who have been among our friends and patrons for nearly 3 decades, we opened our present location on Palmer Square.

Through it all, our mother, Teresa has been our inspiration. She taught us to find harmony between tradition and innovation. A cultured woman who speaks five languages, she lives happily on her farm in Chile and continues to inspire us. Just as she savors fresh flavors and natural ingredients that speak for themselves, so do we at Teresa Caffé. Every detail - from the olive oil to the wine, from the basil to the artwork - is in keeping with her sensibility.

For all of this, Teresa is as unassuming as she is passionate. To us, she is always here as we enter the caffé: quick with a hug, sometimes a loving reprimand, but forever watching for adherence to her commitment:  that every guest feel that "this visit" to Teresa Caffe will be the best one yet.