About Us
Emilia (Emily) Zecchino was born in Bari, Italy, in 1928 in the middle of a rampant depression. Her dad, looking for any kind of work, moved the family to Rome, then Trieste in Northern Italy, and finally in 1937 to Ethiopia in East Africa when it became an Italian colony. The few years of peace and prosperity the family enjoyed in that fabulous land were suddenly overtaken by the brutality and horrors of the beginning of World War II as it made its way across the continent.
In 1941, her dad was taken prisoner of war and spent five years in a concentration camp in Kenya while the rest of the family of five, leaving all their belongings behind, were also taken prisoner and sent back to Italy, in 1942, aboard one of the famous International Red Cross-sponsored "Navi Bianche"-a trip of 40 days that began in Mogadishou, rounded the Cape of Good Hope, and finally ended in Naples, Italy, while the war was raging in the Atlantic.
It was during the American troop's occupation of Italy that Emily met her G.I. husband and came to America as a War Bride in 1947. Landing first in New York City, she helped her husband run a grocery store in Flushing, Queens, for 20 years. She became a widow at 43 and moved with her 3 children to Hollywood, Florida, in 1972.
About Us
After a few attempts with business partners, at the ripe age of 55, and with an investment of only $1,000, Emily ventured on her own and opened “Holiday Caterers.” A few years later, she saw her company slowly evolve into a wholesale frozen food enterprise. She renamed the company “Holiday Foods” and risking losing even her own house, she seized the opportunity to apply for a $275,000 Small Business Loan and build a U.S.D.A. plant, manufacturing an upscale line of hors d'oeuvres, canapés, and center of the plate specialties, that she sold to several hotel chains, famous country clubs, and cruise lines through renowned distributors around the United States. At the new location the business expanded rapidly, and again, Emily applied for another $300,000 S.B.A. Loan. In peak seasons, Emily had as many as 200 employees on her payroll.
After 23 years of hard work and sacrifices (her daily routine required a 12 hour schedule, almost 6 days a week), Emily sold her company to the well-known Schwan Food Co. at a very “substantial” profit and retired at the “young” age of 78. Emily worked on her memoir for three years and now resides in Plantation, Florida, with her daughter Linda.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the most difficult part of writing the book?
My book is a biography. The most difficult part was going back in time and reliving the tragedies I have experienced during my lifetime.
Have you written any other books?
Not yet. But I do have one in mind I would like to start soon.
What do you find most difficult about writing?
The beginning of a chapter always gives me some kind of anxiety. I believe it has to flow smoothly from the preceding one and continue to develop interest, keeping the reader so engaged that he does not want to put the book down.
What do you find most enjoyable about writing?
It is so much easier for me to express myself in writing than in speaking. I do enjoy the ability to find words and sentences that best define my feelings on paper, because I can focus better on my thoughts.
Do you think your book has a message? If so, what is it?
My book is in essence a love letter to America. From beginning to end, I try to pull the reader into a narrative that would bring out the faith in God, the courage to risk all, the perseverance, and the hard work that became the fabric of my life. The main objective of my book is to illustrate how it is possible to achieve extraordinary success if you are willing to sacrifice immediate gratification for future rewards. Listen to that little voice within, and seize the opportunities that are available “ONLY IN AMERICA.”
