I suppose I could get into major trouble for doing this...but I took this article off the White Bear Press site. I am in no way crediting myself for this article.
I just thought I was really fun to see a picture of my baby brother Aaron and an article about what he did. He is going to have his 15 minutes of fame. "Well, done brother!" (he's the one in the blue shirt!)
My parents are friends of the Donatelle's and we have been going to their restaurant since before I can remember! Their food is wonderful...pizza to die for! I even remember my parents threw me a surprise party there when I turned 12!
Food Channel host Guy Fieri was in White Bear Lake to film at Donatelli’s with owners Trish Appleby and Steve Donatelle. The restaurant will be featured on the show "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" this fall. — Submitted photo
Donatelli's not your average 'Diner, Drive-in or Dive'
Jun 25, 2008 - 10:19:34 CDT.
by Mike Morgan Staff WriterWHITE BEAR LAKE — Donatelli's soon will be known far outside its loyal local customer base.The restaurant is being featured on "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," a Food Channel program. A crew from the show was in town recently for two days of nearly constant filming.It all started when a former local resident now working as a producer on the show was in town eating at Donnatelli's — as she often had growing up.Thinking the establishment would fit the show, she sought out Trish Appleby, one of the restaurant's operators who was working at the time.Appleby later spent a few hours talking on the phone with another producer describing Donatelli's independent nature.
She learned that the "Diners" series focuses on independent restaurants that make a sizable portion of their offerings from scratch.Additionally, the show only features restaurants that are one-of-a-kind and aren't looking to expand into chains, Appleby said.The criteria fit perfect with Donatelli's. It's been open for decades and makes its own Italian cuisine originally derived from owner Steve Donatelle's family recipes, said Trish, his wife, who goes by the last name Appleby.
In fact, Donatelli's opened as a pizza place in 1979 and has stayed with one owner ever since. It attracts longtime employees and regular customers, some of whom have been going long enough that staff members are meeting their grandchildren.The ever-changing menu of homemade food, along with a few signature dishes, impressed the show's makers.
The amount of food the staff makes each day impressed the crew as well, said Appleby.The show's host, Guy Fieri, watched longtime cooks Aaron Liedl and Jessica Kissell create the restaurant's pasta, sausage, pizza, meat balls and other Italian cuisine.
In all, the film crew shot footage from 8 a.m. to midnight June 1 and 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 3. They interviewed staff members and customers and got plenty of shots of the food — all for a televised segment that will probably last about 12 minutes."I'm curious to see how it comes out," Appleby said. "It was a really interesting experience."
For those wondering how the show's creators select which restaurants to feature, Appleby said they're basically chosen through word of mouth, often through suggestions from people who operate the featured restaurants.Appleby said she suggested the crew head to Florida for a restaurant she frequents there.
As for Donatelli's segment in the spotlight, Appleby says many customers are fans of the program and can't wait to see their favorite local dining spot featured."Every day, people ask when it's going to be on," she said.The date has yet to be set, but the episode featuring Donatelli's is expected to air this fall.
