In the kitchen with Chef Alberto Varetto of Alberto’s on Fifth
by Lauren Daniels Thanks to a childhood aversion to school meals, Alberto Varetto's culinary career got off to an early start. After attending culinary school at age 14, he left his native Italy to work in acclaimed Washington, D.C., kitchens, including Galileo Ristorante. Two decades later, following a move to Southwest Florida t...
Pranzo in Sicilia at Il Circolo
Sunday, January 17, 2016. 1-3 pm. Join Il Circolo and Cafe Sapori owners, Fabrizio and Francesco, for a beautiful luncheon dedidated to the culinary traditions of Italy's Sicily region. Purchase your tickets online from this email and you will be redirected to our secure partner site, Black Tie South Florida, where your payment will be process...
Restaurant owner brings Italian recipes to Darlington, finds warm welcome
by Joe Perry Many years ago in the small Sicilian town of Carini, Vincenzo Monterosso watched his mother cook. He learned how to make olive oil and cheese on the family dairy farm run by his father, Salvatore, who also grew plump tomatoes. It was at the side of his mother, Giacoma Monterroso, though, where he learned slow-coo...
Cafe Vico Serves Classic Italian, With an Occasional Twist
by Nicole Danna When you enter Cafe Vico in Fort Lauderdale, a handsome older gentleman with a slick of jet-black hair in a crisp starched chef's coat will no doubt greet you at the door. With a soft accent and a kind smile that creases his eyes behind black-rimmed glasses, he'll take each lady's hand, give it a quick kiss, and tu...
Davide’s authentic Italian
If you're going to lay claim to the terms "authentic" and "Italian" when talking cuisine, it helps when your bloodstock is bona fide, too. That's the case with Sicilian-born Davide Valenti, who has been at the helm of Davide Italian Café for the past five years after previously working for more than a decade at other Marco restaurants. ...
At Home Upstairs at Di Sopra
By Rosie Saferstein The aptly named Di Sopra, which means upstairs in Italian is located on the second floor, above a store. We felt at home at this newly opened restaurant not only because of the friendly service but the restaurant is uniquely located in what was once an apartment. Separate rooms, one with French doors, crisp white tableclo...
Junior Bridgeman plans 4th Street Italian eatery
by Sheldon S. Shafer Louisville-based entrepreneur Ulysses "Junior" Bridgeman is joining with The Cordish Cos. that operates Fourth Street Live! to open an Italian restaurant called BirraCibo at the downtown entertainment hub. The 9,000-square-foot restaurant will be located in the former Ri Ra Irish Pub at 445 S. 4th St. It will specialize i...
Tips for making a great meatball
The Italian Club at The Plantation at Leesburg had their third annual Italian Festival Sunday, and I was invited to judge the meatball competition. First-place winner Donna Hoffman received a golden spoon trophy and the satisfaction of knowing that she perfected her recipe. Second-place winner and recipient of the silver spoon went to She...
Birracibo is a giant bite of coolness
If you haven't been to Fourth Street Live! because you think it's a haven for 20- and 30-year-old partiers out to have more fun than is good for them or anyone else – or you think it's too touristy – you might want to change your mind. There are plenty of tourists taking in the dining and entertainment, but tourists aren't exactly the devi...
Valentino’s Serves Up Classic Italian Favorites on University Parkway
The Big Night Out is one of my favorite movies--it makes you crave that old fashioned New York/New Jersey Sunday sauce, big pasta and, of course, some sautéed veal and chicken Francese. Well, we had a big night out at Valentino's Pizzeria on University Parkway, and it delivered all that comforting Italian food--and more. We first tried the...
Making mozzarella a passion, not a job, for Doris’ Sal Coppola
Sal Coppola came to America, learned how to make mozzarella and, 60 years later, it's still his craft. "There's nothing else I'd rather do. It gives me a lot of pleasure," says Sal, from his kitchen set-up by the deli at the Doris Italian Market in North Palm Beach. "There's nothing else I enjoy. It makes people happy. I like to make people ha...
Angelo Elia The Bakery Bar In Fort Lauderdale Will Be An Italian Pastry Shop, Gelateria And After-Dinner Drink Spot
The Angelo Elia restaurant empire is expanding with an Italian pastry shop and cafe opening in Fort Lauderdale this summer. Chef Angelo Elia—whose group of Italian restaurants includes six Casa D' Angelo and Angelo Elia Pizza, Bar & Tapas locations around South Florida—will be adding Angelo Elia The Bakery Bar to his collection come June....