BY GRANT WOODWARD
AFTER 25 years of cooking Italian food, Pam Nelson is finally to sample the true delights of Rome.
Grateful owners of Salvo's restaurant in Headingley have decided to send her on holiday there as a reward for her quarter-century of
service.
And Pam, 55, who has never been to Italy , is now relishing the prospect of sampling the city's gastronomic delights with husband Stuart.
I can't wait, she said. It will be the first time I've eaten Italian food in Italy after cooking it for 25 years.
Pam, of Adel, Leeds , was presented with the tickets along with the title of Cavaliere Del Lavoro in a ceremony at the bustling Headingley restaurant.
The honorary South Italian title is bestowed on workers who have been with a business for more than 25 years.
Afterwards, Pam admitted she had been left stunned by the special gift.
She said: It was my husband Stuart's 50th birthday so when they brought in the champagne I thought it must be for that. But when they gave me an envelope with the flight tickets in I just couldn't believe it. The whole thing is such a wonderful surprise.
I love working here because it's such a
lovely family atmosphere."
I see people in here now who I cooked for when they were children and now they've got little ones themselves.
Pam joined Salvo's in 1977 just a few months after the family firm opened its doors.
Dedication
And, in keeping with the company's family ethos, her son Kevin is also employed by the company as a senior chef at their sister restaurant Saluté in Oulton.
Salvo's owner John Dammone, son of founder Salvo Dammone, said: We feel very privileged to have staff of the calibre and dedication of Pam.
She works hard to maintain the standards that have enabled the restaurant to be the
only Italian one in West Yorkshire to be consistently featured in the Good Food Guide.
Pam added: I've thoroughly enjoyed working here I would happily do another 25 years if they wanted me to!
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