Empty Space .. Heavy Heart

2/16/2014

When I wanted to exercise my right to be alone in a public place with wonderful people who understood my need for quiet contemplation, Pomodoro was there.

Sundried tomato basil pesto linguini with a liberal amount of piñón .. this was Mother's Milk on days that had stretched my limits and left me in a state of somberness that only time alone, amongst friends, could remedy. I only needed to walk up a few steps to feel the comforting embrace of a place bound together by the warmest staff of true "givers" any patron could expect ..

and it's gone.

Like the natural progression of everything else in life, this place which provided so many rich moments is now empty space, perfectly garnished with total silence and a topping of joyful memories, special moments, and those incredible hosts. A rare flower that gave its beauty then dissipated with time.

I'm certain in the future I will reach for the phone to make that call, similar to the times I want to speak with people who no longer reside on this plane of existence, and I'll catch myself with the same thought I now conjure up for those people .. "damn, it's not there anymore". I will then sit in sadness .. torn at the loss of an old friend, a place of comfort, a place of peacefulness, a home away from home.

Gerry, Antonio, Rosario, and the entire Staff ..

"Mahalo Nui Loa"

You were Spectacular for 30 years and more

You were World Class
&
We mourn Pomodoro with Heavy Heart ...

from Kauai to Paris ... and all places between

"Ciao e vai con dio" !

Bill

30 Comments

Sonja ten Hoorn

2/16/2014 11:25:17 pm

Good morning, Bill
It's difficult when a place that we've frequented for so long is no longer there for us to enjoy. This wasn't the Italian restaurant that was across the street from the Marriot, was it? I can't remember the name of the place, but I do remember when it first opened, and I had my first taste of gnocchi, prepared with a leek cream sauce. I had never had anything like it; chewy little nuggets of potato pasta, served in a delightful, subtle sauce. I had found a new favorite. Speaking of Italian, my boys have finally talked me into making "pizza mountain", as Nick calls it, for dinner tonight. He calls it that because I top it with as many toppings as the dough can hold, and it truly looks like a mountain! Hope all is well. Will contact you soon. a hui ho
Sonja

Bill link

2/17/2014 04:57:59 am

Aloha Sonja .. Pomodoro is the restaurant that sat behind Eggberts in Lihue prior to Iniki. They moved to Kalaheo after Iniki. I believe you are thinking of Cafe Portofino .. which opened in the Anchor Cove Mall, next door to Park Place. Both excellent .. both owned by Italians .. but sadly, now there is only one. Cafe Portofino now occupies the old Paddling Club space. Enjoy your Pizza Mountain and I'll check to see if Portofino has some gnocchi .. you've got my taste buds jumping!

Sonja ten Hoorn

2/17/2014 06:54:50 am

YES! Now that you said the name, it was Cafe Portofino. I never went to Pomodoro. Now Park Place brings back memories; I think about it every time my neck hurts. That's where I was partner-dancing with one of the guys from Prince Bill, and he let me go. I sat down on one of those blocks, and fell straight back onto my neck. Still bothers me to this day. Does Cafe Portofino still have the same owner? He was always very nice to me; too nice for Gary's taste. Hopefully there are other great Italian restaurants on the island for you to enjoy that are closer to home. Back to work!
:-)

Bill link

2/17/2014 07:42:28 am

Same owner .. very nice man, and "Hey!" he's Italian .. a good Italian boy would never let a pretty girl escape his notice! At least he wasn't a "pain in your neck" .. don't stop dancing, dear friend! Aloha

Karen Cafarella

2/17/2014 07:03:43 am

Bill if you are ever in Phoenix I will cook you a nice NY Italian meal. Some lasagne and meatballs!!! It is sad when a favorite place closes and after so many years it is like losing a friend.

Bill link

2/17/2014 07:44:35 am

Yes! NY Italian .. now there's an offer I can't refuse! Mahalo et Merci e Grazie, Karen !

