Couple focuses on authentic Italian cuisine
Born in Morocco, Karim Aliani spent about five years of his life living in Italy, studying and learning all he could about the countrys cuisine and culture.
After moving to Newport Beach, Calif., he got a job in a small Italian restaurant where he learned about Italian-American cooking and learned to speak English and Spanish.
He expanded his passion for Italian cooking and Italian-American cooking [while working there], his wife, Jeana, said.
Karim got a job working as a chef at Macaroni Grill and eventually became a general manager for the restaurant chain; however, his dream was to open his own small family restaurant.
In 2010 the couple purchased Paisanos Trattoria in Georgetown from Guiseppe and Rosa Pepe, who had opened the restaurant in 1996.
[Karim] decided, I need to do my own thing, and we came across [Guiseppe and Rosa]. [Karim and the Pepes] hit it off, and we took it over, Jeana said. We decided this is a good place to start because its small. [Karim has] never had the passion to open a giant [restaurant]. Hes always envisioned small, boutique-style restaurants. Keep it family; keep it local and close-knit. Just very comfortable and Italian-style.
Karim and Jeana set about updating the restaurant into their own style. The couple kept the pizza recipe used by the Pepeswho had emigrated from Napoli, Italybut decided to change the menu using recipes Karim had picked up during his travels and from his previous experiences, Jeana said.
We travel a lot, she said. We love to find new recipes. [As the chef, Karim takes] what he knows and then tries to make it a little more American but as authentic as possible.
