A Personal Message From Licia
First of all, this is the first newsletter in a long time, for which I’m sorry. But there have been many good reasons. Many of you are probably aware that in the last two years I’ve had many challenges with my health. This has taken me completely by surprise because I’ve always been very healthy until recently becoming ill.
I always wanted to have my own business and I was so happy when my dream came true, opening Del Sole in 2006 in one of the prettiest cities in England - Bath. I loved working in my store, cooking new dishes and keeping the standards of service very high. Its always been a pleasure to open the doors of the store for my customers.
But things got very difficult for me. In the last two years I’ve had three different operations and the emotional, physical and physiological impact on my life and my husband has been huge. My body was under so much strain that I also developed a serious food intolerance towards, wheat, gluten and cow dairy products.
It was a nightmare… there I was running my own deli yet I couldn’t eat the majority of the things on sale. Of course, I started to cook food that my body could tolerate but the recipes I found available were so boring and unappealing that they made me think of food almost as a dreadful and unpleasant chore.
I decided that enough was enough so I started to write my own wheat, gluten and cow dairy free recipes. And just a word of advice… there is nothing boring in my new recipe book! I also decided that I had to stop working all hours to take care of my health properly.
My husband has a different job so he couldn’t look after the business until I was better and as you may know I don’t have any of my family here with me. So the best solution was to sell the business to somebody that could look after it and perhaps even let me work alongside them to develop the business even further because I knew that Del Sole wasn’t finished.
For this reason I contacted Joyce Jones, the owner of Bath Bakery. During the years I’ve always admired Joyce’s integrity and her honest values. She understood my predicament, loved the concept of Del Sole and offered for me to stay on board to continue writing fresh, seasonal menus, preparing new recipes, training the staff as well as updating the blog and continuing to promote Del Sole.
This is not like running the business on a day-to-day basis, but its much better for my body as well as a pleasure to still be involved with Del Sole, this Italian deli that I set up just over 3 years ago.
My last operation was performed just over 5 weeks ago and it went very well, however I need to take things easy and give my body enough time to heal. I was lucky because it was thanks to a wonderful doctor that works in the local Oldfield Surgery that I regained my trust in the medical care of this country. After my operation in Italy I thought that I’d have to move back there to get quality care and that would’ve been a very hard decision to make.
Anyway, now you know what happened but let me reassure you that I truly treasure the experience that I’ve had and it was great to have you as customers and some of you even as close friends. It was because I valued you so much that I couldn’t help being there as much as I was.
So, thank you very much for visiting my store. Please continue to do so because Joyce, the Del Sole Team and myself are working closely together to grow the business in the way that I always wanted.
I’m very proud of being able to live through the challenges that I had. I believe that I’ve only enhanced the prospects of Del Sole by involving more, similarly-minded people because when more than one committed dreamer comes together wonderful things can only follow. Much more will come and you are still going to taste unique recipes in Del Sole created by yours truly.
My delicious wheat and gluten-free dishes and cakes will also be on the menu, so prepare to enjoy some delicious food that will also be good for your health. Thank you once again for choosing Del Sole - for sharing this experience - but most of all for being part of a dream coming true.
Licia Accorsi
Comments on A Personal Message From Licia »
sorry you have been ill..cant imagine what that would be like..be strong and hope all goes well for the future..
Dear Licia, I was so very sorry to hear you have had such health problems recently. I treated myself to lunch at Del Sole today, and thought Joyce was really presenting the business in such a lovely way, just as you have always done. So I thought you might like that feedback. Your email now explains what has happened, and the solution looks like a great one especially for your customers. However you must take care of yourself and your health above all. Your shop has been such a delight and an example of how to present delicious food the like of which I have never tasted before. Many congratulations for all you have done - and many many good wishes for yourself, Joyce and staff for the new phase of Del Sole - Jacky.
cara Licia
Always loved my favorite cafe in Bath. And have noticed your absence.
we may be able to help you with your food intolerance
call me on 07788 425688
david
We were delighted to see you out and about today,you are a credit to yourself and your business.Be strong and take great care of yourself.You always did with food what I dreamt of doing but could never achieve ,it is a gift I am sure !Lots of Love Kay and all at the pet shop.
Thanks very much for all the kind words. I am definetly a different person after this challenge, I understand much more about life and that is for sure a good thing. I am very pleased that you agree with me regarding the future of Del Sole. It is quite ironic but I believe that my predicament is helping me to find a way to make things even better. There is so much out there that we want to do and we will! But this time I will not be alone!
Thanks again for your feedback. It’s just amazing how supportive people can be to one another. I have appreciated all your best wishes and for sure I will read them again during future rainy days.
Hi Licia
So sorry to hear you’ve not been well. You are now on a new journey and as we know, a journey of many miles has to start with one step, so all the best for your new ventures, once you are strong enough to choose the path . You are superb cook and your creative and imaginative flair will take you far.
Your macaroons were always my weakness!!!
Sarah X
to dear Licia,
i realised that you hadn’t been well & missed you whenever i came to the very best cafe in Bath; i’m really glad that you have found another committed person to take over your wonderful enterprise so you can really concentrate on a full recovery. miss you loads though and wish you every good wish & send you all my love, David too.
your amazing food was the very best i’ve eaten in ages & i’m just delighted you are still involved in Del Sole.
looking forward to hearing that you are completely recovered,
with love, lesley xxx
Hi Licia
its great to here from you, we have all been missing you these past few months. Glad that the tide has turned and you are making a good recovery and hope to see you very soon.
Dear Licia
Thanks for your lovely letter. We wish you all the very best and hope to see you soon! Keep strong and don’t stop fighting.. We have trully enjoyed your food…. the most delicious, yummy italian food I’ve tasted in this country…Ella always loved coming to see you…and taste your special soups!Love. Paula, Phil and Ellaxxx
Hi Licia,
really great to get this newsletter as I had missed your presence in the cafe and was often wondering where you were. But so sorry to hear you’re experiencing health problems. I feel privileged to be able to go to your cafe so regularly it is an absolute gem. Moorland road has definitiely been enriched by your presence.
Hope to see you in the cafe from time to time and best wishes for your new ventures and dreams
Julie Lily and Amy
Dear Licia
My partner (Steve Nelhams) forwarded me your latest newsletter; I had already heard you were not well.
The cafe and deli thrive. Yes we miss you enormously, but how brilliant you have found such a like minded business partner.
I have not been well myself, and last Thursday was expecting friends for a long arranged lunch - so I taxi’d down to Del Sole and bought savoury cupcakes and Little Italy Cheesecake. I was hoping to pop in the following day as I knew you would be in, but couldn’t make it.
The thank you card I received after hosting this lunch described a ‘heavenly meal’, and the next time that couple visit I will take them to Moorland Road. Please look after yourself and let the healing take its course.
Victoria
(Steve by the way has been oveheard in sevaral Bath cafes commenting
‘ it is not as good as Del Sole’ when sipping his coffee, so you have a fan for life - he is not a coffee drinker).
I was wondering why i hadn’t seen you lately. you take good car3e of yourself and we look forward to seeing you again soon. Fergus and mick of course say hello too. i thought it might cheer you up to know that i am 18 weeks pregnant with a little brother / sister for fergus. best wishes for a speedy recovery (and of course we will keep coming to the cafe nowhere else makes such nice coffee!)
Licia, Licia, Licia…….Health comes first so glad you found this way forward to be good to yourself and with your business…….I don’t frequent your cafe often enough but always enjoy it when I do for a little bit of Italy….hope to bump into you soon…take care….missing your smile!…Julian