By Shonda Talerico Dudlicek

Dining at Tina's Italian Café and Bake Shop is like dining at a Sicilian kitchen table. Plates are set atop handmade crocheted tablecloths, which are protected under plastic. They were made by Tina's mother, who can't speak a word of English but won't let that stop her from telling stories about her family's life back in Sicily, where she lives for half the year.

There are family photos everywhere: in neat rows on the table near the front door, hung in the back hallway and taped to the ancient cash register that requires counting up to make change. Comfortable and at home -- that's exactly the way Tina Tortorici wants her Gurnee café and bake shop to feel.

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