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Johanne Killeen + George Germon

WHAT DO YOU DO, AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU DONE IT? We have been artists for many decades. We are chef/owners of Al Forno Restaurant.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN RHODE ISLAND? IF YOU’RE NOT A NATIVE, WHERE WERE YOU BEFORE YOU GOT HERE? Most of our lives. George was born in New York; Johanne spent her childhood in New Jersey.
WHAT WERE YOU DOING 30 YEARS AGO? Building Al Forno and freelancing as artists.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO BE DOING 30 YEARS FROM NOW? We never think that far ahead.
WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT? Being awarded “Best Casual Restaurant in the World” by the International Herald Tribune.
FAVORITE THING ABOUT RHODE ISLAND? Johanne: Incredible natural beauty. George: The size.
LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT RHODE ISLAND? Copycats.
COFFEE MILK OR DEL’S? Johanne: Coffee milk. George: It’s a tie.
FAVORITE LOCAL DISH? Mike Lepizzera’s polenta at Mike’s Kitchen. Anthony Micheletti’s Clams Casino and veal parm at Basta. Just about anything Champe Speidel cooks at Persimmon.
IF YOU DIDN’T LIVE HERE, WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO LIVE? On the sea in Liguria or Sicily or in Paris, or Rome, or Hong Kong.
FAVORITE FORMER PAWSOX PLAYER? Wha-a-a-a-t? Which one is the best cook?
WHAT BAR/RESTAURANT/LANDMARK/PERSONALITY THAT HAS CEASED TO EXIST IN THE LAST 30 YEARS DO YOU MISS THE MOST? The New Yorker (Tini’s present location), the original Smith’s on Atwells, Dewey Dufresne’s Joe’s Old Abandoned Grocery Store on Benefit, and Joe’s Upstairs in downtown Prov, Julie Peterson’s Julienne on Washington Street, John Rector’s bar/restaurant Leo’s on Chestnut Street, Roxy’s Arboretum in East Providence, Guy Abelson’s Café In the Barn, the Blue Point on North Main, Richard Fensterer’s wine store on Custom House Street, just to name a few.
PHILLIPE OR JORGE? Both. They are good friends from Johanne’s young adulthood.
FAVORITE PLACE TO GET AWAY FROM IT ALL FOR A MOMENT OR TWO? George: Planet George. Johanne: The beach in Little Compton.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PORTRAYAL OF RHODE ISLAND ON TELEVISION, IN A MOVIE, OR IN A BOOK? George: Family Guy. Johanne: There’s Something About Mary.
WHAT’S ON YOUR WIENERS? George: Everything but celery salt.
IF YOU COULD HAVE THREE RHODE ISLANDERS [LIVING OR NOT] OVER FOR DINNER, WHO WOULD THEY BE? Maryanne Ziegler, Virginia Gilmartin (who comes with her entourage: Joe Gilmartin, Eve Donovan, Gerard Dunne, and Jose Aguon), and Traci Maceroni (who is never without Bernie).

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