Authenticity in this day and age can be hard to come by. Even more so when it comes to food. Real cuisines that stem from their motherlands, are completely handmade, and are put together by bona fide owners, are rare. Luckily for Rosmarino, customers don’t have to second guess legitimacy.
Dario Pisoni, chef and owner of Rosamario in Newberg, Oregon, opened his establishment in 2019. His restaurant journey started on a farm out in the Newberg valley, but quickly moved into the city where more people could enjoy his handmade Italian food. Rosmarino resides in a small but homey building, where Italian folk music plays, savory food is served and customers are treated like family. Dario grew up in Northwest Italy, where his grandmother taught him to wield the instruments that live in a kitchen and how to make authentic Italian dishes. After meeting his wife, Dario decided it was time to bring his culture to Oregon and start his own business.
His restaurant contains your classic Italian dishes, from their bolognese, which takes seven hours to make, to their tiramisu, gnocchi and braised wild boar. Most of their recipes come directly from Dario’s grandmother, adding another touch of home and accurate Italian finesse to their business. Rosmarino is known for their five course wine pairing dinner, where chefs curate menus, explain their dishes and pair their food with delicious wine that is brought in from local wineries. “We like good food and we like good wine,” said Dario. “But we like people too.” One of his goals is to know and connect with every person that steps foot in his restaurant.
Dario also owns a deli that is about five minutes away from Rosmarino. All of their pasta is handmade at the deli in bulk which can take chefs up to three days to prepare. Everything that is sold in his restaurant is also sold in his deli, making it convenient for customers to buy the delicious food they consumed at Rosmarino.
To some, a 14-hour day is grueling, but to Dario, it is part of the job. All of his food is bought from local markets and sellers, and every dish is made from scratch. His famous gnocchi takes about two days to make, cutting and shaping the dough by hand, forming every sauce from small ingredients, cooking every piece of meat to absolute perfection and updating menus to switch up flavors. Rosmarino is the only true Italian restaurant for about 10-20 miles in Newberg, with a legitimate Italian feel due to its brick interior. Dario works on dishes first hand as the executive chef, with his wife and daughter serving at their restaurant and working in their deli. In Italy, food is a family business, with recipes being passed down for generations. Dario is upholding that tradition. “Our goal is to recreate the Italian experience,” said Dario. “Our cuisine is so unique.”
Down the line, Dario and his family want to open a food truck to expand the reach of their cuisines. Their mobile food would allow them to offer catering services to customers, wineries and vineyards that don’t have a full kitchen service.
Food and family are at the forefront of Dario’s mind, sharing his advanced knowledge with anyone who sets foot through his doors. “When people come in, we greet them with a smile and treat them like family,” said Dario. “They’re never just a number.”