Foodpreneur

I have been entrepreneurial my entire life. I was raised as one of 9 children, second to youngest (Yes, from the same parents). This opportunity to grow up in a family of this size gave me a wonderful opportunity to see my older brothers and sisters mature and teach me some of the most important life skills that a parent may not be able to instill in you.

I started my career as a young child shoveling snow for our neighbors and then began a traditional newspaper route. Well, the newspaper route did not last very long considering I had to ride my bicycle up the hills of the Mid-Atlantic and I realized very quickly that I would rather use my mind rather than my muscles to make a living.

My first real summer job was at a health food store (GNC) when I was in high school. I was very athletic and involved in many sports. This job was a great fit for me. Once I started college, I found an interest in sales. I got involved in the optical industry and remained there throughout college. My studies at Towson University in Baltimore, Maryland included Business Management, Accounting, Computer Science, with a great deal of interest in Business Law and Contract Negotiations. I know you are probably thinking how this related to the food industry. I will get to that in a little bit……

Well, I landed in the computer science industry at a network integration company. We designed, installed and maintained computer network solutions. This was my first real full time job. Once I learned the ins and outs, I moved on to a new integration company to develop a business in the emerging computer market in the early 90’s and remained there for 10 years. After developing and negotiating major contract, I wanted a greater challenge and decided to see if I could build another company in the same industry. During the next three years, I was doing exactly what I wanted to do except for one thing. I wanted to move to Florida and start my own wine distribution company to help build our family wine business.

Our family started a winery in Tampa Bay Florida in 1998. I developed a passion for nice wines in the early 90’s after attending a champagne tasting at my brothers house. I was hooked! Murielle Winery was a brain child of my oldest brother Michael. Michael has had some of the finest wines of the world and he felt he would like to make wine himself. Michael came from the corporate world as well and CEO and CFO of major corporations. He wanted a change in life as well.

Murielle Winery, as a said, is a family winery. The name came from my mother. Her name is Muriel and my brother wanted to honor her in all the things she did for our family as we were growing up.

I always knew I wanted to move to Florida and live by the beach and be a part in the development of our family wine business. I had been a part of the winery since the beginning; however, I was 1000 miles away. Well, the timing was right and we were now ready for me to come onto the scene. I started Biglin Brothers Distributors to take Murielle Winery to the streets. I came up with a plan to present the wines to exclusive and boutique shops. This was a very conscious decision considering our wines are all hand crafted and take a great deal of attention to produce, unlike most of the big wineries in the world. Now that we have been in business for 1 ½ years, I am pleased with the response from our clients and look forward to bringing on clients that understand our personal passion for the wines we make.

Michael Merlino has a world of experience in different levels of life.  His education background includes  a Masters degree in Business Administration.  Michael worked eight years as a customer service manager in the U.S. Postal Service; ending as the Acting Director of Customer Services of a four state area-responsible for Delivery Services, Window Service, Mail Forwarding, Vehicle Services, Rural Routes and all 2nd, 3rd and 4th class Post Offices. Founder of the Missoula Roadrunners Club. The past 27 years as the Owner/Manager of Merlinos' Belvedere Restaurant. Co-founder of the Orchard of Hope Foundation and founder of the Belvedere Blues Foundation. These non-profits have donated over $500,000 within Fremont County Colorado--there is no United Way here. Past Board member and President Cañon City Chamber of Commerce and past Board member and Vice Chairman Fremont County Tourism Council.  Attending cooking classes to help improve his passion of cooking for his lovely wife at home.  Michael's hobbies are working out, running and cycling with multiple fitness accomplishments including 6 marathons, the Pikes Peak Ascent 4 times and has completed 49 Olympic distance triathalons.  Tired yet?  Wait, we are getting down to business...

Born in Jamaica I had the opportunity as a kid to hang out with some of the best musicians.  Just to name a few - Bunny Wailer, Peter Toche, and my favorite Bob Marley. I was most influenced by Bob Marley as a person and by his music so, I became a musician myself.  I came to New York to study music.  I attended different schools and had private tutors as well. I played with several bands,  none famous but I had fun just the same.

In 1990 I moved to North Carolina which was great and still is.  It reminded me a little of Jamaica. People are friendly, they wave to you from their cars, they say hi when they pass you on the streets, just like when I was a kid in Jamaica.

In 92, I formed my own band Plutopia, and got my message of One World, One Race, One life to many people. The only problem was, I couldn't get that good tasting Caribbean style food my mom prepared back in Jamaica. So, I started experimenting. Creating recipes from memories of tastes and testing them out on my friends.

On this one occasion, I invited a friend for a jerk chicken dinner. I've been working on this recipe for quite a while and thought I got it to what I remember my mom's chicken tasted like. When he took his first bite he literally stop and said, "You've got to market this." At that time, the thought never entered my mind. But, with every bite he kept saying, "You've got to market this" and when he got to about his fourth or fifth bite he said, "You could call it, Caribbean Bliss" That name was so perfect I couldn't resist, and that's how Caribbean Bliss/Pluto's Inc was born.

Later he confessed that he dreaded the invitation because of his previous terrible jerk experiences.

Was the owner / founder of Paladini Seafood Company, wholesale seafood distributor based in San Francisco. Grandfather's original business was started in 1865. Original business closed in 1974, I re-started the business 6 months later with only $400.00 and in 3 years was the largest wholesale seafood distributor on the west coast with over 300 employees.

I retired in 1994 and created Paladini Seafood Sauces in 1997 and dedicated the line to my granddaughter who has Smith Magenis Syndrome. All profits are donated to the foundation called PRISMS. There is a story in every jar.

Palasini Seafood Sauces
724 South Amphlett Blvd.
San Mateo, CA 94402
877. 732.7282
Website:  Paladini Seafood Sauces

I got involved in the Thai restaurant business in 2000.  I became part owner of one of the more famous Thai restaurants in Atlanta. In 2005, I had a chance to become a majority owner of Rama 5 in Buckhead and took it!  My education background was in Law and Business. After working in the corporate world for over 20 years, I was seeking a greater opportunity and a challenge.  If you have been in the business...  you know I have my hands full!