Mom

2/17/2014 08:39:20 am

What a thought provoking blog! The photos are special-as always-and the thoughts you convey must reach each of us in some special way.
The spot I think of for quiet contemplation is the old library on 2nd Street across from the Courthouse. That big old grey building.
was built just for me-I thought. As a very young girl I loved the sterioptiscopes that were always in place on the big round table to the left as one went through the front door The pictures kept there for one to look at would take me around the world.
As high school approached I loved the small hidden room with another big round table where all the books on philosophy were kept.
Later I found I could ask the Librarian's permission and spend what hours I wanted in the basement playing the big grand piano kept there for small concerts.
Now, when returning to our small town and I see the old library replaced by a totally new, modernistic building, it is like a rare gift has been torn away. Is it the price of progress that is suffered with such loss?

Bill link

2/17/2014 09:03:24 am

Mom, I feel your pain for the old library in Lander, Wyoming ,.. I too had many wonderful moments in that building. In some instances, we humans are certainly not too thoughtful and "progress" becomes "destructiveness". However, everything must "run it's course" .. nothing lasts forever. I am thankful we are blessed with memories after change occurs .. they can never be taken from us! Mahalo et Merci, Mom, for reading and commenting.

Pat Cargill

2/17/2014 11:05:42 am

Oh, Bill, so sorry to hear of the closing, & you said it well--now you have wonderful memories to keep. Loved your Mom's comments about the library in Wyoming.

Bill link

2/17/2014 11:35:40 am

Thank you Pat .. there are many, many people who are going to miss this particular restaurant. Thanks for the compliment to my Mother .. she is an excellent writer and a great Spirit! Mahalo et Merci

Heather in Arles link

2/18/2014 01:16:28 am

Hello there Bill. Yes, I definitely understand where you are coming from with this post. Everytime I return to visit my beloved NYC, I am always nervous to see if some of my favorite institutions are still there or not. But a local spot where you dined like a king and were treated like a friend? That is not something one comes across everyday.
In time you will find your new one, your Next!

Bill link

2/18/2014 02:34:49 am

So true, Heather, so true ... Mahalo et Merci for the reminder ... heck, I'm uplifted by awakening this morning to discover you read "Next" ... Life is good! Aloha

Steven arcanti

8/23/2014 02:23:34 am

We were so saddened to hear that Pomadoro's has closed. We own a condo on Kauai and have been enjoying the restaurant and the people for over 25 years. Our best to Gerry and Tony. I hope they are both in good health and will enjoy the fruits of a well-earned retirement.

Bill link

8/23/2014 03:52:15 am

Steven .. I will certainly pass on your feelings when the opportunity arises. Thank you for reading and commenting! Aloha, Bill

Steven Arcanti

8/23/2014 10:35:54 am

Please do! Gerry will recognize my name. I hope they are both well.

Kathy Moran Engram

9/14/2014 11:59:21 am

Bill, I have been looking through the internet and blogs for a few years trying to locate my old girlhood friend Geraldine Casale from Newark, NJ.. I found out she married a fellow from Italy named anthony and they had a restaurant in Kauai called Pomodoro. I can't believe I finally found this information. If possible, can you pass her my email. At that time, I was Kathy Moran from East Orange, NJ.
Thank you so very much. The internet is amazing!

Bill link

9/14/2014 03:57:22 pm

Kathy, I will happily do this for you. Please send your email address to me in private @ [email protected]. I do fly to France in the morning, so please be patient, it may take me a week or so to make contact. I'm excited for you .. finding an old friend is a rare treat. I can tell you this .. Gerry is an incredible person, as is Antonio. Aloha! Bill

Cindy

9/24/2014 06:23:47 am

Bill,
I stumbled across your site when looking for a suitable alternative to Pomodoro this morning. I live in Kalaheo and have loved Geri's fried calamari for as long as I've lived here. I just wanted to let you know that RUMOUR has it that Pomodoro may rise from the ashes and be reborn at Kukui'ula Shopping Village in company with the other fine restaurants there. I pray this is the case and will report back as soon as I know.
Ciao.

