Courtesy LoRusso's
One of the good guys on the local restaurant scene—one of the really good guys, one of St. Louis’ legit OG chefs—needs the help of the community that he's helped serve all of his life.
Courtesy LoRusso's
Rich LoRusso, who owns LoRusso’s Cucina (3121 Watson) with his wife, Terri, was recently diagnosed with an extremely rare form of ALS, also called Lou Gehrig’s disease, after experiencing debilitating (and unexplained) symptoms for the past several years. Due to the efforts of a dedicated staff, the landmark restaurant on The Hill has been able to persevere, despite the absence of LoRusso for the past few months.
While there is no cure for ALS, there are interventions available—medication, equipment, professional care, home renovations—that can help prolong and deliver a better quality of life. To this end, a fundraiser has been organized on the LoRussos’ behalf.
For the Love of the Chef, a food and wine experience, will be held November 14 from 2–6 p.m. at the Italia-America Bocce Club, at 2210 Marconi Avenue on The Hill. The cocktail-style event will be held indoors and outdoors. The fundraiser is still in its formative stages, so there are several ways for individuals and vendors to participate:
- Chefs may participate by staffing a table and serving samples of a signature food item (some utilities are available)
- Wine vendors are being asked to provide wine samples to accompany the food items
- Chefs, wine vendors, and other business owners or individuals may donate items to be raffled off or included in the silent auction
- Individuals may make cash contributions; 100 percent of the proceeds goes toward the LoRussos
Over the years, the LoRussos have contributed their time and energy to several charitable causes. For decades, LoRusso’s hosted the Pasta Bowl, a fundraiser for Operation Food Search in which the community was asked to contribute favorite recipes for the competition. The top three recipes selected by LoRusso’s staff were served family-style at the Pasta Bowl dinner, and all guests in attendance voted for their favorite pasta. The winning recipe was placed on the menu for one year, and Operation Food Search received $2 for each order sold.
One of the chef's pastas (and occasionally his signature Wild Mushroom Trio) was a given at CarneyVal, the annual fundraiser for Carney’s Kids, a charity founded by KTRS radio funnyman John Carney, who says LoRusso’s generosity was also well-known on the golf circuit.
“For decades, Rich was a fixture at every charity golf event, stationed at one of the holes doling out stories, sandwiches, and mini bowls of pasta,” Carney recalls. ("You'd think that by osmosis that would have made him a better golfer after all those years—it never did,” Carney quips.)
Chef Tommy “Salami” Andrew, owner of Nomad restaurant in Dogtown, also speaks highly of LoRusso and his restaurant, where Andrew got his start in the industry. “That was where I first learned the business and the camaraderie associated with it,” he told SLM last year. "Rich [LoRusso] doesn’t have a mean bone in his body, a truly great guy. He still invites me to the employee Christmas parties, and I left there over a decade ago.”
Cara DiFranco, a former employee, longtime family friend, and the person responsible for organizing the fundraiser, says restaurant employees on The Hill are already lining up to volunteer. On a personal note, she recalls that when her father was dying of cancer during the holiday season, LoRusso elected to cook Christmas dinner for her family of 18 “instead of spending that time with his family—that’s just the kind of guy he is.”
Individual tickets to the fundraiser will go on sale on the event website October 1. For additional details, or to make a donation, call 314-484-2272 or email fortheloveofthechef@gmail.com.
