About Us—
Bright eyed and full of the hopes and dreams
that many Italian immigrants held, Jimmy Carparelli found himself fresh off a ship in
Baltimore, Maryland, in the 1920s. With other Italian immigrants, he soon found employment
in Maine working as a cook in a lumber company. Taking the first opportunity to live the
American Dream, he opened The Baltimore near the docks in Bangor.
After Jimmy met Rita Baldacci, the
establishment took a new direction. Her culinary talents, learned from generations of
Baldaccis in Lucca, Italy, transformed The Baltimore into a restaurant of
excellent, authentic, Italian cuisine.
Long lines of dedicated patrons filled the
restaurant for years, and Rita and Jimmy's venture flourished. Bobby Kennedy, Ed Muskie,
The New York Giants, The Green Bay Packers, The Boston Celtics and even Ted Williams
traveled to taste the superb cuisine.
With Rita's sons, Vasco, Robert and Nick,
working side by side, the restaurant began a family tradition that is still strong.
Robert's sons even got their first taste of restaurant work – washing dishes.
Urban renewal decided the fate of the original
Baldacci's restaurant as The Baltimore was purchased for the land it was on by
the city.
Two of Rita's sons, Robert Baldacci and Vasco
Carparelli took up the torch and built a new restaurant, Baldacci's, which was
successful for some time.
Not letting the family tradition falter Robert,
and his wife Rosemary, purchased property off Broadway in Bangor, in 1974, and opened Momma
Baldacci's. There a new family restaurant blossomed with excellent Italian-American
food. All eight children participated in the business, from bussing tables, preparing
food, managing, waiting on tables, and the beloved dishwashing.
Momma Baldacci's breadsticks were
light and fluffy. Their secret sauces were mouthwatering. It wasn't long before Momma
Baldacci's became well known.
Rosemary and Robert Baldacci were always
civically minded and instilled a deep sense of serving one's country in their children
– Bob, Peter, John, Gerry, Paul, Rosemary, Joe, and Lisa. As a result political
discussions were a side-course on the menu, if you chose to indulge.
Paul Baldacci in Momma Baldacci's
kitchen
Paul Baldacci loved a good political discussion
and often engaged in them when he took over the business. He welcomed everyone with warmth
and charm, as his father had done before him.
Paul Baldacci Jr. –
Baldacci's master chef
Now, his son, Paul, continues the family
tradition and manages the restaurant known as Baldacci's.
Often Maine's Governor John Baldacci visits and
washes dishes, serves tables and talks to patrons. On election night the place is buzzing.
Sometimes politicians drop in, celebrating the
traditions of the Baldacci's and enjoying great food!
Governor John Baldacci, Senator
John Kerry and friends enjoy a Christmas charity party at Baldacci's.
The Baldacci tradition
continues.
Come visit us!
Bon Appetito!
Two fourth-generation Baldaccis
– Jack and Paul – enjoyed election night at the restaurant, sharing in the
celebration of Jack's father's re-election as Governor of Maine.
Bob Jr. and Joe look and listen
to their brother Governor John Baldacci give his acceptance speech on election night,
2007, at the restaurant.
Website designed and built
by Ramona du Houx duhoux2@tds.net 207-643-2795 |
