Italian happy-hour pop-up at Phoenix Cocktail Club
Aperitivo, an Italian-style happy hour of snacks, wine and cocktails, will pop up at Phoenix Cocktail Club downtown on Mondays starting Feb. 5. Sprezzatura, which last year organized Italian dinner pop-ups, will take over Phoenix, 785 N. Jefferson St., from 2 to 6 p.m. Mondays to operate Aperitivo.
Dining Out: A quiet Chicago import, Rosati’s excels in North Pekin
It’s nice to see a big-name, Chicago-based Italian eatery finally open in central Illinois. No, not that one. We’re talking about Rosati’s Pizza, which recently debuted in North Pekin without any debate or fanfare. Lots of flavor, hold the controversy: We prefer our food that way. Rosati’s takes over a strip-mall slot formerly occupied by Mickie’s...
Aldo's Italian restaurant: Warm, welcoming Cleveland classic (review)
Located in a tiny strip-mall on Memphis Avenue, Aldo's isn't the kind of restaurant that makes you stop and take notice from the outside. Step inside, and it's another story. The aromas and warm, welcoming atmosphere will instantly win you over. And that's before you even try Aldo's fantastic, wide-ranging Italian menu. Opened more than two decades...
Restaurant review: Enrico’s Pizza
I thought I’d move past all the new year hoopla by visiting someplace old that brazenly flaunts an old-school bent, too: Enrico’s Pizza & Restaurant. Here’s how old-school Enrico’s is: The only beer offered on tap is Bud Light, and it’s $8.50 a pitcher. Tucked away in the inevitable suburban strip mall, Enrico’s — which has been in the homemade pas...
Albano's Pizza Specials Satisfy Appetites Everyday
America has a love affair with pizza. That goes double for the Region, and being so close to Chicago, we have strong opinions on what constitutes a good pizza. New York style or Chicago? Sweet red sauce, or salty? There are as many different opinions as there are pizza places. Albano’s Villa has been in the same family for over 50 years and a stap...
Cantoro Market: the Italian food Disneyland
Presenting itself as the Disneyland of Italian food, or even as the Mecca of Italy’s gastronomy, Cantoro Market is indubitably a real landmark for clients looking for products from the Belpaese, as well as a symbiotic shopping experience with its own tradition. The Cantoro Market store in Plymouth, about 40 kilometers west of Detroit, has been insp...
Eataly's truffle ad: Amusing or insulting to Italians?
An advertisement in the window of a River North marketplace has garnered some criticism over what some believe is an offensive message about Italians. In one of the storefront windows of Eataly Chicago, a large sign features a photo of white truffles with the slogan: “BRING HOME AN ITALIAN, WORTH THE SMELL.” The advertisement continues with smaller...
Vito's Espresso opens doors for coffee shop, lunch spot in Jackson
There are two types of beer drinkers: Those who opt for artisanal craft beers and those who pick Bud Light. It turns out coffee drinking isn't much different. Jackson's newest coffee shop is Vito's Espresso, 2615 Wildwood Ave., which opened its third-wave coffee shop on Dec. 1. Owner Vic Schiro likens third-wave coffee to draft beer - where consume...
Nora Restaurant Review
Little Italy is one of Cleveland’s most popular neighborhoods. With all the culture and excitement, it is the perfect place for a restaurant like Nora. Nora is a mid-range Italian spot that locals have been falling in love with since it opened it doors in 2016. It does face a bit of competition due to the number of Italian cuisine options within th...
Nutella maker Ferrero has big plans for Harry London, Fannie May chocolates
Ferrero International S.A., the Italian chocolate company best known for its decadent Nutella hazelnut spread, has big plans for the Fannie May and Harry London brand chocolates it quietly bought earlier this year. Ferrero bought Chicago-based Fannie May Confections Brands for $115 million from 1-800-Flowers.com, the gourmet food and floral deliver...
Caffè Umbria Opens 9,000-Square-Foot Coffee Facility in Chicago’s Logan Square
Longtime Seattle roasting and retail company Caffè Umbria has opened a new roastery, training lab and café in Chicago. On W. Armitage Ave. between Western and California in Logan Square, the facility will serve as the Umbria production headquarters for wholesale clients from Chicagoland to the East Coast. The roastery, which occupies a little less...
How to order wine like a pro at an Italian restaurant
During our recent search for Michigan's Best Italian restaurant we were lucky enough to taste many different Italian wines. Deciphering a wine list can be tough enough, but when it is an all-Italian wine list, it can be even harder. Italy is home to over 2,000 different grape varietals, which makes for a lot of unique wines. In order to get a clear...