A Burnley family-run café with deep Sicilian roots is celebrating after being nominated for this year’s Italian Awards, marking another milestone in its 18-year journey.
Bellissimo Italian is co-owned and managed by Lynn Scibetta and her husband John, whose culinary background spans Italy, France and the UK.
John comes from Sicily, where he trained in hotels and restaurants before moving to France to further develop his skills in French cuisine.
After relocating to the UK with his family, he went on to gain a Master Baker’s degree as well as a teaching qualification in catering.
Together, Lynn and John have built a café known for its homemade pizzas, pasta and desserts, drawing on John’svaried experience to create a menu rooted in traditional Italian cooking.
Chef John and one of his dishes (Image: Lynn Scibetta)
The Italian Awards have been running since 2012 and aim to recognise the Italian businesses across the UK, with awards in a variety of categories, including Best Cafe.
Lynn said the nomination means a great deal to the whole family.
She said: “We are a family business, my husband is from Sicily, and he did all his training in a five-star hotel in Sicily.
“When he came to England with his parents, he wanted to learn the art of confectionery.
“He went to work for a local bakery called BSK in Burnley and succeeded in becoming a master baker.
“His first love though is his cooking, traditional Sicilian and Italian dishes.
“We are grateful to have won five awards, with the English Italian Awards being presented to us by chef Aldo Zilli.
“To be in this competition again is amazing and to be nominated means the world to us all in our family.”
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The couple have been together for 49 years, with Lynn originally from Nelson. She met John at Nelson’s Column, which was a popular nightclub in the town at the time.
Their shared passion for food and hospitality later led them to open the café, which they have now successfully run for nearly two decades.
You can vote for Bellissimo by visiting the Italian Awards website. The winners will be announced at a ceremony on Monday, March 30, at the Marriott Grosvenor Hotel in Mayfair, London.
Dining and Cooking