One of the East Midlands’ best-known restaurant owners says she will be putting her adopted country ahead of the land of her birth when England take on USA in the World Cup tomorrow.
Annie Spaziano, who runs Annie’s Burger Shack restaurants in Nottingham and Derby, says that she will be cheering on England during the game, despite having been born and raised in America.
The teams will be taking each other on in their second matches of the Qatar World Cup and both of Annie’s restaurants will be screening the match, which kicks off at 7pm.
But she says that their showdown has left her having to decide where her loyalties lie, because she was born and grew up in Rhode Island in New England and has based her ‘Authentically American’ restaurants on the traditional family diners she remembers from her youth.
Annie Spaziano, who runs Annie’s Burger Shack in Derby and Nottingham.
However, although she does return to the States to visit and loves her homeland with a passion, she is now very much an Anglophile, having first visited the UK in 1992 and lived here for nearly 30 years, making her home just outside Nottingham.
She said: “I always really enjoy the big sporting occasions like the Olympics and the World Cup and it’s great to be showing the matches live on big screens for our customers, but obviously I’ve had to think very hard about who I’m going to support.
“I’ve decided I’m going to go with England, because some of my first experiences coming here was watching matches at the pub. I loved the whole connection and comradery of it all. I have always been passionate about things and events that bring people together.
“But when England plays, I see a Country backing up their Country. In America, other than Olympics type sports, we don’t carry the same backing up. I find it’s deeper here. I immediately feel included and that is such an important part of what sport does. Its exactly what our restaurant ethos has.’’
“The USA team are young and exciting and even the US President, Joe Biden, has got behind them. America has its own great sports, but where football is concerned, I’ll be supporting England. Of course, I’m still a true American. Its like two brothers. If one loses I’ll give a hug. Whoever wins I’m going to jump up and down with glee. But in my heart, I will be supporting England for the win on this game.
Annie first opened the doors to Annie’s Burger Shack in Nottingham in 2009, followed by her Derby restaurant in 2018. Her burger menu boasts a huge array of different toppings, with names such as The North Carolina, Sunday Dinner Burger, and the Maryland Crabcake, and every one of the 34 varieties on offer is available as 100% vegan, veggie and meaty.
Both restaurants will also be screening Wales v England next Tuesday evening as well as any subsequent matches featuring England or the USA with special offers like bottomless brunch throughout the game should the teams progress further into the competition.
For more details visit www.anniesburgershack.com
