Chatham Eatery To Serve Up Smiles While Supporting Special Needs

CHATHAM, NJ - The final inspections are underway, interviews to hire staff have begun and soon the Bellas family dream of opening a restaurant that supports the special needs community in the heart of Chatham will become a reality when Sorriso Kitchen opens to patrons at 252 Main Street.

For the Bellas family, husband and wife Jimmy and Karen and sons LJ and Nico, the opening of this particular eatery is a true passion project that is in the blood.

"My husband grew up in the restaurant business. We actually met by me walking into his place on Long Island over 20 years ago. He sold it when we married and talked about starting a family," Karen Bellas said. "But I always felt that someday we'd be back, it's in his blood I suppose. It also seems to be in our 14-year-old son, Nico's blood as well. He's pushed us for some time to open a restaurant after listening to stories about the family business since the boys were tiny."

But it was their other son, LJ, a 17-year-old born with Down Syndrome that really brought the concept of Sorriso Kitchen into focus.

"We always talked about perhaps someday opening a little place where the boys could work--where we all could work as a family," Bellas said. "It was important to us that LJ to be employed in a safe environment and be respected while being a part of the community."

And that is what sets Sorriso Kitchen apart from other restaurants. On Mondays Sorriso Kitchen will provide an opportunity to train young adults with special needs as it will be used as a "classroom" for education in service and hospitality.

"It dawned on us, why don't we offer it up to LJ's school to use as a 'classroom' for some real-life job training? This excited us as yet another reason appeared for why we had to open Sorriso," Bellas said. "We presented the idea to ECLC (Education, Careers & Lifelong Community) and needless to say they were thrilled. We will be meeting with them to plan a curriculum which we expect to begin early 2019."

According to Bellas, the stars all aligned in the spring and the family decided to take the plunge, but the decision did not come without trepidation.

"I did not grow up in the business, the idea of being open seven days a week scared me a bit and because we are still raising our two boys, I convinced my husband Jimmy to close one day a week. We decided that would be Monday," Bellas said. "And serving only breakfast and lunch allows to continue to have dinner at home together as a family."

Currently the plan is to be open Tuesday through Sunday from 7 a.m. through 3 p.m.

"LJ and Nico will work weekends and summers and Jimmy and I will be there daily along with our talented Chef Ryan Chatfield," Bellas said.

According to Bellas, Chatfield is trained by the Culinary Institute of America and has been heaven sent for the family as the business plan develops.

"We want it to be a place where folks can come to feel good. The experience and the food. That is most important," Bellas said. "Our chef was the first to respond to our ad and the only one we had to interview. It was pretty remarkable how we found each other. He is very excited about our vision and passionate about what he can bring to it."

And of course the family is also raising awareness about acknowledging and supporting employment for the special needs community and how you can start with a simple idea and make a difference.

"It is our hope that others may follow by perhaps offering training in their businesses by giving a morning or afternoon a week so the students can be on premise for training. Maybe we'll expand into other communities eventually," Bellas said.

Bellas said the choice to open in Chatham was a no-brainer, because this is the place they've called home for nearly two decades. Bellas noted that she was pregnant with LJ when they moved to town, and didn't know that he would be a child with special needs.

"There has been tremendous resources and support here for us. We love this town and want to help give it a boost," Bellas said. "Sorriso Kitchen will hopefully be an example and inspiration to other businesses to do the same. And we live close enough to walk to the restaurant."

Bellas said that since they announced their plans to open the response from the community at large has been mindblowing.

"Folks have reacted with emotions ranging from thanking us, getting chills, tearing up, asking if they could hug us and offering anything they can do to help in getting us started," Bellas said. "We launched a Kickstarter Campaign in August and blew past our goal. The response had us speechless. We are so grateful."

Bellas said they commissioned the students at ECLC to print Kickstarter Rewards items like tote bags and T-shirts and the students are doing a wonderful job. As for what will be the best thing on the menu, Bellas said that will be up to the patrons to decide but their choices will be from a creative menu of farm fresh breakfast and lunch items, freshly baked bread goods from Balthazar Bakery, delicious coffee, cappuccino and espresso, fresh juices and a "fun children's menu."

Bellas attended the School of Visual Arts in NYC and received a BFA in advertising and brought her skillset to the design of Sorriso.

"Because of my training I've been able to be the creative force in everything for the restaurant. Designed the logo, all promo pieces, and interior and exterior," Bellas said. "Fingers crossed it come out looking good as it's the largest design project I've ever had."

Karen Bellas supplied the design and husband Jimmy the business acumen. Jimmy Bellas comes from a family of restaurant owners and has done stints at American Express, worked as a Manager of National Business Sales for Tiffany and Co. and Dean & DeLuca.

"Now he's full steam ahead with Sorriso. And loving it," Bellas said.

Bellas said son Nico, a Chatham High School student, is a Boy Scout in Troop 8, plays four instruments, clarinet, guitar, piano and playing sax presently in the CHS Marching Band. She said Nico wants Ryan to teach him how to cook and is pretty excited about it too. And as for LJ and his role?

"LJ is fortunately very high functioning and amazing with people. I always say he 'majors' in them. That and Bruno Mars, The Avengers and dogs," Bellas said. "He carried the water for The Chatham Rec Football Team for several seasons while Nico played, plays on the Chatham BuddyBall Baseball team, loves to swim, his good friends, and especially likes going out to eat. Simple pleasures. He keeps us in check."

Bellas said that as a parent with a special needs child you are even more concerned about the type of future your child will have. Opening this restaurant is the Bellas family way of helping secure that future for LJ and others.

"It feels gratifying to do something good in a time where so much seems wrong in the world," Bellas said.

Sorriso means "smile" in Italian and according to Bellas that is an homage to LJ.

"We wanted LJ's influence in the place. He has a way of making people feel good," Bellas said. "Our tag line is 'Eat Happy.'"

For more information visit www.sorrisokitchen.com

(Photos courtesy of Sorriso Kitchen)

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