Bill link

9/24/2014 07:48:28 am

Cindy, thanks so much .. I would be most appreciative of that information should it happen. Please don;t hesitate to contact me directly at [email protected] and I'll post it in my blog immediately. I'm currently in France and, as always, I will miss not being able to return to my favorite .. sundried tomato basil linguini ,, I hope they re-open! Mahalo for contacting me. Aloha, Bill

Bill link

9/24/2014 07:55:31 am

Cindy .. I just noticed a mistake on my email address in the previous message .. the correct address is [email protected] .. Again, Mahalo for taking time to share the information with us! Bill

jen mortimer

10/12/2014 06:04:23 am

we came to this restaurant every year when visiting kauai. one of our favorites. what happened___

Bill link

10/12/2014 06:17:36 am

Aloha Jen .. Thank you for reading and commenting. I would only be speculating to answer your "what happened", so I won't do that because I really don't know why they closed. I am hopeful that they are opening in another location, and will post that to my blog the moment I know something concrete. I WANT the rumor to be true! I've just returned from nearly a month in France, so I haven't done any digging yet, but you can count on news the moment I have them. Again, Merci et Mahalo for commenting, Jen. Aloha, Bill

Michael Clabaugh

4/12/2015 04:28:54 pm

We started going to Pomodoro on our annual Kauai visits. We loved the food and were always made to feel so welcome. I would love to know if they ever were to reopen. We are on Kauai now and we just stunned when we drove by and all was gone. Please give my best to them. They did it right!

Bill link

4/13/2015 11:02:00 am

Michael, Mahalo for your comment. I will certainly extend your good thoughts to Gerry and Antonio when/if I see them. We all miss Pomodoro terribly !! Aloha et Au revoir, Bill

Eugene Kearney link

4/25/2015 03:48:24 am

Hi Bill,

My wife and I share your feelings.This was a very painful loss. We had a home in Kauai for 7 years and have traveled to Kauai from Seattle 2-4 times per year for 25 years now. We ate at Pomodoro's at least once per week when on Kauai. Portofino's was always ok, but more expensive, not as good and certainly lost the feel of a local Italian family owned diner went it moved onto the Marriott side of the street. We have taken to eating at Pizzetta's as a replacement, and Casa Di Amici. Do you have any alternative's you favor? Thank you!

Eugene Kearney

4/25/2015 03:54:27 am

And I shouldn't have said "replacement." The food is good at Casa, but it's a different kind of place. Pizzetta's is just to get some Italian food and wine that is so so at best.. We stay at Hyatt frequently and Dondero's isn't a place we like. There is nothing close to Pomodoro's but I wondered if you found an alternative that we missed. Thank you!

Bill link

4/25/2015 06:10:21 am

Eugene, sadly .. there is no alternative I can share with you. What we do collectively share are wonderful memories of a great establishment! Mahalo et Merci for sharing your views!

Mona Rotella

7/22/2015 01:49:58 am

We visit Kauai every year, and Pomodoro was part of our tradition on the island. We were heartbroken and outraged to find it was closed. We mourn the loss every visit now. It was the best Italian restaurant on the island and you are right. The ambiance was calm, cozy, comforting, welcoming. What a loss!

Bill link

7/22/2015 05:53:10 am

"What a loss" indeed ! I keep hoping they will open another wonderful place. You can be it will be posted on Kauai to Paris should that occur.

Mahalo et Merci for your comment Mona
Bill

Vince Vincent

9/1/2015 05:05:56 am

Bill
According to acquaintance that used to own a busniss on Kauai and knows Gerry & Tony, saw them earlier this year while over there, they mention about opening a restaurant in kukui'ula village shopping center.
We’ve been going to Pomodoro’s sense before Iniki.
If you drop them an e-mail tell them hi and we hope to see them in January.

Empty Space .. Heavy Heart

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