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Madelyn Alfano is one of California’s most successful restaurant owners. She is a hard-working businesswoman who brings the best aspects of family life into her chain of restaurants. Madelyn grew up in a big Italian family. She learned about the food business from her mother and father, who also taught her the benefits and joys of being surrounded by friendly and supportive people.
She has taken that knowledge and used it to humanize her industry, by treating employees and customers alike as an extended family often visiting each restaurant and talking at length with individual patrons. In l985, she opened her first Maria’s Italian Kitchen in Sherman Oaks. This restaurant quickly proved to be a great success, so Madelyn expanded the concept to other locations throughout the San Fernando Valley, Pasadena and Santa Clarita. There are now 10 Maria’s Italian Kitchens, including the newest ones in Santa Barbara, Brentwood and West Los Angeles.
Maria’s has their own bakery where all of their desserts are made from scratch. Her headquarters are in Van Nuys, and she has close to 500 employees! Maria’s Italian Kitchen is now among the leading privately owned restaurant chains in the state. With every community Madelyn joins, she offers healthy, quality food with hospitable service in a casual yet elegant and friendly atmosphere. Maria’s continues to respond to evolving palates and special dietary needs with fresh, health-conscious and personalized cuisine offering an eclectic range of menu choices using the finest, freshest ingredients: Organic, Vegan, Vegetarian, Regional Italian, Private In-Home Chef and Special Dietary Needs (such as wheat-free).
Madelyn is also deeply involved with numerous charities and non-profit organizations. Sitting on the board of many including: Shane’s Inspiration-an organization that builds universally accessible playgrounds allowing children with disabilities to play independently with their non-handicapped peers; the Max Reitzin Memorial Fund created after her 12 yr. old son, Max, passed away in 2000, benefiting Handicapped Children. Madelyn sponsors the Los Angeles County Academic Decathlon, L.A. County Science Fair and sponsors the Culinary Arts Program at Camp David Gonzalez, a probation camp. Madelyn is a board member of the Los Angeles County Education Foundation which over-sees 81 school districts in Los Angeles County sponsoring early literacy programs and outdoor science education for disadvantaged children.
She is a board member of the Statewide California Restaurant Association (CRA) and sits on the L.A. Chapter, as well. She is on the Board of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) and in 2002, was invited to become a member of (YPO) Young Presidents’ Organization, an international organization of elite business people.
Due to her great skill as a restaurateur and because she is such a profound philanthropic leader, She was inducted into the NAWBO-LA Hall of Fame in March 2004. Madelyn Alfano has been on the list of Top 50 Women Business Owners in Los Angeles for the past 8 years and in 2004, she was chosen as one the Top 25 Enterprising Women in Los Angeles.
Madelyn Alfano lives in Encino, is married to Dr. Jeffrey Tucker, a successful chiropractor and has three children - Nicolas (14 yrs old), Josh (17 yrs old) and Danielle (17 yrs old).
She has taken that knowledge and used it to humanize her industry, by treating employees and customers alike as an extended family often visiting each restaurant and talking at length with individual patrons. In l985, she opened her first Maria’s Italian Kitchen in Sherman Oaks. This restaurant quickly proved to be a great success, so Madelyn expanded the concept to other locations throughout the San Fernando Valley, Pasadena and Santa Clarita. There are now 10 Maria’s Italian Kitchens, including the newest ones in Santa Barbara, Brentwood and West Los Angeles.
Maria’s has their own bakery where all of their desserts are made from scratch. Her headquarters are in Van Nuys, and she has close to 500 employees! Maria’s Italian Kitchen is now among the leading privately owned restaurant chains in the state. With every community Madelyn joins, she offers healthy, quality food with hospitable service in a casual yet elegant and friendly atmosphere. Maria’s continues to respond to evolving palates and special dietary needs with fresh, health-conscious and personalized cuisine offering an eclectic range of menu choices using the finest, freshest ingredients: Organic, Vegan, Vegetarian, Regional Italian, Private In-Home Chef and Special Dietary Needs (such as wheat-free).
Madelyn is also deeply involved with numerous charities and non-profit organizations. Sitting on the board of many including: Shane’s Inspiration-an organization that builds universally accessible playgrounds allowing children with disabilities to play independently with their non-handicapped peers; the Max Reitzin Memorial Fund created after her 12 yr. old son, Max, passed away in 2000, benefiting Handicapped Children. Madelyn sponsors the Los Angeles County Academic Decathlon, L.A. County Science Fair and sponsors the Culinary Arts Program at Camp David Gonzalez, a probation camp. Madelyn is a board member of the Los Angeles County Education Foundation which over-sees 81 school districts in Los Angeles County sponsoring early literacy programs and outdoor science education for disadvantaged children.
She is a board member of the Statewide California Restaurant Association (CRA) and sits on the L.A. Chapter, as well. She is on the Board of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) and in 2002, was invited to become a member of (YPO) Young Presidents’ Organization, an international organization of elite business people.
Due to her great skill as a restaurateur and because she is such a profound philanthropic leader, She was inducted into the NAWBO-LA Hall of Fame in March 2004. Madelyn Alfano has been on the list of Top 50 Women Business Owners in Los Angeles for the past 8 years and in 2004, she was chosen as one the Top 25 Enterprising Women in Los Angeles.
Madelyn Alfano lives in Encino, is married to Dr. Jeffrey Tucker, a successful chiropractor and has three children - Nicolas (14 yrs old), Josh (17 yrs old) and Danielle (17 yrs old).