Loyola University New Orleans Professor Releases New Book “Creole Italian”
Loyola University New Orleans professor and renowned local historian Justin A. Nystrom launches today a new book that explores how generations of Sicilian immigrants flavored local creole cuisine. Nystrom celebrates the launch of Creole Italian: Sicilian Immigrants and the Shaping of New Orleans Food Culture with a presentation and book signing Thu...
Do you remember La Riviera in Metairie? A lost area restaurant
In 1970, when La Riviera opened in Metairie, Italian food had been around New Orleans for a long time. But chef Goffredo Fraccaro, who was born outside Genoa, cooked a grand, Northern Italian-style cuisine that was far from our city's homey pastas with red gravy. At first the city was skeptical. But Fraccaro, with his big personality, won them over...
Italian eatery Marsalas moves into Atascocita
If you’re looking for good local Italian food with a friendly and family atmosphere, Marsalas Italian Grill on 5324 Atascocita Road will not disappoint, co-owner Isaac Rodriguez said. Co-owners Rodriguez, Teresa Guzman and Douglas Guzman recently celebrated the eatery’s grand opening on Wednesday with the rest of their staff. The co-owners worked t...
Texas now leader in Italian wine sales according to new report
According to data compiled last year by WineMonitor, Texas wine sales represent 7 percent of the total wine consumption in the U.S., coming in fourth place (in volume) behind California, Florida, and New York. “But Texas,” write the authors of the report, “is the state with the biggest growth in the U.S. Over the last 10 years, wine imports have gr...
mona Fresh Italian Food Celebrates Grand Opening Near Katy With Free Pasta
In January, Sidney Degaine and his wife Maria announced the sale of their popular Montrose French restaurant Cafe Azur with plans to open a new concept later this year. The resulting project is mona Fresh Italian Food, a place where pasta, sandwiches and salads are prepared in a fast-casual counter setting where customers go down the line and speci...
Russo’s New York Pizzeria Strengthens its Presence in the Houston Area with Opening in Pearland
Houston’s own Russo’s New York Pizzeria, the only authentic New York-style, Italian restaurant and pizzeria franchise concept, is now open in Pearland. The location, which officially opened Monday, July 16, invites Pearland residents, commuters and visitors to savor the unmistakable tastes and ambiance of the chef-created, chef-inspired and chef-dr...
Santa Margherita Announces National Summer Experiential Tour
World-renowned Italian winery, Santa Margherita(www.santamargheritawines.com), is proud to announce the launch of their Behind the Vine tour, bringing the Italian winery experience to U.S. consumers all summer long. As part of the drive, Santa Margherita will host a series of experiential pop-ups in key markets nationwide to showcase the essence of...
Francesca, new Lakeview deli, has Italian roots: Opening alert
Francesca just opened, but the Lakeview deli is full of things from the past. On the menu is a sandwich called The Moon, a muffuletta loaf with ham, roast beef, provolone, Swiss, coleslaw and Russian dressing. It's a take on the specialty of Charlie's Deli, which occupied this Harrison Avenue building back before Katrina. On the dining room wall is...
First Bite: Mona Fresh Italian Food
THERE’S NO ARGUING THAT KATY’S LINES OF STRIP MALLS are firmly chain restaurant territory, a morass of Chik-fil-As and Corner Bakeries. And to the casual observer, Mona Fresh Italian Food doesn’t stand apart from that pack. That changes the moment the door opens to a line of tomato plants cultivated by chef-owner Sidney Degaine. The restaurant may...
Restaurants come and go, but Amerigo is going strong
Decades before celebrity chefs like Giada De Laurentis and Mario Batali brought fine Italian dining into our living rooms courtesy of television’s Food Network, Amerigo taught Jacksonians how to enjoy refined Italian fare at its Ridgeland restaurant. In the constant revolving door of new restaurants that have come and gone, Amerigo has maintained...
Fast Break: Friday lunch at the new-again Marcello's Wine Bar & Cafe
The little restaurant on the corner of Perkins Road and Balis Drive has been through a lot in recent years. It was Marcello’s. Then it was Romacelli. Then it was Portico. Then it was Table Kitchen & Bar. But Marcello’s has returned to claim the spot it left in 2012, bigger and better and ready to break the location’s curse in the Southdowns Shoppin...
Fast-casual Italian restaurant MONA now open in Katy
MONA Fresh Italian Food located at 19355 I-10, Ste. 500, Houston, held a soft opening July 9. The fast-casual Italian restaurant offers fresh housemade pasta dishes that can be customized with various meats, dressings and seasonings. Some of the ingredients MONA creates dishes with, such as tomatoes, basil, oregano and other vegetables and herbs, a...