Mozzarella, cappacola and ricotta: How do you pronounce these Italian-American classics?
You may take one look at that headline and ask, "What do you mean, how to speak Jersey restaurant Italian? Everyone knows how to pronounce gnocchi, cappacola and cavatelli.'' Not like an Italian, they don't. Being one myself, I know something about these things, but quickly discovered, in my epic search for N.J.'s best Italian restaurant,...
Inside An Impressive New Brookland Italian Market
Once upon a time Brooklanders had to leave the neighborhood if they wanted anything fancier than General Tso's Chicken or buffalo wings. But in 2012 Ettore Rusciano, who originally hails from Italy, opened the Neapolitan pizzeria Menomale. Its name, which comes from an Italian idiom meaning "thank goodness," seemed appropriate since the restaurant'...
Matteo Venini Named Executive Chef at DC's Lupo Verde
Med Lahlou and Antonio Matarazzo of the Lalou Group announced the appointment of Matteo Venini as the new executive chef of their award-winning Italian restaurant Lupo Verde, located in the bustling 14th Street neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Venini will also oversee the menu at Lupo Verde's second location, which is scheduled to open in early Dec...
During the holidays, provolone is Hammonton's big cheese
By Jacqueline L. Urgo In this place known as the "Blueberry Capital of the World," which has also been called the most Italian place in New Jersey, they really like their provolone, especially around Christmastime. Between early December and Super Bowl Sunday, 2,800 pounds of the piquant cheese, in the shape of 10-foot-long torpedoes, wil...
Family-run Italian bistro opens on Marsh Road
Vincenza & Margherita Italian American Bistro is a new restaurant that opened a little more than a week ago across from the Graylyn Shopping Center. The casual eatery, also known as V&M Bistro, has had a growing crowd at its 1717 Marsh Road location in the Marsh Triangle. The site had formerly been home to liquor and comic book st...
Masks, Murals and Cuisine of an Italian Island
Andréa Di Meglio believes that the ambience of his restaurant should be as enticing as its food. Which is why, no matter where I sat at Luca's Ristorante in Somerset, I got an eyeful. One time, I was fascinated by the gigantic pots and vases that line the entrance and split the dining area in two. On another visit, tile murals of famous Ne...
Pope Francis Philadelphia trip likely to also include New York and Washington D.C
Pope Francis is likely to visit more East Coast cities than just Philadelphia when he travels to the U.S. in September, the Vatican's secretary of state said Tuesday. Pope Francis announced his trip to the United States on Nov. 17 in an address to members of the "Humanum Conference." During his visit, the pontiff will participate in the Se...
Palladino's in South Philly: Northern Italian with a chop-house twist
It is hard to imagine a need or niche that is left for another new Italian restaurant in South Philadelphia. But that didn't deter Luke Palladino, who picked up one of his prosciutto-wrapped, truffle-buttered bread sticks and waved that magic wand over a forlorn corner of East Passyunk Avenue. On that sharply angled parcel just east o...
Camillo’s Popular Italian Restaurant Reopens at Avanti Location in Pennington
Good news! Camillo is back. After a hiatus of two years during which time he had closed Camillo's Cafe in the Princeton Shopping Center, Camillo Tortola has opened Camillo's Avanti. He recently purchased Avanti Restaurant at 23 West Delaware Street in Pennington, and is now ready to offer customers his traditional classic Italian cuisine in Ca...
Modern Italian restaurant opens in historic Dover landmark
by Tricia Vanderhoof The building that houses Table 42 was built by Leopold D. Schwartz in 1872 as one of three hostelries in Dover and was once the Central Hotel. To most Morris County residents, it's probably best remembered as the former Laughing Lion. The high tin ceilings at the restaurant, owned by Chuch Leanza and open...
Restaurants Serving the Feast of the Seven Fishes
While its exact origins and the specifics of its history are not clear, the Feast of the Seven Fishes is an Italian-American tradition that takes place in many homes on Christmas Eve. The reason, for many, is that the Vigil consists of fasting from red meats on Christmas Eve, which results in an abundance of seafood as the grand meal. But...
Rocco DiSpirito Serves Up Lasagna Bolognese Ala Italian Mamma
By Irina Dvalidze Who doesn't love Italian food? American adaptations of Italian classics have taken on a flair of their own over the years, and along with the flair came the calories. Rocco DiSpirito authored the New York Times best-seller Now Eat This! Italian in which he adresses that caloric problem, creating all the best Italian dish...