From the Horse's Mouth

About the Book

From the Horse’s Mouth is a slice-of-life peek into the extraordinary world of San Francisco’s legendary Iron Horse Restaurant.

Memories of a bygone era come to life as we look behind the doors of The Horse from 1954 to 1973, when the martini was the drink of the day and the international fare was second to none. We enter into a world of fun, food and fashion, and meet the extraordinary staff (including the aide de camp to General Douglas MacArthur) and patrons who made The Iron Horse the place to be and to be seen. The pulsing energy of standing-room-only crowds, the diverse clientele, and the antics of the Inner Circle, a group of colorful regulars, are only part of this delightful tale. Spontaneous visits from notable celebrities such as Liberace, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Lou Rawls were a way of life at The Horse and it was not unusual to see the likes of Joe DiMaggio dispensing life lessons in a corner booth, or Maria Callas jokingly serving salad to a surprised and delighted crowd.

Interspersed throughout is the touching story of the Giorgetti family, from its roots in Italy where Frederico and Maria’s poignant and heartwarming love was born, to their trials and triumphs in the sleepy coastal community of Half Moon Bay, California. It is here that Leo Giorgetti is born and as we follow him through his nostalgic boyhood, U.S. Navy days during World War II, and eventual success in San Francisco, we see why he endeared himself to so many, making him forever revered as the generous and charismatic owner of The Iron Horse.

About the Author

After raising two children in South Laguna Beach, California, Marilyn changed her life at 55, moving to Nice, France, where she attended the University of Nice. She eventually made her way to Paris, where she enrolled at the Sorbonne. After two exciting years in France, she returned to the U.S., settling in San Francisco, where she produced popular fashion seminars for Macy’s. During her sojourn in Europe, she became interested in ancient villages and photography and at present shows and sells her photographs of “Ancient Villages of Europe.” She lives in Half Moon Bay, California, with her husband, Leo.