by Carol Stigger

Once you've had the real thing – Italian food in Italy, it is frustrating trying to experience the flavors back home in the U.S. I've tried many Italian restaurants in the Chicago area and found many good ones. As for authentic, I had given up until I experienced Bella Bacinos in La Grange, Illinois.

Like Italian trattorias, the dining space is small, inviting, and intimate; and like most restaurants in Italy, it is family owned by people who take pride in their food and wine cellar. I put it to the test by recreating my favorite menu in Rome: bruschetta, saltimbocca alla Romana, and panna cotta.

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Source: http://www.examiner.com/