Explore The Polenta Bar, A Novel Italian Fast-Casual Concept In West Loop
The Polenta Bar takes the assembly-line/fast-casual concept and spins it with a fresh Northern Italian twist. The polenta-focused restaurant opens on Thursday at 1002 W. Lake St. It’s a novel idea that looks like a unique meal option in the West Loop, which is slated to be open for lunch and dinner. Ownership touts their polenta machines that are i...
The Cloister of Paradise in Amalfi and Judgment Day
As if Amalfi was not heavenly enough, there is one slice of true paradise in a secluded corner of its Cathedral of Sant’Andrea: the Cloister of Paradise, an elegant Arabic-style architecture built between 1266 and 1268, where a refined peristyle – with vaults supported by 120 slender, candid double columns – surrounds a garden full of palm trees an...
Bel Canto gears up for opera competition
On March 7, 1974, the Monastero family sponsored a small contest at their popular Chicago restaurant for voice students from Northwestern University. More than four decades later, the Bel Canto vocal competition has blossomed into a multi-night extravaganza involving dozens of singers and featuring more than $40,000 in prizes. This year’s competiti...
St. Joseph Day Table to be held March 19 at Ascension Parish in Batavia
Ascension Parish in Batavia will host its annual Saint Joseph Day Table beginning at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 19. This year the event is open to the general public and the funds raised will be used for the ministry and outreach done by Ascension Parish on behalf of the community. According to its pastor, Fr. David R. Glassmire, the parish seeks to "...
Art of the Opera
The trip to the New York Metropolitan Opera became a culturally enriching experience for a wide variety of Widener students. The invitation was originally extended to students in any Italian class or those involved in the Humanities, to attend the opera “Puritani” by Vincenzo Bellini. The opera was thought to be a great opportunity for undergrads t...
Food and farming exports continue to grow, totalling around €30 billion in 2016
Italian food and farming exports are continuing to grow even in a difficult international context. According to Italian food producers’ association , exports from the sector are expected to total around €30.2 billion in 2016, up 4.1% compared to 2015. This is certainly a slower growth rate than 2015 when the food and farming-focused Expo 2015 world...
IAWA’s Open Reading Series Featuring Marisa Labozzetta & Tim Tomlinson–Saturday, March 11, 2017
WHERE: @ Cornelia St. Café @ 29 Cornelia St. off Bleecker - WHEN: Saturday, March 11, 2017 @ 5:45 – 7:45 pm The Italian American Writers Association is celebrating its 25th Anniversary. Since 1991, IAWA has given voice to writers through its literary series every 2nd Saturday of the month. Readings begin with an Open Mic: IAWA-East is held even mo...
Mac and cheese with meatballs is winner for Delmar man
Stephen Piorkowski of Delmar, who won the home-cooks competition at the first Mac-n-Cheese Bowl in 2010, emerged victorious again last weekend during the eighth annual event, when his Stephen's Best Italian-American Mac and Cheese with Meatballs was chosen by judges as the best among 11 entries by home cooks. Piorkowski's recipe is below. Druthers...
Oldest Italian nun says love is the secret to life
Italy’s oldest native-born nun, Candida Bellotti, celebrated her 110th birthday with best wishes from Pope Francis and valuable tips for those wanting to live a long life. “Love, love and keep on loving. With joy!” the nun said as she marked the big milestone on Monday (Feb. 20) at the convent where she lives in the Tuscan town of Lucca. “Have fait...
One Dish: Tutto Italiano, a taste of Italy
At 7 a.m., Tuesday through Saturday, you'll find Rob Palizzolo, owner of Tutto Italiano on 570 Washington St. in downtown Wellesley, lining up cans of whole plum and ground tomatoes for two large pots of his homemade tomato sauce. And every morning he'll make fresh mozzarella, and his famous meatballs. Palizzolo said while growing up he learned tri...
Le storie italiane raccontate da Franz Coriasco
“Ma che cos’è davvero, l’Italia? È soltanto una nazione, piuttosto un modo di essere, o magari uno state of mind? Ed esiste davvero, o è solo un concetto astratto che comprime nello stesso cliché un’unità di culture e di approcci alla vita che c’entrano fra loro quanto un tubero con un paracarro? Una cosa è certa: oltre quella che si spalanca ogni...
Lorraine Bracco on Goodfellas, therapy, and almost turning down The Sopranos
I ask Lorraine Bracco if she remembers the first time she saw Goodfellas, Martin Scorsese’s dazzling portrait of life in the mob. “Absolutely,” she says. “It was last year.” Which is strange, given the film came out in 1990, and Bracco was one of the stars. She is laughing as she speaks, a husky giggle, her accent doorstop-thick New York. “Well, I...