Farewell to pioneers

THE food community is mourning the recent deaths of two elder statesmen who pioneered Melbourne's appreciation of Italian food, wine and culture. Importer Luigi "Gino" Di Santo, who in 1953 founded North Carlton's Enoteca Sileno on Amess Street (it has since moved to larger premises on Lygon Street), passed away on January 21 at the age of 84. And last week Rino Codognotto, a restaurateur who presided over the Society restaurant launched by his father Guiseppe in 1932, and a member of the so-called "Spaghetti Mafia", passed away at the age of 87. Codognotto €” uncle of the late Mietta O'Donnell €” was two years ago awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia.