Tuscan State of Mind: Bottega Fiorentina’s Andrea Ferrini
by Elise Balzotti Firenze, Florencia, Florence — no matter where you're from, or how you pronounce the name, this Tuscan city is one of the most enchantingly beautiful in all of Italy. Firenze is like a painter's palette, vibrant with color from all the periods of its lengthy history. From cobblestone alleyways shaded by medieval...
Watch Inkwell's Chris Gatchell Mix Italian-Inspired Emilia Romagna
by Kyle J. Norris Since The Press Hotel opened in May, the boutique spot has made a serious name for itself with the local crowd as well as visitors. That's due in part to the strength of its restaurant, Union, and its bar, The Inkwell, run by veteran Chris Gatchell. Gatchell believes, "Bars should use quality spirits that can be augmente...
At Boston’s Babbo, Batali’s fame is beside the point
By Devra First There are a lot of things I expected to write about when reviewing Babbo Pizzeria e Enoteca, celebrity chef Mario Batali's 8,700-square-foot restaurant on the South Boston waterfront. Whether the pizza is good. It is! Except when it's not. One of the most mysterious features of Babbo Pizzeria is its inability to produc...
La Rana Rossa Pizzeria Coming to Jamaica Plain
by Dana Hatic The frog family is expanding: Brad Brown of The Blue Frog Bakery has plans to open La Rana Rossa Pizzeria in the old Cafe Bartlett Square space, according to Jamaica Plain News. The name of the pizza place means "the red frog" in Italian, and will be a full-blown expansion of Brown's pop-up pizza concept he has debuted at the...
Arrivederci, Salem Food Store
Paul Ursino, 65, is retiring after almost four decades running Salem Food Store on Moody Street. With its deli counter, freezers, and well-stocked Italian pantry items, Salem Food Store specialized in imported cheeses, cured meats, specialty pastas, coffee, Italian bread, and handmade ricotta and sausages, produced locally. The store had s...
Batali & Bastianich Hospitality Group Announces the Opening of Babbo Pizzeria e Enoteca on Boston’s Fan Pier
Earlier today, Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich's B&B Hospitality Group signed a lease on a space on Boston's Fan Pier and got one step closer to realizing a long anticipated Boston location. Construction will begin within the next few weeks; the restaurant will open in winter 2014. Unlike B&BHG's New York City flagship, Babbo Risto...
10 New Must-Try Italian Restaurants in Boston
Please place your carb-free diets on hold. Boston has seen a bevy of Italian restaurant openings over the last several months, and these plates full of pasta (and seafood, and sfizi, and...) definitely demand your attention. Here are some of the genre's hottest new openings, from the North End (naturally) to South Boston. Antonio's Bacaro....
Italian Favorites Get the Rhode Island Treatment at Cucina Rustica
By Stephanie Obodda Recently, someone suggested we check out Cucina Rustica. Though I was a little skeptical of venturing into the far reaches of Cranston for Friday night dinner, this one seemed like it might have potential. Francesca Saratapoulas and Gina Musto, who also own Narragansett's Oceanside at the Pier, opened Cucina Rustica ea...
Italian Food and American Brews for the 4th
Combining his Italian heritage and American patriotism, chef Dante de Magistris hosts a unique Italian American-inspired beer dinner in honor of Independence Day. Reserve a seat at his riverside restaurant on Thursday, July 4th to sit down to five courses of Italiany fare paired with the beers of Maryland's Dogfish Head Brewery. The festiv...
Arezzo to market line of specialty foods
Arezzo Ristorante & Bar on Riverside Avenue in Westport has begun marketing its own culinary fare, including pasta sauces, specialty items and the restaurant's award-winning caponata. Juan Ceballos, owner of the restaurant founded in NYC in 2000, said in a statement about the food line that customers have been asking him to package his...
Italia di Gusto Planning Soft Open for October 15
by Dana Hatic Italia di Gusto will bring the most authentic tastes of Italy to Medford starting October 15. According to its Facebook page and a post on Chowhound, the specialty shop and eatery with its original locations in Italy will open to patrons along the Mystic River, offering "the best products," including cheese, salami, Parmigiano, jam,...
Chef Lorena Autori Brings Flavor of Italy to Massachusetts
Come savor authentic Italian Cuisine alongside renowned Chef Lorena Autori of Umbria, Italy on her US tour as she hosts cooking classes and a delectable dinner complete with delicacies travelling with her from Italy. Born in Salerno, in Italy's Campania region and raised in Umbria Chef Lorena has a passion for quality Italian gastronomy. ...