Born in Cleto, Cosenza, Italy, brothers Armando and Pietro Milito fled from the war in January 1954, and joined their brother Federico in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. After three months, they decided to move to Ottawa.

Pietro and Armando were raised in a family whose legacy included passion for traditional and authentic Italian food. Their vision to open their own restaurant started early when, Pietro at the age of 17, and Armando, 15, began working in the restaurant business.

In 1954, Pietro started working at the Lord Elgin Hotel and then decided to join his brother Armando at Locanda Taverne, owned by Paul Anka’s father, where he quickly became the head chef within six months. Armando developed his skills as a busboy and then became a waiter. He eventually moved on from Locanda Taverne to gain his formal expertise at La Touraine Restaurant, which, at the time, was one of the finest restaurants in Ottawa.

From 1960 to 1966, Pietro worked his way up to aid chef at the Red Door Restaurant in Ottawa. In 1966, he was assumed as chef to the R.A. Centre, where he remained until 1970. Later, he was transferred to the Sheraton Hotel where he prospered for two years.

Armando showed himself to be an entrepreneur at heart. At La Touraine Restaurant, he started out as a busboy, and then quickly climbed the ladder to a waiter, bartender and manager, all while learning the business of running a restaurant. As he discovered his love for people, good food and good wine, he left Ottawa and moved to New York in 1965 where he acquired most of his restaurant knowledge. Armando has more than a decade of experience working in New York restaurants where he has served many celebrities and dignitaries, including First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy.

In 1972, Pietro had become a partner of La Roma Restaurant, located at Bronson Avenue and Somerset Street. In no time, he made it one of the best restaurants in Ottawa, and was continuously cited for his creative culinary skills. In 1982, Armando returned to Ottawa to join his brother Pietro at La Roma Restaurant, where they started their long-lived partnership in the restaurant business.

La Strada Ristorante opened in November 1989. Pietro and Armando’s hard work, superior skills in the kitchen, and charming manners in the dining room, have led them to become very highly-respected in the Ottawa community. With a firmly established reputation, Pietro and Armando’s focus was to continue to offer superior service and mouth-watering menus for the enjoyment of their clientele.

Today, Pietro’s three sons, Carlo, Leonardo and Federico, now run the successful family restaurant, and are proud of what their father and uncle have accomplished.

With 20 years of service together, Pietro and Armando came to Canada with a dream, which has now become a living legacy shared and appreciated with the entire Ottawa community.

• 2010 Rinaldo Canonico
• 2009 Professor Antonino Mazza
  
• 2008 Dr. Giuseppe Pagliarello
  
• 2007 Cav. Pasqualina Adamo
  
• 2006 Ottawa Mayor Bob Chiarelli
  
• 2005 Bartolo Marinaro & Maria Pagliaro
  
• 2004 Emilio Falsetto & Luisa Fata
  
• 2003 Saverio Marrello & Raffaella Plastino

Festa della Madonna
Sunday, August 7, 2011
St. Anthony’s Church
427 Booth Street, Ottawa[VIEW MAP]