Carlo, twenty at the time, knew, as the man of the house, it was his responsibility to take care of his mother and sister. Maritime labor appealed to him. He became a longshoreman. These were the days of the hiring hall, the charismatic Harry Bridges was the union leader of the International Longshoremen’s and Warehousemen’s Union (ILWU) and Carlo was comfortable at the waters edge on Fisherman’s Wharf. He learned the ropes the docks and the cranes. He was in the company of strong and determined men. He was one of them.

A few years later his sister Mary, worked at the Bank Of America and introduced her brother to her co-worker, Judy. Carlo and Judy developed a strong bond, married, moved to Redwood City and had three children. Cindy, is their first born.

However, when Cindy was seventeen, her parents divorced and she moved with her father into her grandmother’s flat on Vandewater Street.

After High School, she worked for five years in nightclubs. A friend of hers was working at Pasta Pomodoro on 9^th and Irving Street. Today, it is simply called, Pomodoro. He encouraged her to apply.

She had never worked in a restaurant before. She submitted her fabricated resume and was hired at the Chestnut Street location in the Marina. The next two days she trained and the person who trained her, also happened to be one of the D.J.’s from one of the nightclubs she had been working in.

“It was easy back then. The menu was tiny. A few different wines, a couple of beers, two salads, eight pastas, one dessert. Who couldn’t get that?”

Eleven years later, Cindy remains at Pomodoro, and is the server with the most experience in the company.

A few years ago, Pomodoro, selected Cindy to train the staff as the restaurant branched out into Southern California. They flew her down to Los Angeles and provided hotel accommodations.

“I didn’t want to do it and I was scared. It was hard work but I met great people and had a lot of fun.”

Today, Cindy works at both the Laurel Village location and the restaurant in my neighborhood, Pomodoro at 816 Irving Street (415-566-0900). Her service and warm personality is the reason, I keep coming back. She tells me,

“I care about my customers experience. I want them to walk away happy.”

I know they do. I’m one of her loyal customers. She takes the extra time to explain a dish, describe a wine or just ask how you are and care about the response.

I ask about her favorite dish at Pomodoro.

“The Linguini Vongole. I like picking out the clams. Their tiny, the texture…their done right here. Some places use canned clams. We use only fresh clams. It makes all the difference.”

I happen to know she’ll be going to Rome this summer.

“Cindy, I went to this corporate looking restaurant in Rome, called of all things, Target on Via Torino. I had gnocchi with clams and asparagus. The gnocchi were tiny closed fists and the clams were the size of a dime in the most delicate broth. I’m still thinking about that dish more than a year and many euros later.”

She promises when in Rome, she’ll go to Target.

She and her fiancée, love San Francisco.

“We like to check out restaurants. There’s so much natural beauty. Land’s End is beautiful, and of course, Fishermen’s Wharf.

They also enjoy wine, and once a month spend some time in Sonoma or Napa. At any given time, they belong to five and sometimes as many as ten wine clubs.

“Maybe, one day we’ll have a place there.”

Cindy is close to her sister, brother, nephew, parents and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

"I can’t imagine a family closer than ours.”

In describing her mother, Cindy says,

“I want to be as loving and caring as my Mom.”

A few years ago, Cindy and her sister Katie, walked her mother down the aisle. Her mother and father re-married.

“They still drive each other crazy and live in separate cities. My Dad, can’t leave the Wharf.”

Today, Carlo Cefalu takes pride in the boat he bought for $1.00. His friends and family persuaded him to forgo the purchase and let the owners sink it. But, Carlo was enamored. He removed the dead dogs, gutted the vessel, and today, the master carpenter admits, “Belle of Dixie is the most beautiful boat on the Wharf.”

In August, Cindy’s sister Katie, proudly will stand next to her sister as her maid of honor.

“She’s my best friend, but we can fight like no other. I think it’s the Sicilian blood, but she’s more like my father.”

Her brother Michael’s son, Giovanni’s seven year old hands will hold the pillow, as the ring bearer for his Aunt Cindy and Uncle Paul.

Carlo will walk his daughter down the aisle. She’ll take her vows and marry Paul.

She looks directly into my eyes. Her smile is exuberant.

“ You know, he’s the love of my life and my whole family adores him.”

Cindy and Paul will honeymoon in France, Italy and particularly, Cefalu, Sicily. When she returns from Europe, she’ll change her name from Cindy Cefalu, to Cynthia Carey.