Small Bites

I almost cried when I read this email from Marcelo’s mother-in-law. She tells me that in April, just one month after his son was born, Marcelo was diagnosed with fourth stage melanoma.

Adam Christensen and I did a video about Adam’s guide to local empanadas back in February, and Marcelo’s wife, Stacey, was pregnant at the time. The news just really breaks my heart. Here’s another look at the video:

The restaurant is still open.

Here’s the email from Jan:

Hello, on Feb 18, 2009 you had a empanada restaurant review date with Adam Christensen at my son-in-law Marcelo Azar’s restaurant, MED Empanadas and posted a video on your blog.

With a broken heart, I share this follow-up with you.

The owner of Med Empanadas; Marcelo Azar, was featured in Life and Style, 02/25/09
as an empanada favorite in Westchester.

Marcelo and his wife, Stacey Fields, loved to create good food and good
conversation together. Over the past 7 years, they worked together in many restaurant
ventures, from French Confessions ( Pleasantville), and their own restaurants;
Broadway Cafe (Valhalla), and MED Empanadas (Briarcliff).

Marcelo’s memorable,booming voice could be heard through the restaurants,
“HELLO MY FRIEND!, I made something special for you!”, and it was always an
oversize portion.

The young couple shared a deep love for each other and their 3 month old son,
Marcelo, “Marcelito”. In the last 3 years, they never left each other’s side.

In April ‘09, one month after Marcelito was born, Marcelo was diagnosed with 4th
Stage Melanoma. Together, Marcelo and Stacey fought this cancer positively and
aggressively. Marcelo’s entire family came from Uruguay to join Stacey’s family
in supporting them through the next 2 months.

As the treatment was having encouraging results, the couple’s plan was to re-locate
to Uruguay by August for a less stressful life. Marcelo’s health depended
on dramatic life changes.

In a sudden, unforeseen turn, Marcelo died on Sunday,07/05/09, due to complications
from chemotherapy. He was 36 years old.
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Feel free to share this information.
If there is a way you could send us the video from this blog, it would be truly appreciated.
Thank you for the support and acknowledgement.
For any concerned, MED remains open.

Thank you,
Jan Fields (Mother-in-law of Marcelo Azar)