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When the two of us want to celebrate a romantic occasion like Valentine’s Day or an anniversary, only a certain kind of restaurant will do. Lately we’ve been drawn to the soft light, impeccable service, and delectable offerings of Firenze Trattoria in Salem. This little hideaway fills up fast and doesn’t take reservations, so we like to arrive as e...

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More than 80 people gathered for the first annual Festa della Sopressata competition at the North American Pizza & Culinary Academy in Lisle. Hosted by NAPCA founder and master instructor Leo Spizzirri and his partner, founder and chef instructor Anthony Iannone, the four-hour event was as much of a party for friends and family of the 19 competitor...

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It’s coming up to Carnival time and bakeries in Italy have trays of ‘chiacchiere’ in their windows. Think a pastry that is thin, crispy, fried and covered in icing sugar….  I knew that would get your attention! We would have these when I was growing up in Australia only when my Calabrese Nonna Concetta would make them.  I’ve always called them ‘Cro...

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Cucina by Wolfgang Puck has been one of the city’s most consistently excellent Italian restaurants since it opened eight years ago, but because of its location in the luxury Shops at Crystals mall on the Strip, it’s been operating under the radar to varying degrees for both locals and Vegas tourists. Today there’s another great reason to visit Cuci...

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The 85-year-old dessert company Ralph’s Famous Italian Ices & Ice Cream is making its way back to Manhattan. The Staten Island-based dessert chain, just signed a 10-year lease for 400 s/f at 362 2nd Avenue in Gramercy. ABS Partners Real Estate’s Dean Valentino and Mark Tergeson represented the tenant and the building owner, Akelius. Ralph’s has out...

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First of all, veal parmigiana, or veal parmesan, is among the best comfort foods ever. Second, it was not created in Italy. Well, it kind of was. Eggplant parmigiana, lightly breaded with a smattering of cheese in a light tomato sauce, is a staple in southern Italy and is the ancestor of the veal and chicken parms Americans know and love today. Whe...

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Our town has a population of 19,000 residents. The amount of pizza boxes sitting in inventory in our town is 18,000.  Just a joke, folks. However, this frightening number of pizza boxes can become a reality sooner than we think. Let’s see… it seems like for the past few years, approximately 2 pizzerias and/or Italian "trattorias” have opened in our...

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The owners of Vivace are bringing a new upscale-casual Italian dining concept to StoneCrest at Piper Glenn this week. Civetta Italian Kitchen + Bar, in the old Smoke Modern Barbecue space, will feature Bucatini with housemade meatballs, Lobster Risotto, Bolognese, chicken or eggplant Parmesan, Veal Saltimbocca and Winter Risotto with mushroom conse...

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When I was 10 years old, my dad threw out our toaster. To replace it, he cleared about 80 percent of our counter space for a large, steel industrial panini press. Suddenly, our kitchen felt less like our homey space and more like the industrial kitchens of restaurants. Growing up, my friends came over and ogled over the machine: the centerpiece of...

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Chris Hills is Wild Olive’s bar manager: You know how those openings are. We were overstaffed, of course. It was chaotic, but more just because you don’t know where everything is. I’ve worked over 2,500 shifts here now, so you just turn around and you know. Brad Gozis is Wild Olive’s chef de cuisine: It was crazy, because at the time, Fred Neuville...

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