Mariano's pact with trade group will bring more Italian products to stores
By Jessica Wohl Mariano's has a new partnership with the Italian Trade Agency to bring products from southern Italy to its stores, a move it could replicate with other countries as the growing grocer hopes such specialty fare will help it stand out from rivals. Bob Mariano, the chairman and CEO of Roundy's who started the Mariano's chain,...
M Italian is a grown-up treat that welcomes kids: Family-friendly restaurant review
My 5-year-old stuffed spaghetti in his mouth like it was some kind of contest. My 3-year-old happily devoured her pepperoni pizza. And my husband and I clinked drinks in the sunshine, savoring a moment of leisurely serenity with two normally picky, occasionally whiny eaters. (This was a treat, and not just because we didn't have...
Osteria Via Stato was Italian in River North before everything was
Chef David DiGregorio has been in Chicago for 35 years, but he still has the broad East Coast accent of his native Rhode Island—an accent that bespeaks big family tables full of hearty Italian food. After working for several restaurants here, he's spent the last ten years as chef-partner of Lettuce Entertain You's Osteria Via Stato, which...
Holy Grail owners opening Italian restaurant at The Banks
The owners behind Holy Grail Tavern and Grille are bringing an Italian restaurant to The Banks, representatives announced on Thursday. 'Santo Graal' will open this March on the northern side of Freedom Way, right next door to Holy Grail. It will occupy the former space of Mahogany's Restaurant. Read more Source: http...
Rita Loccisano and the discipline taking over Italy – Now in Chicago!
Rita is the creator of the new culinary discipline VisualFood®, which unities aesthetics and function by transforming food into little works of art without altering the essence, function, or value of the food itself. It has become a huge success in Italy with an evergrowing number of fans. Like in design, the object is not stripped of its...
Piccolo Sogno Due Will Reinvent Itself as the More Casual Nonnina
A taste of cooking from the four Italian grandmothers you never had is headed to River North in early summer. Piccolo Sogno Due (340 N. Clark St., River North), sibling restaurant to Piccolo Sogno, will close at the end of April to reconcept into the more casual Nonnina. "Nonnina is influenced by our grandmothers—all four of them," says ch...
Longtime Gene & Georgetti Chef Opening Italian Spot In Mirabell Space
Arturo Aucaquizphi has spent his last 20 or years as executive chef at Chicago steakhouse stalwart Gene & Georgetti. The Ecuadorian native is now heading out on his own, taking over another Chicago classic, the Mirabell. In about three weeks, he said he's opening Mirabella Italian Cuisine inside the space at 3454 W. Addison St. He'll f...
Monteverde's Opening Night Brings Sarah Grueneberg's 'Soulful' Italian Food to West Loop
by Daniel Gerzina "Cooking with a traditional heart and a modern hand." That's the phrase that chef Sarah Grueneberg and her team constantly reiterate, a question that they ask of themselves about every dish they present, dishes that Grueneberg says she "cooks from a soulful place." It's what they hope will be recognizable to everyone who...
Chesterland chef Loretta Paganini takes Christmas dinner menu from her native Italy
By Debbi Snook While our Thanksgiving dinners are trussed up in American traditions, Christmas leaves a little wiggle room for overseas adventure. If you aren't already wedded to your usual ham, fish or another turkey, anything goes – as long as it sparkles. Add an ethnic twist – let's say Italian – and you can plunge into the col...
Monteverde brings taste of Italy to West Loop with homemade pasta
There are dozens of Italian restaurants in Chicago, but only a small percentage go that extra mile and make all of their pastas in-house from scratch. A new restaurant in the West Loop is committed to hand-making everything, including one pasta dish that has become a personal favorite. When Sarah Grueneberg left Spiaggia, she took wit...
Gelsosomo's: A Region institution with a well-deserved loyal following
Growing up in Roseland, a South Chicago Italian neighborhood, Tom Gelsosomo enjoyed the meals prepared by his Italian family so much that after spending time working in the food industry he decided to open up his own restaurant serving many of the dishes he remembered so well from his youth. Choosing an Italian restaurant in the growing co...
Dolce Italian of Miami coming to Godfrey Hotel
New York-based LDV Hospitality, in partnership with Chicago-based Oxford Capital Group and Quadrum Global, which has a Miami office, are opening an Italian restaurant in the Godfrey Hotel Chicago. Dolce Italian is slated to open in late spring at the Godfrey on Huron and LaSalle streets in River North. Dolce, which has locations in Mi...