It was way back in 1893 when Ercole Corti started what was to become long family tradition. The trattoria "Antico Frate" was converted from part of an old monastery formerly occupied by the brotherhood of  the monks of the Order of the Humiliated. The premises, in the borough of San Martino, had stabling for animals and ice house for food preservation and it offered a typical “light” lunch based on onion soup served with pancetta and red wine. In 1911 Ercole moved the business to via Bellinzona in Monteolimpino and was joined in 1924 by his son Carlo who, with his wife Amelia, continued to run the restaurant with great enthusiasm for 42 years. It became a meeting point for those who worked in the area and also for various sports clubs. During the second world war years it served as a wartime canteen for the local community. Carlo and Amelia had four children who helped in the running of the restaurant from when they were little more than children.