Grandson Turns His Papa’s Passion Into a Successful Food Business

Grandpa’s authentic Italian peasant food turns snack food into real food.

Most everyone has a fabulous recipe handed down from their grandparents.
But Chicagoan Danny Lena and his wife Marie have turned an Old World Calabrian
tradition into a taste sensation that is changing snack food into healthy food.
Danny and Marie Lena, owners of at Papa Lena’s Healthy Foods at 1438 W. Chicago Ave.
have created a new taste sensation making big waves in Chicago and nationwide.

THE LENAS’ STORY

Two years ago, while sitting on their West Town, Wood St. front deck, Danny & Marie Lena, at 50 years old, realized they needed to make a career change. With no background in the food business, these two gourmet cooks and former motivational speakers took advice from their own empowerment books and turned a dream into a reality.

Today they make their unique gourmet veggie chips and authentic Italian foods for
Chicagoans from Libertyville to Hyde Park. Their healthy products are based on recipe’s
from the Lenas’ grandparents in Sicily and Calabria, Italy. Every fall after Danny turned 10,
he helped his grandfather (Papa) transform vegetables from the garden into tasty chips,
while Marie made Sicilian pizzas and sweets. For years, the Lena’s prepared these “peasant”
recipes for family and friends who constantly encouraged them to “open a food business”.
Risky, yes, but the Lena’s believed in their product and forged ahead to make “Papa’s”
crispy veggies a legacy. In fact, these chips are so unique, they have a patent on them!

Starting Papa Lena’s healthy gourmet was a perfect marriage of Danny and Marie’s interests and talents: their passion for healthy foods and the importance of family tradition. Fortunately, Chicagoans have been equally as passionate about Papa Lena’s products.

In addition to selling in gourmet stores such as Sunset Foods, Foodstuffs, Sam’s Wine, Binny’s,
and Hyde Park Produce, health clubs such as the East Bank Club and Lincoln Park Athletic Club
carry Papa Lena’s lowfat breads, cakes, beet chips, sweet potato chips, red bell pepper chips
and creamy dips. They ship internet orders nationwide, but the most lucky buyers are those who
go directly to Papa Lena’s retail shop at 1438 W. Chicago Ave. to sample all their homemade goodies.

The Lena’s veggie chips were chosen as a “Favorite Food of 2005” by the
Chicago Tribune, called a “Top New Food” at the 2006 Fancy Food Show, and
received rave reviews by ABC’s Hungry Hound. ”Papa” would be proud.

High-end, cutting-edge caterers and restaurants around the city, including
Avec and Blackbird, use Papa Lena’s veggie chips in party trays or as a
flavorful garnish and as recipe ingredients.

The Lena’s energy, enthusiasm, and desire to help others create a
successful business from an idea will make an informative and fun interview.

For additional information, samples, or interview, please contact
Danny Lena at (312) 455-8100 or 312-735-2482 or email
Danny at dlena@papalena.com
You may also visit http://www.papalena.com

CHICAGO 9-28-06 –– Papa Lena's Healthy Foods jumps on the city-wide
bandwagon to promote healthy living at Family Health & Fitness Day held at the
Westmont Park District on September 30. Nourish yourself with samples of Papa Lena's
crispy veggie chips while participating in the bevy of health-minded activities, from an
aerobics master class to information workshops.

Advocating healthy living is nothing new to husband-and-wife team Danny and Maria Lena.
The couple spent the last 23 years touring the country as motivational speakers,
visiting classrooms to talk with kids about the importance of leading a drug-free life-style
and maintaining personal safety. Former national champions in fitness and kickboxing respectively,
Danny and Marie have also owned several health clubs across the city.

About a year and a half ago, Danny realized he was missing out on his life's calling.
Although today, Danny uses modern inventions to perfect his healthy, veggie chips,
his recipe is steeped in the Old World traditions of Calabria, Italy. Every fall after
Danny turned 10, he helped his Italian grandfather hang-dry vegetables in a shedini
(little shed) on their farm in DesPlaines, Illinois; come December they seasoned and
served the chips to their family. Over the past 40 years, Danny continued the tradition,
concocting thousands of chip-based recipes for his friends and family to enjoy.
Founding Papa Lena's was a perfect marriage of Danny and Marie's interests: their
passion for healthy food and the importance of family tradition. Fortunately Chicagoans
have been equally passionate about Papa Lena's products as the Lenas themselves.
In addition to selling at stores such as East Bank Club, Foodstuffs, Sam's Wine and Spirits
and Sunset Foods, Papa Lena's veggie chips were anointed the title of "Favorite Food"
in 2005 by the Chicago Tribune.

Grateful for their own success, Danny and Marie Lena are excited to spread the love of heart-healthy food on September 30 at the Family Health and Fitness Day.   For additional information or to arrange an interview, please contact Danny Lena at (312) 455-8100 or peptalk@ameritech.net. You may also visit www.papalena.com.

