The Insight of Intergenerational Connection
- hellobravelion
- Jun 1
- 6 min read
Updated: Jun 2
This past winter saratoga living, a local magazine, partnered with Letterly, an education company to host a writing contest for youth under the age of 18. Kids were invited to explore different journalistic styles, and my son was really intrigued with the idea of interviewing someone!
But who? It would be a long shot to interview an NBA player, so we considered our more local and accessible options. My parents, veteran restauranteurs, who have lived in Saratoga for almost 52 years quickly became a very interesting option.
What happened next was magic. My son prepared some questions, and with our help, we set up a Zoom call for him to interview his grandparents. The 45 minute conversation was one of the most heartfelt and special experiences.
My parents talked about their childhood, the beginning of their marriage and life as entrepreneurs.
Every answer they gave was peppered with wisdom, so joyful shared with the interest of offering a different perspective, from many more years of experience.
We never expected that Roman's interview would actually get published in the magazine, and it was! But really, the win was the time these two generations sat together and spoke of things familiar and foreign, yet always finding a bridge to bind.
In my humble opinion, the world needs more of THESE conversations, cross generational heartfelt sharing and learning.
If you are curious, please enjoy the entire conversation transcript below.
Remember When...
The 9-year-old winner of our recent writing contest sits down with his grandparents, John and Cathy Lanci, to talk about life in Saratoga back in the day
By Roman Ferrone
My grandparents are really awesome and interesting people. Most people call them
John and Cathy Lanci, but l call them Nino and Gigi.
They ran Lanci's Ristorante in downtown Saratoga Springs for six years, inspired by the classic Italian cuisine of our lineage, which descends from Le Marche, Italy.
Nino and Gigi have lived in Saratoga for a really long time, and I was curious about what changes they've witnessed over the years. So, I asked them a few questions...
How long have you lived in Saratoga and why did you move here ?
Gigi: We’ve lived here 52 years. Nino and I moved here in 1973 when we got married. We moved here because Saratoga has a lot to offer. People from all over the world come to Saratoga for the magical healing waters, the culture and the education…just for starters. What do you think, John (also Nino)?
Nino: Yeah, we looked at it as a nice city outside of Albany. I was raised in Albany which is a much bigger city and your grandmother was raised in Mechanicville which is a much smaller city and Saratoga was right in the middle. Not just the size but we were attracted to the restaurants. It’s nice.
What do you mean about the water healing Gigi?
Gigi: Well there’s underground sparkling mineral waters in Saratoga. If you look back and read your history you’ll discover that the Native Americans first settled the area because of the healing waters. They didn't have medicine the way you and I know it today. They used the water and herbs. The mineral water here rivals the waters found in Europe. Each spring has a different taste and purpose. One may help with a stomach ache. Another may help to lift your spirits or even help with skin ailments. Nino and I still go for mineral baths where we sit in the water and let it work its magic on us.
Roman: My favorite is the Polaris spring water mixed with the Tallulah water. It’s really good.
What’s one thing that is really different from when you moved here?
Nino: Well, there’s a lot of development here. We were very lucky to have found what we did on the (Loughberry) reservoir.
Gigi: But what’s different, Roman, is there’s a lot of big new buildings that are residential…apartments. They didn't have that when Nino and I moved here. Downtown was a little more quiet. Many of them are empty for most of the year too. People only live in them during the racetrack season.
Nino: The community is still very active during the winter. It’s not as if the town gets deserted.
Gigi: Yes, yes. As a whole the changes that have been made have been very positive. Everybody knows Saratoga and chooses to come here and visit. We consider ourselves very fortunate.
Nino: It’s been done very tastefully that doesn't take away from the history or theme of the city.
Gigi: …and that's in part due to the Historical Preservation Society. They work to keep a certain flavor in the city. They still allow for growth while keeping the charm and character of the city.
When we have Gigi & Nino days I ask you if we can “Do the usual”. That means we go to Soavefaire and Comptons. Have they always been there?
Nino: Well before Compton’s it was called Lou’s Diner.
Gigi: It still looked the same and the menu was the same, just a different owner.
Nino: One of the few places you could get fresh orange juice.
Gigi: Soavefaire has been there for a while too.
How did you like running a restaurant in Saratoga? Any famous people come there, like Michael Jordan?
Gigi: [Laughs] Michael Jordan never came there.
Nino: Yea, he never made it.
Gigi: You know Roman, when grandpa and I were looking at the question earlier today, and famous for us means something a little different. We had many members of the New York City Ballet come. They’d give their performances and then be hungry. Your mother will remember Roman because she worked at the restaurant. At that time we were able to put curtains up and arrange the restaurant to be very romantic and cozy for them. Nino stayed open late at night to accommodate them in particular. The place would be filled with just ballerinas. It was glorious. We had famous horse people from the racetrack.
Nino: One year we had the owner of the horse that won the Travers Stakes in for a celebratory dinner. We had twenty-some people in there and we closed the restaurant just for them. They had a great time!
"The only other thing I can think of that might make us a little famous is that we were featured in Gourmet Magazine one year."
Gigi: So famous in that regard…..and the other thing we did Roman that was unusual for the restaurant was we hosted wine dinners. We had wine makers come all the way from Italy. For people who loved good food and wine it was amazing. Those events were always very well attended. The only other thing I can think of that might make us a little famous is that we were featured in Gourmet Magazine one year. That’s a well-known magazine about cooking.
Nino: Another thing. A middle school teacher brought her students to the restaurant because she wanted them to experience a Roman meal. They showed up in togas and we did official Roman dishes like ovis apalis and chicken orgozzi. That was featured in the newspaper.
Roman: Our unit in school right now is the Roman Empire which is cool.
Did you have any other jobs in Saratoga?
Nino: After I retired I drove school buses for a while.
Gigi: I ran a health food store in Saratoga called Wild Oats. I ran it with a good friend…it was in 1983. Then I had my own practice doing alternative nursing. Then we had the restaurant.
What was your favorite thing to do as a kid?
Nino: Oh gee, I don’t know. I used to ride my bike a lot. I was a big bike rider.
Gigi: So was I Roman.
Nino: When I was younger I lived in Colonie. I played baseball a lot.
Gigi: Roman, there is a famous story about me getting a bike. I only had one bike and it was a Columbia.
"I could ride that bike like I was in the circus."
Nino: Me too.
Gigi: The street that I lived on was kind of a small street with little traffic on it. I said to my mother, “Mom, I’m going to learn to ride this bike today.” And I did. By the end of the day I was black and blue and probably fell about a hundred times. Scraped my legs and everything. But let me tell ya, I could ride that bike. I could go down hills…I was about your age. I could ride that bike like I was in the circus.
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