Numero 187
Olga Aureli
La Custode
Olga Aureli was born in Rome, Italy, into a family where food, hospitality, and tradition were a way of life. As a fourth generation restaurateur, Olga learned from an early age that a meal is about much more than what is served on the place, it is about bringing people together, creating memories and making everyone feel at home. When she first came to Montreal as a teenager, she fell in love with the city and eventually chose to build her life there while remaining deeply connected to her Roman roots. Today, Olga has the privilege of carrying on her family’s legacy at Da Emma restaurant alongside her son, Luca. Every dish they serve reflects the values her parents taught her: authenticity, simplicity, passion and respect for tradition. She believes that preserving the Italian heritage means sharing it with others, one guest, one meal, and one story at a time. That is why she proudly embrace the name “La Custode”, the Keeper of a tradition that began in Rome and continues to flourish in the heart of Old Montreal today.
I was born into a family of restaurateurs. I represent the 4th generation of restaurateurs in my family. My parents came to Montreal in the 90s and opened Restaurant “Da Emma” on St. Laurent Street. Today, my son Luca and I have been running the restaurant together since June 2022. I have always loved cooking. When I was young, I wanted to attend culinary school, but my parents didn’t want me to. Now, at 65 years old, I finally have the opportunity to pursue that dream. In my free time, I enjoy being surrounded by nature and reading a good book.
I came to Canada for the first time when I was 16 years old to visit my aunt, Anna Maria Risa, who was married to a Canadian, Louis Roquet. From the moment I arrived, I fell in love with Montreal. I was struck by its simplicity, its sense of order and the openness of the city. Coming from Rome, where history surrounds you at every turn, Montreal offered something different. It had a calm elegance, wide streets, beautiful green spaces, and a unique blend of European charm and North American energy. It felt welcoming, full of opportunity, and I could easily imagine building a life here. What began as a visit eventually became the place I chose to call home.
One of my favorite memories of Montreal is spending weekends with friends on Mount Royal. We would lace up our skates and spend hours on Beaver Lake in the winter, then warm up with hot chocolate before wandering through the city. In the summer, the mountain became our place to walk, laugh, and enjoy the outdoors. Montreal in those years had a wonderful balance of European charm, cultural vibrancy, and a slower pace of life that made it easy to fall in love with the city.
I chose Restaurant Da Emma because it feels like home. Every corner of the restaurant holds memories of our family’s journey and the many people we’ve welcomed over the years. Old Montreal has a timeless charm that perfectly reflects the spirit of Da Emma. For my outfit, I cwanted something simple and classic. I’ve never believed in excess. To me, elegance comes from being yourself, which is why the saying “less is more” has always resonated with me.
I believe Italiany is a wonderful initiative because it celebrates the people, traditions, and values that make Italian culture so unique. It gives a voice to Italians and Italian descendants who continue to share our heritage around the world, each in their own way. For me, preserving our culture is about more than remembering where we come from. It is about passing those traditions on to future generations and inspiring others through our experiences. Whether it is through food, hospitality, art or entrepreneurship, every story helps keep that heritage alive. I am honored to be part of a project that recognizes those contributions and creates a connection between Italy and the Italian community abroad. Initiatives like Italiany remind us that, no matter where life takes us, our roots continue to shape who we are.
Being an ambassador of Italian style and culture means sharing the values I was raised with: passion, hospitality, simplicity, and respect for tradition. Italian culture is not only about food or fashion; it is also about how we welcome people, how we work, and how we bring beauty and care into daily life. As Saint Augustine said, “The person who loses everything but keeps their passion is less lost than the one who loses their passion.” Passion is at the heart of a person’s life, and it is at the heart of everything I do. Through Da Emma, I hope to share an authentic Italy: generous, elegant, family-oriented, and deeply connected to its roots.
If I could share one final dinner with three people, I would choose my parents, Emma and Lorenzo, and my son Luca. My parents taught me everything I know about food, hospitality, and family, and Luca represents the future of the tradition they began. Having the four of us together around one table would mean everything to me. The menu would be simple and unmistakably Roman: carciofi alla Romana, homemade fettucine, saltimbocca alla Romana, and my mother’s famous tiramisù, accompanied by a beautiful bottle of Italian wine. For me, the perfect dinner isn’t about luxury, it’s about sharing authentic food, telling family stories, and creating memories with the people you love most.
