by Melody and Chef Giacomo Dresseno

Well one of newest changes at Chef Giacomo’s Primavera Restaurant is that this was the first year we allowed ourselves a brief vacation and closed down for some much needed renovations.

New carpet, moved things around to make it more comfortable for our customers. Painted the walls and ceiling. Put up wallpaper, moved the entrance, put in new doors, reupholstered the chairs. So many improvements that I can’t list them all so you will just have to drop by and see if you approve.

Since launching afternoon cooking classes last summer, Chef Giacomo has found that they have grown in popularity. “A lot of people have asked if we could have some early evening cooking classes so that their spouse and friends who had to work could join them. Evening Cooking Classes are now a special event at Primavera Restaurant and we will notify you as to the dates and  times on our opening pages. Reservations are required.

Guests will sample all the featured dishes and wines during the  class with coffee and soda service. Price is $50 all inclusive. The format will be similar to the afternoon cooking classes which will continue to take place on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month. Call (954) 564.6363 for further details. Check here for the details on the web site.

A Hot New Trend
A new trend in wine service is a Half Bottle which contains two glasses of wine. “We have over 30 bottles of wine from our Half Bottle wine list” said Chef Giacomo. “This gives our guests, who prefer just a glass of wine with dinner, a greater selection of white or red wines, without the expense of two full bottles.”

Primavera is a special place to hold your small business and corporate dinners or  wedding parties in our private banquet facility.
Call (954) 564.6363

The Oakland Park/Wilton Manor Chamber of Commerce named Primavera’s Chef/Owner Giacomo Dresseno and Bill Swartzbach, Chef/Manager of By Word of Mouth Restaurant as the recipients of their 2001 Small Business Person of the Year Award. In his opening remark at the awards presentation, with honorees from 17 Chambers, Steve Queior, the  Chair of the Broward County Council of Chambers, emphasized the importance of small business to the fabric of the American free enterprise system. “These brilliant chefs, not only run two of the most successful award-winning restaurants in South Florida, but they are active in their community and chamber” according to Jim Stork, President of the Oakland Park/Wilton Manors Chamber.

After 17 award winning years of food and service, Chef Giacomo has created a totally new summer menu to provide greater value and selection of more light entrees. “We have kept the popular favorites and streamlined the menu to make it more attractive to our summer guests” Chef Giacomo said. “With nightly specials, there are more than enough choices for people to come back often during the summer.” The new menu can be viewed here on the web site.

Saxophonist/Pianist/Clairnet: Marcos Campos plays jazz and  contemporary Latin music on ‘Special Ocassions’. His extensive musical talents have made him a weekend favorite at Primavera. The theme  music on the site was written, composed and sequenced by Marcos and is entitled Primavera. We are encouraging him to make his talent available to others and to write more themes for other web sites.

Shirley Dominguez is on tour for the Radisson Cruise Lines. She’ll return periodically through the year. You can visit her web site by clicking here.

We have been adding many photos to our Gallery of customers. Brian Dennehy, actor and Tony Award winner was the most recent. Photos from the cooking classes and mouth watering photos of Chef Giacomo’s spectacular dishes. Many of these are created in the Cooking Classes. We invite you to attend the cooking classes. We will be featuring many recipes from the A Taste of Primavera cook book which we will post here when available.