About
Welcome to Geno Auriemma's newest restaurant, Café Aura, voted the Best New Restaurant of 2020 in the Best of Hartford Magazine Readers’ Poll. Focusing on upscale dining, an extensive bar with world-class wines, prime steaks and classic Italian dishes with a modern twist, Café Aura is sure to please.
Café Aura Celebrates First Anniversary
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Executive Chef Erminio Conte
A native of Italy, Chef Erminio Conte studied and perfected his art throughout Europe before coming to the states, where he worked in New York City as Executive Chef for some of the top restaurants in the city, including Barolo, Acquapazza, Cellini and Fiorini.
Chef Conte specializes in artfully combining fresh and flavorful ingredients to achieve dishes with exquisite taste. Café Aura's specially curated wine list featuring hard-to-find selections are a perfect complement to his cuisine. Italy is known as a passionate culture, and Chef Conte applies that passion to his art every time he steps into his kitchen. "I do this for love," he says with a smile and a little Italian flair as he begins to prep for a busy day.
About Geno Auriemma
Geno Auriemma was named coach of the University of Connecticut's women's basketball program on May 17, 1985, and in 35 years has led the UConn Huskies to twenty Final Fours, eleven NCAA championships, six perfect seasons and 49 conference championships. A 2006 inductee to both the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, Auriemma became just the fourth women's basketball coach to reach 1,000 career wins on Dec. 19, 2017. He was the fastest coach to reach the mark and owns the best win percentage in the sport (.884). Auriemma has been named Naismith National Coach of the Year eight times, AP National Coach of the Year nine times, WBCA National Coach of the Year seven times and conference coach of the year 15 times. Off the court, the Huskies boast a perfect 100 percent graduation rate among four-year student athletes while regularly participating in community service and outreach activities.
Coach Auriemma has served as head coach of the U.S. Women's National team for eight years, leading Team USA to the 2012 and 2016 Olympic gold medals. He also led the United States to gold in the 2010 and 2014 FIBA World Championships.
Auriemma, the son of Italian immigrants, was born in Italy and moved to Norristown, Pa., a suburb of Philadelphia, with his parents, brother and sister, when he was young. He is a graduate of Bishop Kenrick High School and West Chester (Pa.) University. His coaching career began as the assistant women's basketball coach at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia during the 1978-79 season. He later coached boys high school basketball at Bishop Kenrick before becoming an assistant to coach Debbie Ryan at the University of Virginia in 1981, where he worked until UConn hired him.
Coach Auriemma currently resides in Manchester, CT with his wife Kathy. Geno has three children and three grandchildren. To learn more about Coach Auriemma, please visit www.GenoAuriemma.com.
