Alexander and John were from a family of farmers and traders.  Alexander was sent by his family to learn the art of meat cutting and charcuterie at the tender age of 13.  Over the next several years in his home country of Yugoslavia, Alexander learned the craft of creating delicious specialty pork products.  His approach encompassed the vast range of preparations and techniques, as learned from experts in his craft.  He began to improve upon traditional old world recipes by incorporating his own techniques in the flavoring, cooking, smoking, drying and curing of pork. Alexander’s dream was to come to America.  After completing his mandatory military service, he escaped in the early 1960s, walking for weeks through the Italian Alps, and finally making it into the immigration camps in Italy and then France.  He kept going until finally arriving in the US (with a photo of then President Kennedy in his pocket).  He loved America and desperately wanted to become a citizen, and share with everyone the products he was so proud of!