An Italian chef brings panettone home to O.C. for the holidays
When Chef Marco Criscuolo carefully unwraps a freshly baked loaf of panettone bread at his restaurant, Trattoria Trullo in Aliso Viejo (CA), the first things he does is smell it. When he pulls back the cellophane and brings it to his nose, the strong, sweet scent of vanilla and citrus escape from the wrapper. “It is an emotional thing,” said Criscu...
Authentic Italian Pizza by Aromi: Freshly crafted with ingredients from Italy
La Mesa’s Aromi Italian Cuisine Restaurant has expanded its operations to include Pizza by Aromi, a pizzeria located next door to Aromi. The pizzeria serves amazing Sicilian pizzas. Co-owner Marco Lanza, emigrated from Sicily in 2018, received his green card and started working in restaurants. He met his co-owners Andrea Carbonaro and Francesco Man...
I spent years searching for this rare cheese. Now I have the honor of Oakland’s first cut
“Stab straight downward, and then wiggle it back and forth a bit.”My palms grew sweaty inside the black rubber gloves and my pulse quickened. I raised the knife and took a deep breath. For the ninth year, Market Hall Foods in Rockridge had acquired one of two giant wheels of the Italian cheese Crucolo that make their way to the United States each y...
Re-creating a family tradition, one walnut at a time
Fifty years ago my great-grandfather Carlo Portolan hauled down from the roof of his Lincoln Heights home a glass jug full of fragrant black booze, warm from 40 days in the sun. He decanted it into smaller bottles, affixed to each a masking tape label inscribed with the year — 1974 — and passed them around to friends and family. He died four years...
This 28-Year-Old Brentwood Osteria Remains One of LA’s Most Charming Italian Restaurants
Tucked away on an unassuming corner of Brentwood Village, a little Italian osteria called Divino brims with the timeless charm of Florence, Italy. The restaurant, opened by Goran Milic in 1996, features simple decor as well as an open view of the kitchen, wood paneling, stacked wine bottles, and white tablecloths. Since its debut, Milic’s long-last...
One of LA's hardest tables is a 60-year-old Italian restaurant
The first time I went to the Los Angeles Italian American icon Dan Tana’s was before I even moved to LA. I got to the West Hollywood restaurant late-ish and scored a bar seat next to a fellow New Jersey native, a screenwriter whose name I unfortunately can’t remember. We chatted while I dug into a giant platter of chicken Parm smothered in melted...
World Italian Cuisine Week 2024 in Los Angeles
Once again this year the Italian Cuisine Week took place here in Los Angeles, from November 18 to 22, intended primarily to promote our agri-food products and our extraordinary culinary culture in the world. The event is promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that also involves other ministries as well as the Italian Academy of Cuisine founded...
'A face full of goodness:' Redding (CA) restaurant hits the spot for authentic Italian pizza
Redding pizza fans — meet the new pie in town. Paul Miller, who owns the new Donatello’s Pizzeria off Lake Boulevard with his wife, Chelsea, says their restaurant offers the first true Neapolitan pizza in Redding.Donatello’s features 10 varieties that include a unique Pistachio Pizza and a Hummus Pizza with Kalamata olives. For cheese lovers, there...
Eataly in Silicon Valley offers immersive dining experience
Eataly, the gourmet Italian marketplace blending restaurants, cafes, and specialty products, offers an immersive experience designed to transport visitors straight to Italy. According to Filippo Faggiani, Eataly's Director of Store Operations in Silicon Valley, the venue isn't just a food hall — It's a way of life. "Eataly is an ecosystem. It's not...
Tara Punzone’s Pura Vita Is Redefining Italian Food in Los Angeles
Tara Punzone’s culinary journey is a testament to passion and innovation. From her roots in New York City to her bombastic presence in Los Angeles, the Brooklyn native has carved a unique path as the chef-owner of Pura Vita—the first entirely vegan Italian restaurant and wine bar in the country. Her dedication to a plant-based lifestyle, which bega...
Rovino Restaurant Owner Bringing New Italian Deli & Specialty Market Concept To San Diego's Scripps Ranch
One of the founders of Little Italy's popular RoVino Restaurant + Bar is branching off to bring a new Italian deli, specialty market, bar & eatery to San Diego's Scripps Ranch. In summer 2016, Tom Tarantino, Antonia Buono and Vincenzo Bruno opened RoVino on a quiet stretch of Kettner Boulevard in San Diego's Little Italy. In August 2019, the team o...
It’s a Family Affair for Pasta Sisters
One of the key ingredients to great Italian food, besides the actual ingredients, is authenticity. All too many Italian restaurants have little to no connection to the country of Italy, which is a massive flaw when the food is so connected to the region. That’s not the case with Pasta Sisters, a true family affair born across the ocean. “This story...