CopaMoca — Your Third Place, Away from Home and Work

“While growing up in upstate New York, I would ride my blue French made Peugeot ten-speed bike up Butternut Street to Nino’s Italian Bakery. The shop was more than a bakery, it was a place where Italian friends get together. With its distinct coffee and pastry aroma, the shop had soccer posters of Italian pro soccer teams on its walls. This would be our getaway place or third place away from home and work. We would first order an espresso, then a pastry from Nino, and chat about Italian soccer and maybe some local news. We all were trying to convince whose favorite team would win the Coppa Italia that year.

Nino and I became good friends, so good I would later be in his wedding. Eager to watch and learn Nino’s tasty craft, he offered me a job to work in the kitchen, washing pots and pans of course. So, after cleaning the kitchen and ready to hop on my bike, Nino had waiting in a white box, leftover pastries to take home. Excited to share my friend’s generosity, I would call my mom and aunts to taste his work. We would check out what was inside the box, identify each pastry and taste Nino’s creation. “Sono buone” we’d say, these are good. As you see, we have been tasting good stuff ever since I can remember.

Well, Milano won the Coppa that year and I had experienced an amazing culture in the fine art of Italian pastries and sharing such delights with great friends. This memory stuck with me, and growing older, I realized that carrying on this beautiful culture is very important. If not, this humanizing culture with friends would diminish with time. Today’s fast-paced world can easily make us forget our past especially in the pleasures of food and drink. And with home and work taking most of our attention, we all need that third place to share with friends. What a great way to spend time, you sip an espresso, indulge in a pastry and be with friends. Salute!

“Make CopaMoca your third place, away from home and work.”

Sal Alfonso
Owner