Products We Love: Don Ciccio & Figli

[ 2 ] May 8, 2013 | Johnna

There was a time where I had to have everything “fresh”. By “fresh”, I mean I had to practically see the product growing from the ground to want to consume it. Times have changed, schedules have changed and now I can barely get down a can of Chef Boyardee between work, food events and my semi-personal life. When DC Hospitality Veteran, Amalfi Coast native, and Presidente/ Founder Francesco Amodeo invited me in to get a taste of Don Ciccio & Figli, I almost did a two step (*dance) around my living room. Don Ciccio & Figli is an Italian-inspired artisanal liqueur company that just launched and is based here in Washington D.C. Signature liqueurs include Amodeo’s limoncello and concerto.

It was a long, hot day on the evening that I went to visit Don Ciccio & Figli’s wet house. I was exhausted so when Francesco handed me, alongside Mary (Girl Meets Food) and Lauren (The Capital Cooking Show), the gloves to begin the process of making limoncello, I almost wanted to cry. My attitude, however, changed when I realized how easy and fun it is to make limoncello. I suppose I wouldn’t have felt this way if I had peeled some 3,000 lemons by my lonesome like Francesco has done in the past 6 months to create these artisanal spirits. It sparked that “fresh” bug in me and I want to drink Don Ciccio & Figli’s limoncello for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Francesco does the entire process by himself and uses only fresh lemons. If that’s not fresh, then the only other way I can think of getting closer is to do it myself, which will definitely not happen. The tasting began and the flavors of summer, BBQ’s, Tiki parties, late nights/early mornings all sprang in my brain as I was introduced to each flavor. The Concerto, for example, is a “concert” of 15 herbs, spices, barley coffee and espresso that would pair perfect with your favorite warm morning drink (*coffee comes to mind). The Mandarinetto, on the other hand, feels vibrant as it goes down with deliberate hints of mandarin oranges that can stand up to other juices such as grapefruit for the chill you need in a tiki cocktail.

This is a product I love, yes? It takes me down memory lane during a time when everything had to be fresh. As I return to that lifestyle, why not start with my cocktails??

*How to get it? Here.

Tags: Don Ciccio & Figli Limoncello, product review, washington dc

Category: Alcoholic beverages, Food.Fun.Stuff., Product Review, Washington D.C.

About the Author (Author Profile)

Johnna French is a Harlem NY native with deep roots in Panama, Washington, DC and North Carolina. All four places have heavily influenced her life and the foods she loves today. After graduating Howard University School of Law and beginning her life as a young professional in the city she was led to start Johnna Knows Good Food in November 2007 to keep family, friends and colleagues updated on where to go and what to eat while dining in the nation’s capitol. French, who still practices law, leads a team of three writers to cover the ever expanding Washington, DC food scene. French has been featured in print and television, appearing in Washingtonian Magazine and is a regular contributor to various local TV affiliates including WUSA 9, FOX 5 DC and WJLA (ABC Affiliate) News Channel 8. During the 2016-2017 football season, Johnna aired on Comcast Sports Mid-Atlantic (CSN) show, Redskins Life, as the weekly tailgate host. Johnna is currently a regular contributor to the FOX Baltimore Weekend morning show.