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In 2009, Silvia is celebrating 25 years in Enfield and 20 years of owning
Silvia's Restaurant. Silvia's story has been one
of hardship and triumph, from arriving as a homeless single mom to being invited to
the White House. There won't be room on this website page for all her
accomplishments so there will be links to prior months. We start with March's installment:
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Silvia Salvari arrived in Enfield in 1984 searching for a better live for herself and her
family. Coming to America and working with food were lifelong dreams she had
inherited from her late father. The family had built a thriving bakery in the
Moldavian town of Lespezi. Later the family moved to the Transylvanian
town of Hunnedora where her father worked in the state-owned bakery. Silvia followed her
father's advice and chose food as her profession. She managed a Romanian Market and
wrote a cookbook. Aided by a Pennsylvanian church group, she emigrated with her son and daughter.
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Friends from Romania had already settled in Enfield,
and found a room for Silvia and her son. Unfortunately the room had no heat or
electricity. Help from
the American
Baptist church
in Enfield and sheer determination eventually prevailed. Of
the difficult first years Silvia says: "Jesus Christ has protected us and sent his people to help
us".
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The first Silvia's Restaurant was in Suffield, the second is now
Thompsonville Bar & Grill.
There were several jobs before and between these restaurants, but Silvia's reputation took a huge
leap when the main location was on Pleasant Street. Silvia had her own cooking show on TV,
WTIC Channel 61. She won multiple Gold Medals at the National Chef's Tasting competition.
She was invited to the White House to interview for a job as a Chef.
A plaque from former Lt. Governor Jodi Rell reads: "In recognition
of your determination and hard work to achieve what others can only
dream about."
The April installment of this celebration will provide more information
about these competitions and awards.
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Silvia moved into the present 3500 square foot restaurant at
23 North Main Street in 2003. The property had been abandoned and had been
a church. A picture is on the left, it required extensive
renovation, all that is recognizable is the tree on the left. It might
have been less expensive to have built in the Enfield Mall area, but Silvia's
heart is in Thompsonville, she says: "I represent my town through this restaurant".
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The Town of Enfield has been trying to revitalize this section of
Thompsonville and has largely succeeded. The North Main street area is
clean and safe. The dam for Freshwater Pond was rebuilt a few years ago, and the
pond, directly across the street, is a perfect place for an after dinner walk.
( Since Silvia's portions are so generous, an after dinner walk is very welcome.) Silvia has
been active in the Thompsonville section of Enfield. Whether it has been cooking
lessons for young adults or food for the hungry and homeless, Silvia has done
her part. The Enfield Press wrote in it's February 4th, 1993
edition: "... no business has done more to put revitalized Thompsonville
back on the map." That commitment continues, a homeless man
wandered in on February 22nd, at the end of Sunday Brunch. His clothes
were neat and clean and he was even wearing a tie but he was soaked from the
rain and rail thin. He got some strong advice from Silvia about
using an umbrella and a place at the table with a full plate.
I am going to switch to a "first person" writing style for a moment. I have had
the pleasure of rebuilding Silvia's website, since September. She continues
to surprise me, it has been an honor to work for her. I will finish this
month's installment with a picture of Silvia on the White House steps. We in
Enfield were fortunate that President and Hillary Clinton did not choose Silvia as the White
House Chef, we would have lost a treasure in Enfield. Please revisit this page in April
for next month's installment.
Donald Peters
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