Carlo Lorenzetti’s still the talk of the town
by C.J. Martello When it comes to writing this column, I am sometimes at a loss for a topic and then, I receive a gift of buona fortuna. That's what happened this month. On a Wednesday, my buddy Ed Wolak and I decided to try out the $8.95 Italian Feast Buffet at Carlo Lorenzetti's. On the following Sunday, I was invited by my friend...
Rosati's brings Chicago-style pizza to Ankeny
Locals don't have to trek to Chicago to get their fix of authentic Chicago-style pizza now that Chicagoland's own Rosati's Pizza has arrived. Brian Johnson said it was a "go to place" for pizza and other Italian entrees when he and his wife Jennifer lived in the Chicago area. "We fell in love with Rosati's," he said. "They have great...
New York's Shake Shack, Eataly coming to Chicago
Chicago's River North neighborhood is importing two popular New York food meccas: Danny Meyer's Shake Shack and Mario Batali's Eataly. Shake Shack is rumored to be taking over the shuttered Harley-Davidson store at 66 E. Ohio Street. A representative for the motorcycle brand confirmed to Crain's Chicago last November that their lease was n...
Bristol group plans Italian spot for West Loop
The duo behind Bristol restaurant are ready to expand with an Italian-American spot in the West Loop later this year. John Ross and Phil Walters are once again working with Tony Quartaro, the sous chef at Balena restaurant, to open Formento's in the fall. Messrs. Ross and Walters are also involved in Balena, a joint venture with Boka Restauran...
Por’Ketta food truck launches this weekend at The Ohio Taproom
One of Columbus’ newest food trucks, Por’Ketta, is getting ready to launch this weekend. The kickoff event is taking place on Saturday, March 14 at The Ohio Taproom from 11 a.m. to about 9 p.m. Owner Tony Layne is launching Por’Ketta after years of observing food trucks at spots like Dinin’ Hall. With the youngest of his kids heading to co...
Eataly Chicago Hosts a Celebration of Italian Flavors
Olives – beside olive oil – are a staple of the Mediterranean diet and appear in many traditional Italian recipes, but they are not often considered as a real "ingredient" and are often ignored by modern, creative cuisine. Focusing on culinary traditions and innovations was the aim of the lessons recently held at Identità Golose Chicago, the roami...
Labriola’s Italian Beef Sandwich Upgrades a Chicago Classic
by Nick Kindelsperger The Italian beef stands out rightly as one of Chicago's most distinctive hometown sandwiches, a mess of gravy-soaked meat which should arrive topped with pickled giardiniera and roasted peppers. As great as the sandwich can be, most versions are built on soft and soulless rolls that offer little flavor of the...
Rosati's Pizza Traces Rich History Back to an Italian Immigrant
by Michael Sewall Although the Bolingbrook Rosati's Pizza is an offshoot of the company celebrating 50 years in business, it still shares in the history that goes back about a century—all thanks to Ferdinand Rosati, who ditched New York in the early 1900s for the more favorable pizza haven in Chicago. Ferdinand, an Italian immigra...
After 31 years, Spavone's still a hit in Bloomingdale
by Ann Piccininni The clientele at Tony Spavone's Ristorante in Bloomingdale is a devoted group. "We have people who have been coming since I opened up," said Spavone, who unveiled the 260-seat restaurant at 266 W. Lake St. 31 years ago. He said he's seen more than a few customers start out in high chairs, move up to wedding rehearsal...
5 of the best sfogliatelle at Chicagoland bakeries
The recent flurry of Italian restaurant openings (Nico Osteria, Eataly, Cicchetti, Azzurra) has us thinking about some of our favorite classic Italian foods. Namely, sfogliatelle. A successful sfogliatella—the clamshell-shaped, baked ricotta–filled pastry associated with Naples—is a creature borne of patience and balance. Producing its cru...
Dining out, Roseland style
As a youngster in a first-generation Italian-American family in Roseland, eating out wasn't something we did very often. As a matter of fact, if I try really hard I can only recall an occasional First Communion or Confirmation that led to some fine dining, Roseland style, at Pesavento's. As a result, finding our way out of the family kitch...
Italian restaurant at casino changes
Bella Italiana launches Tuesday at Potawatomi Hotel & Casino with an Italian-American menu that's simpler than the one at Wild Earth Cucina Italiana, which it replaces. Wild Earth closed Sunday. The new version of the Italian restaurant has more traditional Italian-American dishes, according to an announcement by the casino, 1721...