Guiliana Pierotti, an 80-year-old grandmother, recently celebrated her birthday but has no plans to retire from the restaurant she and her husband opened 50 years ago. She is a veteran in the Scottish restaurant scene and has been working in kitchens since moving from Tuscany in 1965. The couple opened Piccolo Mondo in Renfrew in 1974 and later a second branch in Glasgow in 2006.
Despite her age, Guiliana is still in the kitchen five days a week and has no intention of stopping. She starts her day at half past six, making bread and desserts. While she has taught many chefs over the years, she has no formal training but learned everything from her mother.
Guiliana has a passion for cooking and takes pride in her dishes. She teaches her staff how to cook and is very particular about the food she eats outside her kitchen. She believes she can cook better than most restaurants she visits.
This year marks a significant milestone for Guiliana and her family as they celebrate her 80th birthday, the restaurant’s 50th anniversary, and the couple’s 60th wedding anniversary. Her husband Antonio runs the front of the house, while Guiliana rules the kitchen.
Their son Lio, who has been involved in the family business since he was 13, describes Guiliana as the most hardworking person he knows. She is dedicated, focused, and motivated, always striving to maintain high standards in her kitchen.
Despite her age, Guiliana shows no signs of slowing down. She takes immense pride in her food and loves making people happy with her cooking. Her dedication and love for cooking have kept her going all these years, and she finds joy in seeing people enjoy her dishes. Guiliana’s story is a testament to hard work, passion, and the love of good food.