Branford's Newest Nonagenarian

Family and friends of Luigi “Gino” Riccitelli gathered at Saltbrick Prime Steakhouse this past Sunday to celebrate his newest title: nonagenarian. That’s a seldom used vocabulary word, since so few reach the 90-year milestone.

It wasn’t a surprise party: Luigi knew he would be the center of attention and was thrilled to accept all of the well-deserved accolades. In between toasts, invited guests feasted on a custom menu prepared for the celebration, which was the first banquet event to be held on site since the restaurant’s ribbon-cutting on June 27. (Saltbrick’s identity under prior ownership was Donovan’s Reef’s Sonar Room).

To keep the gathering vibrant, Connecticut-based magician, David Reed-Brown circulated the room performing sleight-of-hand tricks before performing a post-dinner show engaging guest participation and enthralling the children. Not to be outdone, Gino followed-up David’s ovation by telling a few spicy jokes from his vast repertoire before blowing out his birthday candles with urgent gusto.

The celebration was hosted by Luigi’s son, Claudio, so the choice of restaurant was easy because Claudio has spent this past year as the lead contractor renovating Saltbrick (and its related eatery, Lockworks Tavern) located on Main Street in Branford. As two of the investors, Claudio and Stephen Goglia were eager to test Saltbrick’s staff (led by Operating Manager Joseph Goglia) with the challenge of staging a large, private daytime event, then flipping the setting back for its nighttime duties as a dining room that serves up to 120 patrons. Chef Alex Cabrera’s kitchen team already works double-duty to simultaneously service the menu for Lockworks Tavern, which seats 109 patrons so this test case assures that private banquet bookings are certainly feasible in Saltbrick’s future, albeit on a limited basis to prioritize public access to the restaurant.

During Luigi’s birthday party, a Sinatra-themed playlist softly streamed in the background with decorations in black, gold and cream sprinkled on the setting which complimented the restaurant’s cow-hide accents. The large central tree was festooned with balloons and mylar silver stars. Party favors given to the attendees were slate coasters which were laser-etched with Scripture passages about aging; a nod to Luigi’s lifelong profession as a tile setting mechanic and the family’s Catholic roots. These coasters were made by his daughter-in-law, Stony Creek artist Barbara Lucas who has crafted decorative installations for both restaurants, keeping it all in the family.

Born in 1934 in Italy’s Caserta province, Luigi “Gino” is well known in town since he moved to Branford’s Indian Neck neighborhood in 1972 and is a familiar face at Planet Fitness, the Italian American Club and Saint John Bosco parish. Widowed last December when his wife Marie passed away, Gino has been challenged without his 64-year partner, so this celebration was a silver lining in a cloudy year and a touching tribute to a man who worked laboriously to support his family over the decades.

The party guest list was primarily limited to family. Luigi has a big family. While most guests were locals, some RSVP’d “YES” from Massachusetts and Maryland, including three of his grandsons and great-grandson, Luco.

At the event’s conclusion, Luigi was overheard promising guests that they are invited back to Saltbrick for his next big celebration - when he turns 100.