Silvia Piantoni, along with parents Benny and Franca, and sister Brenda, operate La Bruschetta  ( http://www.labru.ca ). Their family-owned restaurant has served customers for nearly 30 years. Silvia Piantoni tells the Financial Post what motivated her to become an entrepreneur.

Beginnings: “My father learned cooking in the Italian navy. In the 1950s, he immigrated to Canada with my mother. They got married here and mother started the restaurant. Both my parents did everything.”

My youth: “I grew up in the restaurant, studied photography at Ryerson University in Toronto, and later worked as a photographer for awhile, until I was really needed here.”

Hub: “The restaurant looks long and narrow, but we have space upstairs for busy days and special events. We have many regular customers. People never tire of Italian food. It makes them feel happy.”

Romancing food: “We serve wonderful veal, salmon, shrimp. A favorite dish is gnocchi, dumpling made with potato, with tomato sauce and cheese. Another is pasta with wild mushroom sauce. Over the years, celebrities like Bette Midler, Sophia Loren, Matthew Broderick, Whoopi Goldberg, and Hilary Duff, have visited. Word gets around.”

Wonderful: “Our staff has been with us for years. It’s good to have family, good food, and people to share it with. We make good memories happen every day.”