Tana Delivers Thoughtful Sicilian Cuisine in New Orleans Style
In a quiet corner of Metairie, just outside New Orleans, where strip malls brush against magnolia trees, Tana emerges not with fanfare, but with feeling—rooted in Sicilian spirit, unapologetically modern yet anchored in the old world. On a lively Saturday evening, just a few miles removed from the chaos of Bourbon Street, Tana’s dining room was any...
Baton Rouge’s top-rated Italian restaurants, per Yelp
Baton Rouge boasts a rich and diverse food scene, with Italian cuisine holding a special place in the hearts (and stomachs) of many. Whether you’re craving pasta, pizza, or an authentic Italian dining experience, there’s no shortage of incredible options in and around Baton Rouge. A recent National Pasta Association study revealed that pasta contin...
Vocelli Pizza to open first Texas restaurant in 2025
Vocelli Pizza has announced its expansion into the US state of Texas with the first restaurant there set to open in late 2025. The new franchise agreement with entrepreneur Gary Nichols, who has 25 years of business experience and a passion for pizza, will introduce Vocelli’s offerings to the Texan market. The upcoming Vocelli Pizza outlet will be...
Plaza Café owner opens new Italian eatery in former Rustica space on Santa Fe's south side
One of Santa Fe’s better-known restaurateurs has expanded his empire and set out in a different direction, as Leonardo Razatos recently opened his third venture, Piazza Caffé, in the former Rustica Fresh Italian Kitchen location on the city’s south side. Razatos, who also owns Plaza Café’s downtown and south-side locations, said he purchased the Ru...
Italian American Bocce Club plays final spring league games in Metairie
The Italian American Bocce Club of Greater New Orleans gathered for an hour at their headquarters on Wednesday night in Metairie, LA for the final spring league games ahead of Saturday's championships. Six teams played on 3 courts. Long-time member Giorgio Beltram said he picks the seven teams to make it more fair, pairing less practiced participan...
The 4th edition of Barolo & Barbaresco World Opening conquers the Southwest USA
The fourth edition of Barolo & Barbaresco World Opening made its way to Austin, Texas. This new edition marked a key milestone for the wines of the Langhe region in the USA: on March 25th, the BBWO, organized by the Barolo Barbaresco Alba Langhe and Dogliani Protection Consortium, welcomed over 450 industry professionals and 450 wine enthusiasts at...
'Most important job of my life': Tilman Fertitta reveals plans for ambassadorship
Houston restaurant and hospitality mogul Tilman Fertitta said serving as the U.S. Ambassador to Italy and San Marino would be the "most important job" of his life during his U.S. Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday. "If confirmed, I take the responsibility of being an ambassador at this crucial moment in history as the most important job of my...
L'Italiana in Algeri: Classic Rossini Reset on a Modern Day Cruise Ship at Opera in the Heights
Combine a helter skelter libretto with a classic Rossini score complete with bel canto highpoints and you'll have the opera L'Italiana in Algeri about to go on stage at Lambert Hall in a co-production between Opera in the Heights and Anchorage Opera.After four performances in Houston, the cast will travel to Alaska to perform at the Anchorage Opera...
Tilman Fertitta says ownership of Rockets won’t be affected by U.S. Ambassador stint
Assuming he is confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the new United States Ambassador to Italy, Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta plans to separate himself from numerous business entities. However, ownership of the Rockets won't be among them. In a March 16 letter, Fertitta wrote that he will step down as CEO of Fertitta Entertainment LLC — should he b...
Italian-American parade rolls in New Orleans
People filled the streets to see decorated floats covered in green, red, and white roll during the 53rd Annual Italian-American parade. The goal of the parade is to celebrate Italian heritage. In the 19th and 20th Centuries, many Italians settled in the French Quarter. "A lot of them were able to buy those properties and still owned today by Itali...
St. Joseph's Day celebrated in New Orleans
Each year on March 19th, Catholics in the New Orleans area celebrate St. Joseph’s Day by constructing altars honoring the relief St. Joseph provided during a famine in Sicily. The tradition began in the late 1800s when the city of New Orleans saw a large influx of Sicilian immigrants. Peter Gilberte, President of the Italian American St. Joseph Soc...
Eye-popping St. Joseph altars are a Sicilian tradition in New Orleans from the 1800s
The Sicilian tradition recalls a drought in the late 1800s that left people starving. They prayed for the intercession of St. Joseph. After the rains came, to show their gratitude to him, they prepared a table with a special assortment of foods they had harvested. The food then was distributed to the less fortunate. That tradition, which comprises...