- Vaticano Restaurant
- May 2
- 2 min read
What My Mother Taught Me.
Vaticano Restaurant In Yorkville Toronto
In Toronto's vibrant culinary scene lies Vaticano Restaurant down the stairs in the heart of Yorkville on 25 Bellair St, a cherished establishment that has become a symbol of authentic Italian cuisine. But behind the restaurant's doors is more than just homemade pasta and desserts. It is the story of three generations of women, and the quiet, enduring power of a mother’s love.
Matylda Pukyova, a woman born and raised in the Czech Republic, was surrounded by the hum of kitchens and hospitality. Growing up Monika Pukyova didn’t walk home from school. She walked into the restaurant where her mother worked. It was there that she watched her mother, Matylda, not just as her daughter, but as her biggest fan.
To Monika, she was a rockstar.
Matylda was raising three children while working long hours in the restaurant. And when she came home? Her shift started all over again.
The house didn’t always smell like dinner, but when she baked, the smell filled every corner with a hug.
Matylda has always handled life like no one else, even after losing her husband. Monika got a role model. A guide. Matylda walked the talk, and it’s her footsteps Monika now follow's.
In 1997, Monika left the Czech Republic and came to Toronto with only the strength Matylda gave her. It was here she met Felice Vacca, an Italian chef whose own story was shaped by generations of strong women. When Monika and Felice decided to open a restaurant together in 2003, they didn’t just create a menu. They created a story. A love letter to the women that shaped them. Vaticano.
Matylda became the heart of the kitchen as Vaticano’s Executive Pastry Chef. Her desserts aren’t just sweet, they’re honest. They are the final note to every guest’s experience.
Matylda is like a tree in winter bare, but underneath, there is life. That’s how Monika sees her daughter, Sasha Matylda Vacca: the new branch. She is a continuation of the tree. She carries the same roots, the same strength, but she brings her own energy. And in Sasha, she feels the abundance and love of the two women who made Monika who she is.
This is the story of mothers and daughters everywhere. It’s a reminder that love doesn’t always show up in grand gestures. Sometimes, it’s in the hands that knead dough late into the night. The footsteps we now walk in.
Matylda. Monika. Sasha. Three women, three generations. This is what Vaticano stands for. Not just food. Not just family. But the strength of women who lead, who lift, and who love, generation after generation.
