Campo di Bella winery delights with farm-to-table dinners
Growing up in Chicago, the concept of running a farm in Wisconsin never crossed Mary Ann Bellazzini's mind. "However, my grandparents did have small garden plots in the city where they raised tomatoes, lettuce and herbs, so I remember washing lots of lettuce growing up," she said, noting her grandparents also made wine. Now she and he...
The Early Word on Eataly
Open since December 2, Eataly, the larger-than-life castle of consumption, has become the buzz not only in Chicago but the entire Midwest. No one, even Eataly bigwigs Mario Batali, Joe and Lidia Bastianich, or Adam and Alex Saper, could have predicted the amount of popularity this Italian emporium has garnered thus far. Due to 120,000 visi...
Italian Ice Cart Stirs Discussion on Food Trucks for Downtown Glen Ellyn
Glen Ellyn village board trustees discussed options for food trucks in its downtown during a recent meeting, according to media reports. The owner of an Italian ice cart recently requested a spot downtown and the discussion among trustees has centered around how Glen Ellyn should handle such requests and if food carts "affect brick-and-mor...
Restaurant review: Boccardi's Taste of the Hill
By Carol Sponagle Children's menu? No, but staff will accommodate. What I ordered: My date (husband) and I ordered a gluten-free sausage and pepperoni pizza and the nightly special: spinach and cheese stuffed shells with meat sauce, which included Boccardi's special salad and a basket of fresh rolls. Dessert was limoncello cake and cannoli....
5 Stars to Forno Rosso Pizzeria Napoletana Chicago, IL
Just when you think pizza can't get any better in Chicago (the best pizza town in the world), along comes Forno Rosso to make you rethink everything you knew about pizza. This is not your classic Chicago Style Deep-Dish Pizza. Nor is it your classic New York Thin-Crust Pizza either. Forno Rosso Napoletana is in a class by itself! This plac...
Spiaggia Voted the Best Italian Restaurant in Chicago
by Kate Kolenda Decades before the likes of Mario Batali and Michael White brought us the most recent wave of fine Italian dining, Tony Mantuano taught Chicagoans how to enjoy refined Italian fare at Spiaggia. Taking a cue from its name, which means "beach" in Italian, the food is inspired by the coast. Mantuano has won countless accolades...
Portillo's coming to Chicago's South Loop
Close your eyes and imagine this: A juicy hot dog with everything on it, Hot Italian beef with peppers, a decadent chocolate shake - and not having to go all the way to River North to get it! That's right, Portillo's is planning to open a second Chicago location in the South Loop. Mark your calendars: According to the Chicago Tribune,...
M Italian Mails in Standard Italian-American Fare in Chagrin Falls
by Douglas Trattner I'm a bit of a car guy, so I was thrilled to watch — and listen — as some of the sweetest rides known to man thrummed on by. There was a cherry-red Ferrari F430 Spyder convertible, steel-blue Porsche 911 Carrera, and coal-black Maserati Quattropporte. You might assume that I was at some swanky motoring show, but I was m...
Italian-style deli set to open in former Bluephies location downtown
A new Italian-style deli called Casetta Kitchen and Counter is set to open downtown in February. Tommy Gering, 28, and James Juedes, 30, are longtime friends who grew up in the same Wausau neighborhood. Now both in the restaurant business, they plan to open a 40-seat casual spot in the former Bluephies Downtown Deli location at 222 W. Washingt...
Italian store in Orland Park was teenager's idea
By Ginger Reilly It is not every day that a teenager tells his parents that he wants a store, but that is exactly how one Orland Park business was born. "That was his dream, and we all got together, and we did it together," said Lina Lamorte of her son Alex Lamorte, who was 18 when Italia Imports opened in July 1999 in Orland Park. ...
Highwood’s Del Rio celebrates 90 years of timeless Italian food
Highwood's Del Rio Restaurant is known for its authentic Italian food and Old World ambience — emphasis on the word "old." Del Rio, which turns 90 this year, may be old by industry standards, but the restaurant itself is constantly evolving. Owner Bill Pigati attributes Del Rio's success to the philosophy of the original owner, his grandm...
Pizza party for kids!
WED, NOV 11, 2015 AT 12:00 PM: Pizza party for kids!Eataly, 43 East Ohio Street Chicago, IL 60611By: Scuola Italiana Enrico Fermi - FREE REGISTER Join the Scuola Italiana Enrico Fermi and Eataly for a interactive pizza making lesson: make your own pizza to take home, then lunch on tasty pizza from Rossopomodoro and have a nutella pizza f...