CONTACT: Danny Lena

(312) 455-8100

dlena@papalena.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 12, 2006

PAPA LENA'S HEALTHY FOODS TIE OLD WORLD TRADITIONS TO NEW,
LOCAL FLAVORS AT CHICAGO ORIGINALS' FIRST WINE AND FOOD FEST JUNE 22

Oven-roasted and seasoned to perfection, these aren't your average chips. With a patented
cooking process, locally grown beets and other vegetables including poblanos, red bell
peppers and sweet potatoes are kissed with olive oil for a big crunch. Trans fat and
gluten-free, these chips are a healthy addiction!

High-end, cutting-edge restaurants around the city, including Avec and Blackbird, use
Papa Lena's veggie chips as a flavorful garnish and recipe ingredient. Other customers
order platters of chips, along with Papa Lena's garlicky Roasted Red Pepper dip, for
parties, corporate events or fund raisers.

After a year and a half of appearing at events across the city and Chicago-area
suburbs–from demonstrations at Foodstuffs and the recent Fancy Food Show to
selling at Sam's Wine and Spirits and East Bank Club–Chicago husband-and-wife
team Danny and Marie Lena are expanding their sales across the Chicagoland area
(as well as across the nation through Internet sales). Their made-in-Chicago products
have received rave reviews from everyone who tastes them, including the title of one
of the Chicago Tribune's "Favorite Foods" in 2005.

Although today, Danny uses modern inventions to perfect his healthy veggie chips,
his recipe is steeped in the Old World traditions of Calabria, Italy. Every fall after
Danny turned 10, he helped his Italian grandfather work the vegetables in a shedini
(little shed) on their farm in DesPlaines, Illinois; come December they seasoned
and served the chips to their family. Over the past 40 years, Danny continued
the tradition, concocting thousands of chip-based recipes for his friends and
family to enjoy.

Reflecting on their various careers at the age of 50, Danny & Marie literally
cooked up a new recipe for personal success. Fortunately they have years of
entrepreneurial experience under their belts, including 23 years of
touring nationally as motivational speakers. They took their own advice
that anything is possible and started churning out thousands of batches

of chips in 2005.  Steadfast and determined, the couple went from
working out of their home kitchen for their first event to selling at farmers'
market and renting space at Kitchen Chicago to accommodate the rapidly

increasing number of chips orders from around the city. In 2006 they
opened their own storefront at 1438 W. Chicago Avenue.

Keeping up with the constant flow of orders as a mom and pop business is
a challenging task but one Danny and Marie welcome with open arms. From
working together on the stage and now in the kitchen, they're proud to call
themselves ChicagoOriginals. Look for them sharing the booth with chef
Didier Durand of Cyrano’s Bistro & Wine Bar. Tickets cost $60 in advance
and $75 at the door and benefit the March of Dimes.

# # #

For additional information or to arrange an interview, please
contact Danny Lena at (312) 455-8100 or dlena@papalena.com
You may also visit www.papalena.com.

or http://chicagooriginals.com/

Marie & Danny are Co-CEOs and have 28 years of experience
together, 26 of those years married. The development of the
Papa Lena's Roasted Red Pepper Chips has been perfected
throughout generations from their Great Grand-Pa (Papa)
Giuseppe Demarco to Angelo to Danny and it is now a part of the
Lena family history. This history has provided Danny & Marie
with incredible insight, experience and industry knowledge that
reinforced their idea to start a food business from scratch.
Papa Lena's is working hard to achieve the dream of being a premier
healthy food manufacturer.

To find out more about Papa Lena’s Roasted Red Pepper Chips
go to www.papalena.com

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Fer Forge Exhibit Opening Night  Papa Lena’s
Peppers Chips Makes a Smashing Debut

Chicago, Illinois- It was opening night of the Fer Forge Exhibit
Friday April 15, 2005. The event took place at Architectural
Artifacts 4325 N. Ravenswood, Chicago. A show and sale
of French Iron Work and Design from 1920 to 1940. Many
of Chicago’s antique lovers gathered for the gala event.

One of the highlights of the evening was Papa Lena’s
Roasted Red Pepper Chips.  A Chicago based company,
Papa Lena’s Pepper Chips made the evening even more
enjoyable for those who came to see the exhibit. You couldn’t
help but notice the influx of people gathered around their
table sampling Roasted Red Pepper Chips, beets, poblanos,
hot pepper oil, and a sweet pepper dip. “Wow I have never
tasted anything like this, finally a new product to hit the
market, I love it!” said Rachel Veltman of Profit Planners, Inc.

“The event was a success; everyone enjoyed the exhibit
and raved about the Peppers”, says Marie Lena owner
of Papa Lena’s Roasted Red Pepper Chips. It was a magical
night filled with timeless works of art and authentic Italian
flavors by Papa Lena’s.

To find out more about Papa Lena’s Roasted Red Pepper Chips
go to www.papalena.com

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