An Inspired Chat with Dario of West Hollywood

Dario shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Good morning Dario, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about your customers?
First off we love our customers. Many time i end up speaking over the phone with my customers, especially if they are new ones. The moment they understand we are real italians, probably cause i personally messed up some sentences with wrong grammar (lol) or cause the accent give it away they see us in a different way.
They start telling us about that trip they took to Italy years ago or simply ask were are we from? and ultimately trust us about our product more. That is a beautiful feeling.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Dario and i come from Sicily. A town called Messina, about 45 min away from Taormina. Many americans now know about that place after a famous tv show that was filmed there and made enormous success in US. The white lotus. Many people in LA remember about Cannolitaly from when we started at the Malibu farmer market years ago. Was about 2015 and we had a great feedback from people who would comeback to buy our cannoli again. We had families who would bring their kids back cause they asked about our cannoli and wanted more, people who would just pass by and got interested and try our products. In the specific we had the manager of the Guns n Roses who would come by every now and then saying that Axl loved our cannoli and wanted some. That was a great satisfaction for us.

Our day starts by checking our orders and organizing everything. Not everyday is a busy day but we try our best to keep busy and to reach as many customers as possible through our social and the internet.

We believe that our Cannoli are unique here in the LA area cause unlike many, whose improvise about this particular product, we are born and raised italians that used to make this same product in Italy. In the very same country of origin, Sicily.

Any recipe we use here in Los Angeles today is the same as years ago back home, and every main ingredient is imported from Italy.

We don’t like to brag about it but rather have our customers telling what they think about our Cannoli.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
My father definitely thought me about the importance of having a stable job to help you sustain your family. In the specific about what we do today, the preparation of cannoli, with techniques and recipes, that was my uncle instead who trained me for years when i was working in his family business.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Definitely there is almost always a time when you want to give up. Running a business is not an easy thing especially in a city like LA that has thousands of potential competitors. But then this very city almost certainly will give you an opportunity as well, is it up to you whether or not you want to take it and turn the corner or just gve up.

Cannolitaly is not exactly where i dream to be yet, which would be a physical location, and maybe with multiple stores. But that doesn’t mean that we cannot get there with time.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
They would probably say that i love my family the most and that’s the most important value one should focus on, to my humble opinion. Then of course success is something that comes after but at the very core of it is the dear and closest people who surround you and care about you.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What will you regret not doing? 
Probably spending more time with my family, given the long distance that separates us. LA – Sicily is a long trip so that’s my regret at the moment. But every time i have the opportunity i go and spend time with them and come back home for some time.
It is easier said than done, they say, life is what is happening now while you are making plan for the future. We all should live and enjoy the moment.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cannolitaly.com
• Instagram: @cannolitaly
• Other: Google Business: Cannolitaly