85 Years of Bringing Italy to Chicago
When Alfredo Capitanini, Sr., and his wife, Ada, opened the Italian Village in 1927, it was, simply, about good food. We are the same here at the Italian Village today. We are about good food, making every customer feel at home, and we respect tradition while not being afraid to innovate at the same time. A quote from a program produced fo...
A colorful Italian-American approach at The Boot
The first time I ate at The Boot, the very first thing I ordered was the fried mozzarella. Yeah, I know what you're thinking: Seriously? Mozzarella sticks? Any foodie worth his Maldon salt knows they're on a restaurant menu for one of two reasons – to soak up booze or to keep the kids happy while the grownups eat real food. And he calls himsel...
Bar Roma, Andersonville’s New Meatball Mecca, Could Open This Week
by Ashok Selvam Ever wonder why Chicago has so many Italian restaurants? Julia Zhu, the owner of Bar Roma, the upcoming casual Italian restaurant in Andersonville, said it's because they're recession proof. That's the advice gleamed from her boyfriend, restaurateur Howard Davis, who's kept Gioco Italian open in the South Loop while saying goodbye...
Carrettino Italian Market & Wine relocating to Saugatuck-Douglas from Grand Rapids
The owners of Carrettino Italian Market & Wine announced they will relocate their family-owned gourmet store from the Town & Country Shopping Center in Grand Rapids to the Saugatuck-Douglas area in the late spring of 2014. "My family and I have decided to relocate our business to the Saugatuck-Douglas area because it draws the type...
Antonio's Cucina Italiana's Anthony Rugiero Featured as Speaker
Anthony Rugiero is proud to be part of a first generation Italian American family that values fundamental beliefs taught by his parents, Antonio Sr. and Enrica (Rita) Rugiero. He understands the value of hard work and commitment. In 2008, after the passing of his father, Anthony took over as president of the original Roman Village Cucina Italiana i...
A Chicago la II edizione dell'Italian Food & Wine Expo
Italian Food & Wine Expo è l'unica fiera negli Stati Uniti interamente dedicata alla cucina italiana di alta qualità e al vino. Organizzato dalla Camera di Commercio Italiana Americana di Chicago, in collaborazione con ItalianExpo.us, l'evento offre alle aziende italiane l'occasione di trovare qualificati partner americani, e, a compratori ame...
Alegretti's Bakery preps for St. Joseph's Day rush
It's early on a Thursday morning in March, and Alegretti's Bakery in Norridge is slammed with customers waiting eagerly in line to order the bakery's locally-famous pastries, doughnuts, and cookies before they run out for the day. Alegretti's, first opened in 1947 by Tony Alegretti at the same Norridge strip mall where it still stands toda...
Mario Batali wants you to have your "holy jeez!" moment
by Michael Gebert Mario Batali may be the most celebrated Italian restaurant chef in America at the moment. He's unquestionably the most recognizable—imposingly big, bookended by orange hair at one end and his trademark orange clogs at the other end, equally trademark vest in between. Having established his image visually, not to...
Italian Restaurant to Open in Highwood in October
by Tim Moran Ballaro, a restaurant which will offer a contemporary take on Italian food and drink, will open in downtown Highwood in late October. Developed by lifelong friends and area natives Josh Kaplan and Mark Newman, Ballaro - inspired by Palermo's Ballaro market - is at its heart a destination-worthy neighborhood restaurant...
Il Porcellino, Italian restaurant taking over Paris Club, opens Thursday
Relaxing with a glass of Italian wine sounds pretty darn good right about now. On Thursday, River North gets another spot where you can do just that: Il Porcellino, a trattoria from the Lettuce Entertain You empire. The restaurant, a partnership between chef Doug Psaltis and sibling trio R.J., Jerrod and Molly Melman (kids of Lettuce found...
Look Inside Dolce Italian, Bringing 'La Dolce Vita' to River North Tuesday
by Brett Hickman Just announced yesterday, Dolce Italian is set to open on the ground floor at the Godfrey Hotel this coming Tuesday. This marks the second location from LDV Hospitality (the team behind New York's Scarpetta empire), with the first being in Miami. The space, which you can see in the gallery above, is refined, but n...
A Taste of Home at Carmella’s Café
by Ben Lariccia La Gazzetta spoke with co-manager of Carmella's Café, Lisa Kelso. La Gazzetta (LG): Good afternoon, Lisa. Thanks so much for inviting La Gazzetta to your restaurant. The minute you walk in you see old family photos. That's not a photo-shopped display. Tell us about your family. Carmella's: Yes, those are real fami...