Alpharetta restaurant Archives - Business RadioX ®

Maria Fundora, Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant

April 28, 2026 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Maria Fundora, Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant

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Maria Fundora, Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant, on Farm-to-Table Italian Food, the Annual Block Party, and Purple Pansies (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 958)

In this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray welcomes Maria Fundora, owner of Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant in Alpharetta. With the restaurant approaching nearly 29 years of serving the community, the conversation covers the food philosophy and fresh ingredients that have set Casa Nuova apart since 1998, the family culture behind the operation, and the restaurant’s annual Community Block Party, which doubles as the launch event for her nonprofit, Purple Pansies. Casa Nuova is a cook-to-order kitchen offering traditional Italian fare, including pasta, fresh seafood, veal, and chicken, with a menu rooted in the recipes Chef Antonio Fundora developed at Alfredo’s back in 1974. The restaurant also operates a working farm steps from the building, now spanning 14 acres, that supplies the kitchen with tomatoes, corn, peppers, zucchini, and more during the growing season.

Maria describes hospitality at Casa Nuova as a “50-50 marriage” between food and service, with every guest treated as the top priority. That culture shows in the staff: Chef George has been with Casa Nuova for 28 years, Juan Carlos for 26, and Victoria for 22. The team gathers for a family meal together at 3:30 PM every day, and Maria says she would do the same tasks as any team member. A regular customer put it simply: she can’t always remember what she ordered, but she always remembers how Casa Nuova made her feel. Maria also received the Legacy Award from the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, which she took as a call to mentor younger people in the community.

On the food side, Casa Nuova serves only fresh seafood, fresh veal, and fresh chicken. Nothing is frozen, and all meat is butchered in-house. In the summer months, the kitchen draws from a working farm just steps from the restaurant, which now spans 14 acres and produces tomatoes, corn, peppers, zucchini, and more. The Community Block Party on Sunday, May 3rd, 2026, from 2:00 to 5:30 PM at the restaurant is free and open to the public, with a complimentary buffet and live music. Donations to Purple Pansies are welcome but not required. Every dollar raised by Purple Pansies goes directly to clinical trials and research, emergency grants for families battling the disease, and scholarships for children of pancreatic cancer patients.

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is produced by John Ray and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, and is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

A longtime Casa Nuova regular told Maria she can’t always remember what she ordered, but she always remembers how the restaurant made her feel. That’s the standard Maria and her team work to deliver for every guest.
Casa Nuova staff longevity is remarkable: Chef George has been with the restaurant for 28 years, Juan Carlos for 26, and Victoria for 22. The team shares a family meal together at 3:30 PM every day.
Casa Nuova uses only fresh seafood, fresh veal, and fresh chicken. All meat is butchered in-house, which is why portions vary in appearance rather than arriving pre-cut and identical.
Casa Nuova’s 14-acre farm, which began with a single acre in 2000, grows vegetables used directly in the kitchen during the summer months, including the corn behind the restaurant’s celebrated corn chowder.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:20 John Ray introduces the show and guest Maria Fundora
01:48 Maria Fundora introduces Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant and its nearly 29-year history
04:42 Staff longevity and the family culture inside Casa Nuova
05:39 Legacy Award from the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce
07:37 How guests are remembered and Casa Nuova’s role in celebrations of life
09:12 Annual Community Block Party: free admission, complimentary buffet, Sunday May 3rd, 2026, 2:00 to 5:30 PM
10:42 Block party details: paella, roasted pig, gelato, live music, and children’s corner
15:38 Fresh ingredients: no frozen seafood, veal, or chicken; everything butchered in-house
18:28 The farm: 14 acres of vegetables growing steps from the restaurant
20:57 Purple Pansies: clinical trials, emergency grants, and scholarships for families
21:33 Contact information for Casa Nuova and Purple Pansies

Maria Fundora, Owner

Maria Fundora is the owner of Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant in Alpharetta and the founder of Purple Pansies, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting pancreatic cancer. She co-founded Casa Nuova in 1998 with her late husband, Chef Antonio “Tony” Fundora, after the couple had built a string of successful Atlanta restaurants, including the original Alfredo’s, which Tony opened in 1974.

Maria immigrated to the United States from Cuba in the 1960s, grew up in Chicago where her father was a restaurateur, and moved to Atlanta in the 1980s. She founded Purple Pansies in 2009 following her mother’s death from pancreatic cancer, and the organization became an incorporated nonprofit in 2017.

Maria has received the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce Legacy Award, the Greater North Fulton Chamber Small Business of the Year Award (2023), the Atlanta Business Chronicle Leaders in Corporate Citizenship Award (2021), and recognition as one of the Georgia Hispanic Chamber’s 50 Most Influential in Georgia. She was also appointed to the National Pancreatic Cancer Council in 2022.

Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant

Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant is a family-owned and operated establishment in Alpharetta that has served traditional Italian cuisine since 1998.

The restaurant is a cook-to-order kitchen offering pasta, chicken, fresh seafood, veal, and vegetarian and gluten-free options, along with daily specials. All seafood, veal, and chicken are fresh and butchered in-house. In the summer months, the kitchen draws from a working farm just steps from the restaurant, growing tomatoes, corn, peppers, zucchini, and more for direct use in the kitchen. Casa Nuova also offers catering for private events of all sizes.

Maria and her husband, the late Chef Antonio Fundora co-founded the restaurant, and their son Jose “Pepe” Fundora now serves as executive chef. Casa Nuova is located at 5670 Atlanta Highway in Alpharetta and is open Monday through Saturday beginning at 4:00 PM.

Website | Facebook

Purple Pansies

Purple Pansies is a nonprofit organization founded by Maria Fundora in 2009 after losing her mother to pancreatic cancer and incorporated as a nonprofit in 2017. Its mission is to fund research and provide support for those affected by pancreatic cancer through clinical trials, emergency financial grants for families actively battling the disease, and scholarships for children of pancreatic cancer patients.

Purple Pansies operates entirely on volunteers, and every dollar raised goes directly to its mission. Two annual fundraising events support the organization: the Community Block Party, hosted each spring at Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant, and the Pillars of Hope gala each fall. Through these efforts, Purple Pansies has raised more than $5 million for pancreatic cancer research and patient support.

Website | Facebook | Instagram

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Renasant Bank has humble roots, having started in 1904 as a $100,000 bank located in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has grown into one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, boasting over $26 billion in assets and more than 280 offices offering banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services throughout the region. All of Renasant’s success stems from the commitment of each banker to invest in the communities they serve, which in turn helps them better understand the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, their banking professionals understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

Whether you’re a law firm, medical practice, or manufacturer, there’s one headline you don’t want to make: “Local Business Pays Thousands in Ransom After Cyberattack.” That’s where Beyond Computer Solutions comes in. They help organizations like yours stay out of the news and in business with managed IT and cybersecurity services designed for industries where compliance and reputation matter most.

Whether they serve as your complete IT department or simply support your internal team, they are well-versed in HIPAA, secure document access, written security policies, and other essential aspects that ensure your safety and well-being. Best of all, it starts with a complimentary security assessment.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

Approaching 1,000 episodes and having featured over 1,400 guests, North Fulton Business Radio is the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton area, covering business in our community like no one else. We are the undisputed “Voice of Business” in North Fulton!

The show invites a diverse range of business, non-profit, and community leaders to share their significant contributions to their respective markets, communities, and professions. There is no discrimination based on company size, and there is never any “pay to play.” North Fulton Business Radio supports and celebrates businesses by sharing positive stories that traditional media ignore. Some media lean left. Some media lean right. We lean business.

John Ray, host of North Fulton Business Radio, and Owner, Ray Business Advisors — **John Ray, host of *North Fulton Business Radio* and Owner, Ray Business Advisors**

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. John and the team at North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, produce the show, which is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

The studio is located at 275 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.

You can find the entire archive of shows by following this link. The show is accessible on all major podcast apps, such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, and many others.

John Ray also operates his own business advisory practice. John’s services include advising solopreneurs and small professional services firms on their value, their positioning and business development, and their pricing. His clients are professionals who are selling their expertise, such as consultants, coaches, attorneys, CPAs, accountants, bookkeepers, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.

John is the author of the five-star-rated book The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices, praised by readers for its practical insights on raising confidence, value, and prices.

Gerald Pulsinelli, Viva Chicken

March 2, 2023 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Gerald Pulsinelli, Viva Chicken

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North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 614)

On this edition of North Fulton Business Radio, Gerald Pulsinelli, CEO of Viva Chicken, joined host John Ray to discuss his company and their new Haynes Bridge Road location in Alpharetta. Gerald talked about their delicious menu offerings, including their Peruvian Rotisserie Chicken, how every menu item, even sauces, are made fresh on premises, why Alpharetta represents an attractive market for the company, how Viva Chicken takes care of its team members and gives back to the community through VivaCares, and much more.

North Fulton Business Radio is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Viva Chicken is a fast-casual charcoal-fire Peruvian Rotisserie Joint specializing in the authentic Pollo a la Brasa (Peruvian Rotisserie Chicken) found on the streets of Peru. Serving the hottest, freshest chicken, Viva promises distinctive and flavorful menu items packed with inspired recipes that will transform your taste buds.

Convenience is key, whether guests dine in or take out. Order with the VIVA App for a seamless experience and earn Viva Points when signing up for our loyalty program.

