Mastermind behind Mateo plans new Italian restaurant
By Elizabeth Shestak In coming up with a name for their newest venture, Matt Kelly and Josh DeCarolis of Mateo Bar de Tapas tossed around many monikers before they knew they hit the right one. "Talking, coming up with a name – that's how you come up with its true identity," Matt says. Mothers & Sons, an Italian trattoria,...
Emilia, new Italian eatery, to open soon on Market Square
Rumor has it that Chef Matt Gallaher will officially open his new Italian restaurant, Emilia, on Tuesday, May 3. But so far it's only a rumor as the chef has yet to make the official announcement. He did, however, explain in a text message how he chose the restaurant's name. "My first restaurant job was at 9 years old in my mom's cate...
From Cajun to Italian, Emeril Lagasse's new cookbook is a broad life history in recipes
By Kelli Kennedy Before there were Food Network icons and cultish produce, before farm-to-table was a philosophy and cake decorating became a competitive sport, there was Emeril Lagasse. And his is a life story best told by the kitchens that formed and informed him. There was the Portuguese bakery where he washed dishes as a...
New Spring Hill deli, bakery is a family affair
When Dan Madaffari and his wife, Elecia, decided to open an authentically Italian sandwich shop and bakery, they knew just where to get their secret ingredient. Joe Primavera, known as "Joey Bread" back in his native Brooklyn, N.Y., was that ingredient. He's Elecia's dad. "I sprang it on him," said Dan Madaffari, brown eyes twinkling. The...
Fazoli's Italian restaurant returning to Huntsville
By Paul Gattis The largest fast-food Italian restaurant chain in the U.S. is returning to Huntsville. Fazoli's announced plans Monday to open a franchise in the Rocket City in 2017. Fazoli's formerly had a location in Huntsville on Whitesburg Drive. The restaurant said Monday it had signed a franchise agreement with Nareshkumar a...
Italian eatery, wine bar and market coming to downtown Winston-Salem
by Catherine Carlock Quanto Basta, an almost 5,000-square-foot Italian eatery, wine bar and market created by Spring House executive chef Tim Grandinetti, is coming to Winston-Salem's downtown. Fourth-generation restaurateur Tim Grandinetti will be the restaurant's chef and co-owner with business partner Lynn Murphy. Exclamations of...
Off the eaten path: Vincenzo's Pastaria survives and thrives in south Fort Myers
by Annabelle Tometich The pizza starts with a 50-pound dough ball, made from a precise recipe John Bongiorno has taped to the kitchen wall at Vincenzo's Pastaria. The dough, enough for about a half-day's worth of pies during peak times, is kneaded then portioned into rounds for the south Fort Myers restaurant's 14-, 18- and 22-inc...
LIDI Ristorante on a mission to bring the Italian culinary soul to Daniel Island
by Deidre Schipani The culinary latitude and longitude has shifted on the corner that chef Ken Vedrinski originally established as a restaurant. Red-and-white checkered tablecloths have replaced the racing silks of Siena; the cuisine of Tuscany is pre-empted by that of Apulia, Campania and Sicily. Ristorante LIDI, the current resident, pro...
Taste Of The Town: La Fontana, Doral’s Newest Authentic Italian Eatery
Welcome to La Fontana, Doral's newest authentic Italian eatery straight from Venezuela! Did we say Italian food from Venezuela? Yes we did! La Fontana was founded in South America in 1980 by an Italian restaurateur, who moved there 25 years ago. Levin De Grazia is the son of the original founder. "Everything started in Venezuela with my fathe...
Dining Out: Valenti's brings authentic Italian to Vass
by Steve DeVane Staff Tell us about your place: Adam Valenti's family moved to Moore County from Long Island, New York, in 1987. His father opened a restaurant in Vass but sold it six years later. He saw the need for quality Italian food in the area, so he bought some land about a half mile away and built Valenti's in 1996. The re...
A Via to Italy
By Roberta Sabban If Addison Mizner wandered through Via Mizner today, he would feel right at home. The warren of boutiques, restaurants and apartments built in the early 1920s are very much as he left them. Although the historic complex has been gently modernized over the decades, his basic designs and original concepts are still...
Mama Leone's Serves Italian Favorites in Nokomis
by Judi Gallagher I can remember when Mama Leone's was housed in little white building on Tamiami Trail in Nokomis. The service was friendly, but more than anything we loved the real-deal veal parmesan overflowing on the plate and a large cheese pizza (ordered well-done and served perfectly browned). It was the saltiness of the cheese on t...