The passion for the lake and the surrounding area was passed down in Nicola's family from his grandfather Achille Simonelli, who was originally from the place. He was nicknamed "American" like all the natives of the lake who emigrated to America for work and then returned to their country of origin. All the male children of the family, including Nicola's uncles, were fishermen and the passion for fishing and the love for the lake were present in every aspect of daily life. Despite the poverty, food was never in short supply and the family had a strong bond with the territory and its products, which were always valued and respected. Nicola was still very young when he heard his grandfather tell how the sardines were cured and left to dry in the sun, but those stories left an indelible mark on his mind and helped to forge his passion for food and quality cuisine.