It is with great sadness we mourn the passing of Jenny, wife to the late Giorgio Iacono, who for 51 years owned the world famous Luna Caprese Italian Restaurant in North Parade Avenue.

In the early 1960’s Mr. Jack Elton ran the very successful butchers shop in North Parade Avenue, directly opposite the Rose and Crown Public House and next door to a café called ‘Muffins’.

Meanwhile in central Oxford, the Café Roma was opened in the High Street. To add authenticity to the coffee shop, true Italian baristas were hired to work in the café.

Jenny Elton, Jack’s daughter, started going to the café and met a young Italian barrista called Giorgio. They fell in love and married soon after.

in 1962, Jack Elton bought the Muffins café next door to his butchers shop and gave it to his daughter, Jenny and Giorgio as a wedding present.

The café blossomed and they decided to increase the food offer and “The Luna Caprese” was born. When it first opened olive oil was only available from chemists and pasta was rarely seen.

Luna Caprese was opened in 1962. Giorgio died in 2011, aged 74, having retired nearly a decade before.

The premises were sold in 2002 , but the Luna Caprese continued under the guiding hand of two former members of Giorgio’s staff, Luis Castro and Giovanni Ventriglia.

51 years after opening, it closed on January 4th 2013.

RIP Jenny. x