Website | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

**Gerald Pulsinelli, CEO, Viva Chicken**

With nearly thirty years of experience, Gerald Pulsinelli plays an active leadership role in the hospitality industry. A strategic-driven senior executive with a proven history of success in restaurant operations, Gerald serves as the Chief Executive Officer for Viva Chicken, a fast-casual, authentic Peruvian Rotisserie Joint founded in 2013 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Viva Chicken currently operates 12 restaurants across the country and is making its market entry into Georgia in late 2022.

Gerald’s role with Viva Chicken began in 2018. Since that time, he has dug into every aspect of the aspiring brand, partnering with the co-founders, current board of directors, and operations team, and working to fortify the homegrown company into a national brand.

Much of Gerald’s strong commitment to delivering superior hospitality was instilled in him when he served as a member of the Senior Executive Team at Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, also based in Charlotte. He was with Firebirds from its inception in 2000, serving as General Manager of the restaurant’s first location, and in numerous senior-level positions over the next 18 years.

As a member of Firebirds’ Senior Leadership Team, Gerald was responsible for helping the team deliver the company’s version of iconic hospitality to all team members and every guest, while also helping define and execute the company’s purpose, mission, and values. As the Firebirds concept developed and grew from a single location to 50 by the end of 2018, Pulsinelli took pride in integrally shaping the growth and culture of the company nationwide.

As Firebirds’ Vice President of Development, he was responsible for leading and directing the development team in achieving the company’s high growth objectives. He oversaw the rollout of two new prototype restaurants, including evaluating the overall design and construction costs to ready the innovative prototypes for the expansion of the company.

Giving back to the community is part of Gerald’s DNA. In early 2020, Gerald pioneered a valued partnership between No Kid Hungry and Viva Chicken through the “Churros for Children” campaign. In addition, he is an active supporter of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF), helping to find a cure for childhood cancer. Gerald is currently an ambassador for CORE (Children of Restaurant Employees) as well as a former member of the CHEERS Advisory Board.

Why is Viva Chicken opening in Alpharetta?
Philanthropy is a big part of Viva Chicken’s corporate culture – how do you as Viva’s CEO inspire your team to be as passionate as you are?
When did you know you wanted to be in the restaurant and hospitality industry?
How have you navigated your team through a pandemic and actually grown your business while others have not?
What have the VivaCares initiatives been in the last 60 days?
Any expansion plans in metro Atlanta?

North Fulton Business Radio is hosted by John Ray and broadcast and produced from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, Stitcher, TuneIn, and others.

Renasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has grown to become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions with over $13 billion in assets and more than 190 banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services offices in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida. All of Renasant’s success stems from each of their banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way of better understanding the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

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Slade Scoles, Brimstone Restaurant & Tavern

January 19, 2022 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Slade Scoles, Brimstone Restaurant & Tavern

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Slade Scoles, Brimstone Restaurant & Tavern (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 427)

Slade Scoles, Owner of Brimstone Restaurant & Tavern, joined host John Ray to share the “dancing, food, and fun” happening there. Brimstone hosts ShagAtlanta and offers a large dance floor. Brimstone’s chef trained at Le Cordon Bleu, and all the food is freshly-prepared, down to even the mayonnaise and salad dressings. Brimstone offers great entertainment options as well, such as poker tournaments. Slade discussed his decision to buy the restaurant, their expansion plans, plans to offer grass-fed beef from the Wyoming ranch he owns, and much more. North Fulton Business Radio is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Brimstone Restaurant & Tavern

Brimstone Tavern is a locally owned sports bar on the south end of North Point Mall.

They are located at the intersection of Mansell Road and Old Alabama Connector, in the same shopping complex as Fancy Pantry. The restaurant layout is unique, where their custom carved bar is physically separated from a family-style dining area which is ideal for families with kids.

On one side of the restaurant, they also have a large private room, where a lot of working professionals can not only convert into their office but also use it as a meeting and training room. With super-fast free WiFi, secured with the best firewall technology in the industry; it’s a no-brainer! This large event space is fully-equipped with a PA system, a projector, and smart TVs, which has become a recent attraction for a lot of corporate events, local Meet-Ups, as well as family events, such as wedding rehearsals, birthday parties, Bar Mitzvahs, and more!

Brimstone’s chef-inspired menu features comfort food with international flavors. For example, their gourmet burgers are more than your idea of a traditional cheeseburger because of their signature sauces and other top-secret ingredients! Their burgers also feature an optional gluten-free bun, fried pickles, gourmet salads, and other options.

**Wyoming Brand Certificate for Slade’s cattle ranch**

Later in 2022, Brimstone will start sourcing all its beef directly from Slade’s 650-acre cattle ranch in Wyoming.

