State's first Portillo's restaurant set to open Tuesday morning
By Paul Gores The highly anticipated opening of Wisconsin's first Portillo's restaurant is set for Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. The diner-themed restaurant, 17685 W. Blue Mound Road in Brookfield, closes at 10:30 p.m. Nick Scarpino, spokesman for the Chicago-based restaurant chain, said a few customers camped out overnight before Portillo's ope...
First Look: Salotto Zarletti offers from-scratch Italian comfort
Mequon has never been one of the area's most exciting dining destinations, but a recent addition to the area gives Milwaukeeans a reason to travel north. Salotto Zarletti, 1515 W. Mequon Rd., which opened this past May, bears only a vague resemblance to its sister restaurant, Zarletti's in Downtown Milwaukee. Read more So...
New professional group to host cuccidati fest
The newly formed Chicagoland Italian American Professionals will present their first annual La Festa dei Cuccidati from 2 to 5 p.m. on Dec. 17 in the Chandelier Room at Casa Italia in Stone Park. The event will feature a baking demonstration of the traditional Sicilian Christmas fig cookie with information provided about its history and origin. &n...
Andiamo owner freshening feel, flavors of restaurants
by Frank Witsil Andiamo owner Joe Vicari is on the move again. After leading his restaurant group through a sluggish economy, Vicari hopes to give it a more casual feel to attract younger customers — and generally freshen up the restaurants as Detroit recovers. At the same time, he said, he wants to hold on to the things that...
Legendary Panino's Pizzeria Places High at the 2015 International Pizza Expo
"This was our first completion in the World Pizza Games in Vegas and it was tough competing with the 230 exceptional pizza artisans from all over the world," said Bruno Brunetti. "It was an honor to compete in those divisions and a thrill to see us do so well, along with Leonardo taking Top 10 overall in the Italian Neapolitan Pizza Division." &nb...
Lake Zurich student wins Future Chefs contest with Italian panini
The savory smells of basil, cheese and pizza dough permeated throughout the Lake Zurich High School cafeteria on March 20 as 15 elementary school students furiously competed for the title of District 95's top chef. Students had about 90 minutes to cook, saute, garnish and present their creation for the district's first-ever Future Chefs sa...
Gelato Café recognized by World Gelato Tour
At 12 p.m., a fresh batch of caramel gelato is being prepared in the backroom of Golosi Gelato Café while a couple orders Italian coffee in the dining area. By 1 p.m., the chef receives a phone call for a bulk order of gelato for a same-day party while another pair of customers orders in store. "My customers know me, and they trust me," co...
Campo di Bella winery delights with farm-to-table dinners
Growing up in Chicago, the concept of running a farm in Wisconsin never crossed Mary Ann Bellazzini's mind. "However, my grandparents did have small garden plots in the city where they raised tomatoes, lettuce and herbs, so I remember washing lots of lettuce growing up," she said, noting her grandparents also made wine. Now she and he...
The Early Word on Eataly
Open since December 2, Eataly, the larger-than-life castle of consumption, has become the buzz not only in Chicago but the entire Midwest. No one, even Eataly bigwigs Mario Batali, Joe and Lidia Bastianich, or Adam and Alex Saper, could have predicted the amount of popularity this Italian emporium has garnered thus far. Due to 120,000 visi...
Italian Ice Cart Stirs Discussion on Food Trucks for Downtown Glen Ellyn
Glen Ellyn village board trustees discussed options for food trucks in its downtown during a recent meeting, according to media reports. The owner of an Italian ice cart recently requested a spot downtown and the discussion among trustees has centered around how Glen Ellyn should handle such requests and if food carts "affect brick-and-mor...
Restaurant review: Boccardi's Taste of the Hill
By Carol Sponagle Children's menu? No, but staff will accommodate. What I ordered: My date (husband) and I ordered a gluten-free sausage and pepperoni pizza and the nightly special: spinach and cheese stuffed shells with meat sauce, which included Boccardi's special salad and a basket of fresh rolls. Dessert was limoncello cake and cannoli....
5 Stars to Forno Rosso Pizzeria Napoletana Chicago, IL
Just when you think pizza can't get any better in Chicago (the best pizza town in the world), along comes Forno Rosso to make you rethink everything you knew about pizza. This is not your classic Chicago Style Deep-Dish Pizza. Nor is it your classic New York Thin-Crust Pizza either. Forno Rosso Napoletana is in a class by itself! This plac...