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Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie Councilmember Brooke Pinto 2
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Councilmember Matthew Frumin Councilmember Anita Bonds 6
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Councilmember Vincent C. Gray Councilmember Robert C. White, Jr. 10
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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION 14
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 19
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To recognize and honor Filomena Ristorante and its founder, JoAnna Filomena Chiacchieri, on 23
the celebration of the restaurant’s 40
th
anniversary. 24
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WHEREAS, 2023 marks the 40th anniversary of Filomena Ristorante, which was opened 26
by JoAnna Filomena Chiacchieri on May 23, 1983 at 1063 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W. in the 27
Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C.; 28
WHEREAS, JoAnna faced the stigma and discrimination that accompanied starting a 29
business as a woman in the 1970s, even being told she needed a male partner to secure a business 30
loan, desite her qualifications and experience gained from many years working in the restaurant 31
industry in Brooklyn, New York; 32
WHEREAS, JoAnna overcame these obstacles and worked with the Small Business 33
Administration, impressing them with her loan package and experience, and eventually securing 34
a half million-dollar loan, a historically large loan for a female entrepreneur at that time; 35
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WHEREAS, JoAnna partnered with two other women in the restaurant field to start a 36
group called Women in Food Service, which helped women who wanted to enter the restaurant 37
business; 38
WHEREAS, Filomena Ristorante is named for and insired by JoAnna’s mother, 39
Filomena, whom JoAnna held in endless respect, admiration, and love, and who was a fastidious 40
hostess and always created a delicious meal and a dining atmosphere that was warm, welcoming, 41
comfortable, and memorable; 42
WHEREAS, the menu at Filomena Ristorante is influenced by Mother Filomena’s 43
simp -world, traditional dishes; 44
WHEREAS, over the past forty years, JoAnna and her staff have had the honor of serving 45
many United States Presidents, Chancellors, Prime Ministers, Heads of State, and Dignitaries 46
from around the world; 47
WHEREAS, Filomena Ristorante has received a number of awards and accolades, 48
including a Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor based on consistently great reviews from 49
diners, the title of Best Italian Restaurant by Washingtonian Magazine, OpenTable’s Top 100 50
Restaurants for 2022, a Top Italian Restaurant in the United States designation by Zagat, and 51
features in a number of national publications, including Bon Apetit, Gourmet, Travel Channel, 52
and The New York Times; and 53
WHEREAS, Filomena Ristorante will hold a 40th anniversary celebration on May 23, 54
2023. 55
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 56
resolution may be cited as the “Filomena Ristorante 40th Anniversary Celebration Recognition 57
Resolution of 2023”. 58
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Sec. 2. The Council recognizes and honors Filomena Ristorante and its founder, JoAnna 59
Filomena Chiacchieri, for 40 years of delicious Italian food and memorable meals and 60
celebrations. 61
Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in 62
the District of Columbia Register. 63