The sports bar has an extremely large selection of whiskeys (single malts/blended) and bourbons. Starting with the most basic ones, all the way to the Balvinies, Macallan’s, Johnny Walker’s, Basil Hayden’s, Knob Creek, Angels Envy of the Bourbon World… The list goes on and on! They feature local craft beer on tap to support local breweries and give their customers a taste of what your neighborhood businesses can do.

They are not just about food and drink, they are about Entertainment! For this very reason, they bring nightly activities, such as Trivia, Poker, and Live Music for their customers. They also give back to the community by hosting regular fundraisers for local charities, such as St. Baldrick’s. Come experience this unique sports bar that’s rocking the Alpharetta restaurant scene.

They host Any 2 Cards, the poker tournament company. For more information, visit the Any 2 Cards website.

Company Website | Facebook | Instagram

Slade Scoles, Owner, Brimstone Restaurant & Tavern

**Slade Scoles, Owner, Brimstone Restaurant and Tavern**

Slade Scoles, a U.S. Veteran, is the new owner of Brimstone Restaurant & Tavern. He is eager to make Brimstone your destination for food and drinks in the Alpharetta area. He also owns Any 2 Cards, a poker tournament company in the Atlanta area that plays at Brimstone.

Slade is also the Chief Scientist with SES Environmental. Founded in 1993, SES was formed to provide quality nationwide environmental services based on the principle that experienced professionals provide superior service. SES originally focused on government clients and performed Phase I and Phase II Assessments for clients such as the Georgia Department of Transportation and the Georgia Department of Corrections.

SES has grown to serve banks, law firms, property management firms, property developers, and industry leaders.

With a staff of over 20 people in the Atlanta area and over 60 nationwide, SES provides a credible and successful solution to a variety of environmental issues.

Slade has a Master’s in Public Health from Tulane University and a Master’s in Administration from Central Michigan University.

Questions and Topics Discussed in this Episode

Tell us about Brimstone
Let’s hear about the food and entertainment
How did you come to own Brimstone?
Talk about Any 2 Cards
Talk about your expansion
Where do you source your beef?

North Fulton Business Radio is hosted by John Ray, and broadcast and produced from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, Stitcher, TuneIn, and others.

Renasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has grown to become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions with over $13 billion in assets and more than 190 banking, lending, wealth management and financial services offices in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida. All of Renasant’s success stems from each of their banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way of better understanding the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

Special thanks to A&S Culinary Concepts for their support of this edition of North Fulton Business Radio. A&S Culinary Concepts, based in Johns Creek, is an award-winning culinary studio, celebrated for corporate catering, corporate team building, Big Green Egg Boot Camps, and private group events. They also provide oven-ready, cooked from scratch meals to go they call “Let Us Cook for You.” To see their menus and events, go to their website or call 678-336-9196.

Ryan and Daniel Pernice, RO Hospitality

September 22, 2020 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Ryan and Daniel Pernice, RO Hospitality

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Ryan and Daniel Pernice, RO Hospitality (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 287)

Brothers Ryan and Daniel Pernice of RO Hospitality join host John Ray to discuss their three restaurant brands, Table & Main, Osteria Mattone, and Coalition Food and Beverage. Ryan and Dan discuss how their operations changed because of the pandemic, their effort to help food insecure families, what the future of the restaurant industry may look like, and more. “North Fulton Business Radio” is produced virtually from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta.

RO Hospitality

Ryan Pernice and his brother Daniel, restaurant co-owners, have lived in Roswell for 25+ years, both graduating from Roswell High School many years ago. They currently own three restaurants: Table & Main and Osteria Mattone in Roswell and Coalition Food and Beverage in Alpharetta. Ryan graduated from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration with distinction in 2007. Afterwards, he lived in New York City working for acclaimed restaurateur Danny Meyer at Maialino, an Italian trattoria, before moving home in 2011 to open Table & Main. Ryan’s restaurants are currently back to full operation and trying everything under the sun to remain top-of-mind for potential guests amidst all this craziness. Early on in the pandemic, they transformed Table & Main into a soup kitchen donating meals at no charge to the newly food insecure. They are proud to have fed 9,750 people during this difficult time.

Company website

Facebook

Instagram

Questions/Topics Discussed in this Show

Operating restaurants pre and post-Covid
Social Media – Community engagement
Table & Aid, a community hunger relief initiative
Their backgrounds working for New York City restaurateur Danny Meyer
Small biz growth (from 1 restaurant to 3 + 1 management company)
Managing a multi-location restaurant company
Playing to each other’s strengths as managers
Starting a side hustle

North Fulton Business Radio” is hosted by John Ray and produced virtually from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, iHeart Radio, Stitcher, TuneIn, and others.

Renasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has grown to become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions with over $13 billion in assets and more than 190 banking, lending, wealth management and financial services offices in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida. All of Renasant’s success stems from each of their banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way of better understanding the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.