The Chicago Pizzeria Firing up Face Shields with Pizza Ovens
When COVID-19 hit Chicago, owner Dimitri Syrkin-Nikolau of Dimo’s Pizza saw it coming. He spoke with his staff about the uncertain moment ahead and enlisted them to generate ideas. At first, he revamped the takeout menu, adding new options like pizza and focaccia kits. Like most business owners, he wasn’t sure how to react. He had worked in pizzeri...
Chicago's Beloved Italian Beef Sandwich Is Ready to Conquer America
In the U.K. and Canada, they call it Boxing Day, but in my Chicago family, the day after Christmas is something else entirely: Beefmas. The rules of this sacred, completely-made-up holiday are pretty simple: every Dec. 26, my brother and I go see a movie, and then we get Italian beef sandwiches. The tradition began about 10 years ago, when I first...
Zappitelli’s in Mentor serving up generations-old dishes to the community during pandemic
Zappitelli’s in Mentor has been around for 34 years, serving up Old World dishes from recipes handed down from generation to generation. They’ve been through a lot, including during the pandemic, which isn’t stopping them from serving up authentic Italian cuisine to a hunger community. The business initially took a major financial hit when Gov. Mik...
What we’re ordering in today: Diavolo sandwich and Italian beef kit at Riviera Foods deli and market
You can’t go to Riviera Foods without getting a Diavolo ($6.50). That’s just the food rules, I don’t make them. The sandwich (formerly known as the Will Special, named after the late regular who created it) takes a 9-inch length of crisp-crusted French bread, then fills it with fatty layers of spicy soppressata, hot capocollo, salty prosciutto, cur...
35+ places to order Italian food during coronavirus restaurant-shutdown crisis
Craving pasta or pizza? Envisioning a nice glass of Chianti with a veal dish and side of linguine marinara? Of course you are. Here are three dozen restaurants that can fill the craving. We have been updating our guide to restaurants offering takeout and delivery throughout Northeast Ohio on a daily basis. But we also have been breaking down offeri...
Parnelli's Chicago Eatery provides meals for hospital workers
As local hospitals respond to the coronavirus pandemic, a Jeffersonville restaurant is showing its support by giving out free meals to healthcare workers. Parnelli’s Chicago Eatery, a restaurant that opened three months ago on 10th Street, is providing lunches and dinners to staff at Clark Memorial Health through its “Feed A Floor” campaign, and it...
Curbside Critic: Fine Italian food, and plenty of it, at Rosebud
It had been awhile since I’d dined at one of Alex Dana’s Rosebud restaurants — there are four in Chicago, along with locations in Deerfield, Lemont and Naperville, plus his Carmine’s restaurants in the city and Rosemont — so that when I ordered carryout dinner from the Naperville location, I forgot the cardinal Rosebud rule. Order light. Portions a...
Restaurant review: Italian fare at Franchesco's is worth the drive
When it’s good, it’s good ... everything about it. Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, we enjoyed an outstanding meal at Rockford’s classic Italian ristorante, Franchesco’s. And over the last 34 years, this restaurant has just gotten better and better. The eatery has a truly beautiful main dining room, which happened to be booked for a private party th...
'We're open': Martino's keeps employees on the job despite uncertainty ahead
Are you looking to get your Chicago hot dog and Italian beef fix during the state's "Safer at Home" order? TMJ4 News is committed to highlighting local and essential businesses that need your help. At Martino's Italian Beef on 13th and Layton, a large sign on the front entrance reminds customers they're still open for carryout and parking lot pick-...
Authentic Italian restaurant in Oak Creek focusing on family during coronavirus pandemic
Trattoria di Carlo has been open in Oak Creek for 18 years. The restaurant features authentic Italian cuisine. Owner Carlo Pedone says to him, every customer that walks through the door feels like family. Carlo checks in with his own family daily. Some of them live in Italy, and he worries about their safety and health because of the coronavirus pa...
Easy Italian comfort dish you can make: Cooking tips from M Italian amid coronavirus closures
People who are sheltering at home or looking for help in the kitchen now that Ohio restaurants are closed don’t need to panic when faced with the prospect of suddenly cooking every meal for your family every day. Executive chef Ryan at M Italian restaurant in Chagrin Falls says even restaurant-quality dishes are easy enough for anyone to make. To p...
BelGioioso Cheese Wins 7 Medals at World Championship Cheese Contest
The bi-annual World Championship Cheese Contest Judging took place at Monona Terrace in Madison, WI last week, and seven BelGioioso Cheeses were awarded prestigious honors during the three-day judging event. With a total of 3,667 entries from 26 nations, the competition was highly competitive, and BelGioioso Cheesemakers succeeded in six different...