[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 61 (Wednesday, April 6, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S2038]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RECOGNIZING MALVAGIO'S RESTAURANT

 Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, as a member and former chairman of 
the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each month 
I recognize and celebrate the American entrepreneurial spirit by 
highlighting the success of a small business in my home State of Idaho. 
Today, I am pleased to honor Malvagio's Restaurant as the Idaho Small 
Business of the Month for April 2022.
  Malvagio's Restaurant brings a taste of Italy to Coeur d'Alene with 
their sampling of hand-crafted wood-fired pizzas, pastas, salads, and 
breads. With a dream of bringing their community together with food and 
a passion for the tradition of wood-fired cooking, owners Svitlana and 
Matthew Petersen dedicated a year to perfecting the craft and designing 
an innovative, mobile wood-fired oven. Using this unique oven as the 
cornerstone of their restaurant, the couple founded Malvagio's in 2016.
  In the 5 years since Malvagio's first opened its doors, the 
restaurant has become a mainstay of the Coeur d'Alene community. While 
they have brought smiles to countless faces in their mom-and-pop 
restaurant, the Petersen's mobile wood-fired oven has allowed the 
business to branch into catering. Today, Malvagio's pizzas are a common 
sight at weddings, parties, and other celebrations across northern 
Idaho. Thanks to this growth, the restaurant now employs eight Idahoans 
and is the official dealer of Forno Bravo wood-fired ovens in Idaho.
  Malvagio's success is matched only by the Petersen's dedication to 
giving back. As the world watched Russia's invasion of Ukraine, 
Svitlana--a Ukrainian native--and Matthew began serving an authentic 
Ukrainian dish at Malvagio's. During the week of March 2, 2022, all 
proceeds from each purchase of a cup of borscht, a Ukrainian beetroot 
soup, were donated to Ukrainian humanitarian needs. By virtue of these 
efforts, Malvagio's has raised thousands of dollars in support of 
Ukraine and has become a champion of Idahoan entrepreneurship and 
philanthropy.
  Congratulations to Svitlana, Matthew, and all of the employees at 
Malvagio's Restaurant for being selected as the Idaho Small Business of 
the Month for April 2022. You make our great State proud, and I look 
forward to your continued growth and success.

                          ____________________