Great Grandmother Nonnie Would Be Proud

It was either karma or a bit of old Italian luck that brought Dominique Frione and Karen Spina together at odd times over the years.

They kept running into each other while the two, both registered nurses, worked together or saw each other around the Hill section of New Haven.

"We always liked each other," said Frione, who many years later lives in Clinton with her husband and son.

Spina, who now resides in Madison with her family, ran into Frione again about a year ago at a big gathering.

Old friends, new cousins open business

"You know Karen is your cousin through marriage," said one of Frione's aunts.

And thus the friends turned into cousins. And what do old friends and new cousins do? They open a business together.

Thus began Two Cousins Biscotti, LLC. Frione's great-grandmother Nonnie, from Amalfi, Italy, is their proud mascot/logo. They sell a variety of products available in local stores (see list below), and online (link below). Online offerings include a brightly wrapped holiday box for $12.

"I felt as if no one is making the traditional Italian biscotti anymore and keeping the old traditions alive," said Frione.

Real, fresh ingredients

Just under a year ago, the two rented a small space on Route 81 in Clinton for their wholesale bakery. The light and bright yellow kitchen holds their ovens, mixers, refrigerator, workspace and most important - a coffee maker.

They make old-fashioned, all-natural biscotti with no preservatives or artificial anything.  They hand zest the lemons and add real, fresh ingredients.

Their "traditional" biscotti contains pistachios, almonds and cranberries. The sweet lemon pepper has Grand Marnier, lemon zest and crushed pepper - a delightful combination. There's also a chocolate cherry almond, anise and lemon, and cinnamon sugar with cloves and almonds.

A welcome boost from SCORE

Baking is their specialty. Frione said they received a welcome boost from SCORE, the non-profit organization that helps business owners who are starting out, stuck in the middle, or failing.

"They were like mentors to us," said Frione. Not only is the service free, but they helped Frione and Spina develop a business plan, itemize the cost of all items, formulate a projected sales plan, etc.

Their shop behind and adjacent to on Killingworth Turnpike is their wholesale space. You cannot purchase biscotti from this location.

Where to buy Two Cousins Biscotti

Where you can purchase the Two Cousins Biscotti, LLC offerings is at the following stores and online at their website.

Clinton:

Saldamarco's Deli

Ceniccola's Pizza

Killingworth/Haddam:

The Cooking Company

Madison:

Bradley & Wall

Country Deli

Guilford:

Forte's Gourmet Foods

Guilford Food Center

Old Saybrook:

Fromage Cheese

Centerbrook:

Centerbrook Cheese Shop

Chester:

The Local Beet

Old Lyme:

Coffee's Country Deli

Essex:

Olive Oyl's

Branford:

Caron's Corner

New Haven:

Amarante's Sea Cliff Inn

P and M Deli

Romeo and Cezar's Deli

Edge of the Woods

Hamden:

Sapora's

Milford:

Villa Gourmet

Wallingford:

Villa Capri

Danbury:

Roma's Italian Deli and Catering

Mercedez Benz of Danbury

Niantic:

Natural Food Center

Middletown:

South Side Market and Catering

Publics Market and Catering

Waterbury:

Cavallo's Italian Deli

How easy was it for Frione and Spina to market their biscotti to all those shops and locations?

"Just taste it," said Frione, offering up a plate of biscotti. "They are made from the heart."