Published: September 01. 2010 2:00AM

By Stephanie Morgan
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Growing up as the oldest in our family of four children, I did what I thought was my fair share of making our family business work — answering phones, filing invoices and participating in dreaded inventory procedures. I have to admit my mom was right when she said many valuable life lessons would come from the time spent there.

Thank heavens for those dedicated families here in Greenville who keep the idea of working together as a family going. The ones we visited here start early and stay late to cook while keeping those of us who love visiting and discussing life's lessons over dinner stuffed and happy.

Lieus

David, Peter and Francis Lieu are partners in the family restaurant appropriately named Lieu's. Together they have managed the Chinese bistro for seven years and couldn't be happier with the business. David keeps the kitchen line working while preparing authentic Chinese dishes like Shrimp with Lobster Sauce, Sesame Chicken, Lieu's Spicy Chicken and Kung Pao Chicken, which are favorites among the regulars who keep the family hopping during lunch and dinner each night of the week. While David prepares dishes, Peter and his wife, Francis, manage the floor and ensure each customer is met with a smiling face. Choosing Lieu's for a dinner means settling in for a delicious meal with a gracious and hospitable family.

Efestrations

Charlie's Steak House is tucked on a side street in downtown Greenville where Charlie Efestration opened the doors in 1921. Nearly 100 years later, Charlie's has been passed down through the family to the current owner, Kay Efestration, Charlie's great-granddaughter. As a professional in the human resources arena, Efestration never dreamed that she'd be the owner and manager of the family business, but when her grandfather and uncle became ill, she stepped in to help. That was almost 30 years ago, and today she says there’s nowhere else she’d rather be. “Seeing the faces of so many people come and go and come again is a great experience,” says a smiling Efestration.

When a business is in the family, it's nice to have the option to help out while the job market is less than promising. Because everyone benefits from restaurant experience, Efestration's nephew, Nicholas Clein, is taking care of customers while he ponders his future profession. Clein is one of four from his generation who helps out with the restaurant from time to time. One thing that he is learning, and none too soon, mind you, is that big decisions are always best made over steak.

Shifletts

For 13 years Mug and Muffin has been serving hungry locals breakfast, lunch, cookies, cupcakes and 22 different types of muffins. Jim and Lilia Shiflett opened the small café when their children were small. Their children grew up in the business, taking orders and working in the kitchen. After more than a decade dedicated to personal attention and details, Mug and Muffin continues to provide catering for the largest or smallest of events. The Shifletts’ children were now help out whenever needed. Often for large catering events, the couple rely on the children for help creating and presenting glorious menus for clients.

Madrigalles

Gabriel Hernandez Madrigalle grew up in South America, but with Sicilian roots, he was bound to become a restaurateur. Given Madrigalle’s love for people and cooking, it seemed only right to open the Woodruff Road location, and now, 12 years later, Madrigalle is certain that Giovanni's Italian Restaurant is a perfect fit for him and his family. They specialize in a family friendly atmosphere where recipes for handmade sauces and pastas passed down through several generations are plentiful. Every week Madrigalle prepares special sauces that rotate throughout the year. They include lobster tarragon served with seafood and chicken dishes, and the famous Giovanni's signature sauce, a red Sicilian-style sauce that has been in the family for generations. It’s seafood-based and served over calamari and linguini.

Traditional Scilian-style cooking is the basis of each recipe, and over time, many have been tweaked by Madrigalle using the skills learned in the culinary program at Greenville Technical College. While authentic Italian cooking is the foundation of Giovanni's, customer service is a top priority. “My brothers, my children and our family friends all come together to make sure that each night is enjoyable for those who choose to dine with us,” Madrigalle proudly says. What's not to enjoy when the choices of handmade pastas and sauces are bountiful.

Thanks to moms, dads, grandparents and cousins, learning and creating together in the kitchen works and sure tastes good, too.