The eldest of four children, Salvatore Palazzolo was born in Chicago to Paolo and Giuseppa (Leone) Palazzolo. Salvatore’s parents emigrated from Cinisi, a small town in Sicily, to Elmwood Park in 1976. They later moved to River Grove, where Palazzolo grew up. Most of his father’s family lived in the surrounding area. “We were all close,” says Palazzolo.

The family ate Sunday dinner together at home or at his grandfather’s house. “We always did the traditional ‘sit at the table’ eating pasta with sugo: sauce, not gravy,” Palazzolo chuckles. He loved his mother’s “plain sauce,” saying, “I liked that, spaghetti with plain sauce.” Another favorite was pignolata, a fried-pastry treat served during the holidays.