N E W S A P R I L 6 L E H A V R E Sunfl ower Bistro Will Brighten Your Day! BY JILL DAVIS The new café at the Le Havre Clubhouse, Sunflower Bistro, is now open for business, and there is probably no one more fitting to run it than Anna Maola. First, Anna is a trained chef and has been in the restaurant business her entire life. “I was taught hands-on by my Dad from when I was six years old,” she said. Through her career, she has owned and run several Italian eateries, most recently La Nonna Bella in Long Island. The restaurant was named after her grandmother. In fact the family’s restaurant legacy began with Anna’s grandmother. “That’s Nonna Bella,” she said, pointing to a photograph that hangs in the new café. “A TV crew came to see her cook at the family restaurant.” The photo shows Nonna Bella showing off her skills at making her famous meatballs. “Meatballs rolled with love,” Anna said, smiling. She added, “That picture was taken just a couple of weeks before she passed. She was 102 ½ years old.” Another reason why Anna is so right for this new venture is that she’s a Le Havre resident—and a fairly new one at that, having moved here last October. She had lived in houses in New Hyde Park and Franklin Square, but over time they became too big. “My kids are out of the house, and I wanted a change.” (Editor’s note: I told Anna she looks far too young to have adult children, and so she provided the photo here as proof!) As with most big events in life, timing was everything. At the end of last year, Anna sold La Nonna Bella, and shortly after that she heard that the former café in the Clubhouse, Logan’s, would be closing. “It just fell in my lap. I wasn’t even looking, but it was meant to be.” Where did the name for the new bistro come from? “I love sunflowers,” Anna explained. “I’ll take sunflowers instead of roses any day!” It’s a cheerful name for a cheerful place, with a newly revamped counter beautifully redone by the Le Havre staff that includes a state-of-the-art espresso machine. New tables and comfortable new chairs outfit the space, and touches of décor throughout the café, as well as the on menu, continue the sunflower theme. Speaking of the menu, anyone who’s in the mood for a hearty breakfast or lunch won’t be disappointed. Breakfast choices include eggs and omelets, bagels, pancakes and French toast. For lunch, Anna offers seven different kinds of salads, a bunch of big-time burgers and an assortment of sandwiches too long to list. (Happily, one of those sandwiches is a signature dish, Nonna’s Meatball Parmigiana Hero, so diners will be able to feel some of Nonna Bella’s love.) The menu also has a Kids’ Corner with hot dogs, grilled cheese, chicken fingers and more. Anna said, “I’m starting with the basics, breakfast and burgers, but I want to hear what people want. I’m here to accommodate them, not the other way around!” Sunflower Bistro is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 7am until 4pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 9am until 4pm and take out is available. Give Anna a call at 718-767-2000 for more information, or better yet, take a stroll on over, say hello in person, and have a bite to eat! 6 LEHAVRE COURIER | APRIL 2017 | WWW.QNS.COM Anna’s getting ready for business! Come in and relax! Anna with her children Krystina, LisaMarie and Francesco
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