Rick D. Valente

Rick Valente was recently chosen as the National Spokesperson for Ferrara Café, a New York tradition since 1892.

Rick was born into a typical Italian family in New Haven, Connecticut, and remembers frequent visits to the café as a youth. "Ricky" recalls Ferrara's signature pastries and cakes; "There was nothing better than the sight of that Ferrara box. When my dad came home with the box at Christmas time - or anytime - we knew it meant something special".

"Ferrara will always be a meaningful part of my family's traditions and our story. Being asked to serve as the spokesperson - just to be associated with the Ferrara name - is a great honor, and a reflection of the bond we have shared for a long time. I'm proud to share my passion for the love and care they put in their products".

Rick is most widely known as a world-class bodybuilder (for which he received the title Mr. Los Angeles in 1984), and former Co-host of ESPN's Internationally Syndicated exercise show "Body Shaping". With an impressive run of 14 years (3 times a day for the first 5 years), "Body Shaping" garnered over 3 million viewers daily - with an additional 60 million tuning in from overseas, in 90 countries.

His career also includes more than 20 years as a fitness model, including over 50 commercials, more than 40 book and magazine covers, and the album cover for Van Halen's "5150" (photo, right) which sold over 10 million copies worldwide.

Peter and Ernest Lepore, and the entire Lepore family, are very honored and excited to work alongside Rick, and welcome him with love and open hearts as a member of the Lepore family.

Rick Valente
rick@yyize.com