Our Maine Street's Aroostook Issue 12 : Spring 2012 | Page 64

Gram Ruso’s Italian Restaurant

Kevin B. Simmons began negotiations for
the purchase of the Presque Isle Inn & Convention
Center, formerly know as Keddy’s Motor Inn, in the
early part of 1999. After finalizing the purchase
in July 2000, Simmons’s first project was the
renovation of the main dining room. Simmons knew
that he wanted something previously unavailable
in Aroostook County, a truly authentic Italian
restaurant. He wanted a look of the true Italy with
ornate wall coverings, decorations, and a real Italian
water fountain straight from Italy.

Marjorie Russo, Kevin’s late grandmother
who past away at the age of 87 in 1999, was the
inspiration for Gram Russo’s Italian Restaurant.
64

SPRING 2012

Though Marjorie Russo was not of Italian descent,
she adopted the culture and cuisine of her loving
husband Benjamin Carmen Russo, making it
distinctly her own. Gram Russo’s features authentic
Italian dishes based on those made by Marjorie,
that Kevin grew to love as a child. Those menu items
include recipes for marinara sauce and meatballs,
lasagna and many other popular Italian dishes.

Today, the culinary department is under the
direction of Joanna Dumond. Joanna has been
employed at Gram Russo’s since 2009 and has truly
created a new culinary flare in The County; she is a
Van Buren native. Growing up in the St. John Valley
where the Acadian culture and food, as well as the