Sitting with Chris Flocchini outside his full-service butcher shop is like sitting with a celebrity. Every few minutes, people wave and smile as they walk by. One customer even stopped to proclaim the prime rib they had from the shop was the best they’d ever tasted. Whether it be family, friends, or customers, the Flocchini family and, by extension, Armando & Sons in the Village at Rancharrah, does service right. Their presence and family-first, warm atmosphere extends far beyond blood, out to its employees, customers, and even passersby.
When you walk inside the self-proclaimed ‘old school, new school’ butcher shop, you’re immediately captivated. It’s the rich textures, the hanging marbled meat, artisanal packaging, and luxurious walnut floor. It’s a living Pinterest board, with inspiration from the craftsmen of South America, UK, Spain, Germany, Italy, Ireland, South America, and beyond.
“There’s a real respect for the art of butchery coming back,” says Chris, co-owner of Armando & Sons. “And an awareness and appreciation of where our food comes from.”
The place isn’t just a butcher shop, though, says Chris. It’s a place for family and friends, and where food’s purpose is to elevate each gathering.
It’s All In The Family
While Armando & Sons butcher and artisan food shop opened in Rancharrah Village in 2022, its been a long-realized path, carved through generations. From Chris’s grandfather, who immigrated from Italy, and his father, a regional cattle industry icon, the path to combine ranching, butchery, and a lifelong love of food and family culminated in the opening of Armando & Sons.
Chris originally pursued a career in real estate development, but the belief that quality food is an essential part of life, and his deep familial ties in tenderloins, lead him back to his roots. After much consideration and planning, he partnered with Eric Halstead, longtime local butcher, to open Armando & Sons. The shop is named after Armando Flocchini Sr., Chris’s grandfather, with reverence to the original patriarch of the Flocchini family. And, Armando Jr., Chris’s father (Bud), at 91-years-old can sometimes still be found working behind the counter.
The blood, sweat, and (although he didn’t confess, I’m assuming tears), has culminated into this upscale gathering place, this food-lovers mecca, where you can pick up dinner, or the specialty ingredients needed to become hostess of the year.
Holiday Decadence & Savory Simplicity
“The better the food, the better the gathering,” Chris says.
Growing up, Chris’s family gathered BIG for the holidays. Gatherings were often a potluck, chalked with a 40-lb turkey, all the traditional sides, large salads, JELLO made complete with dungenous crab and, a little unique to his family, raviolis for an appetizer. His great grandmother on his mom’s side, Nona Bisagno, would always craft her famous sauce.
“Raviolis were an absolute fixture during the holidays,” says Chris.
While the recipe itself is a family treasure, and cousins even compete who can make it the best, Chris was willing to share that porcini mushrooms and sausage is involved.
And that age-old question, does sugar belong in a tomato sauce? Chris would argue, just like his Northern Italian great grandmother, that it DOES NOT.
Armando & Sons carries a variety of items, carefully taste-tested and selected by Chris and his wife, Joanne. Amid shopping for specialty salts, quality cuts, a bottle of Italian red, or stinky cheeses, you can also grab a bite at their burger bar with beef, elk, Bavarian sausage, or bison, and complete with a brioche or pretzel-style bun.
Among quality food, shoppers will also find genuine care, just as you would hope to find around a family dinner table during the holidays.
Armando & Sons
7600 Rancharrah Parkway, Ste. 110, Reno
775-800-1911
Armandoandsons.com