Get a Big Apple pizza experience at Grimaldi’s
by James Patrick Kelly Grimaldi's pizzeria at The Village at Meridian plays its New York City theme well. The red-and-white checkered tablecloths will have diners humming Billy Joel's song, "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant." And yes, you can get "A bottle of white, a bottle of red, perhaps a bottle of rose instead," because the wine list bo...
Where many have failed, Skipolini’s off to a good start
THE PLACE: My friend is more than happy to accept my invitation to lunch at the new Skipolini's Italian in the Summit. She doesn't know anything about the restaurant, but she can't wait to go. Why the eagerness? Because my friend lives in the provinces — I mean, off Mount Rose Highway — and she's always lamenting the lack of good dining option...
Gio Osso of Virtù on His Favorite Local Restaurants and What Kind of Chef He Might Be
by Nikki Buchanan It's opening day at Virtù Honest Craft, and Gio Osso is feeling pretty good, despite what he describes as the previous evening's "cluster" for Friends and Family night. According to Osso, nearly everything that could go wrong did, but then, that's the point of F&F anyway, getting at least one or two of the kinks worke...
California dreaming with Giada
An evening at Giada DeLaurentiis' self-titled Italian restaurant in The Cromwell will undoubtedly leave you pleasantly full, with happy memories of each morsel. The Food Network star designed her restaurant to capture that California feel, both in decor and in interpretations of classic dishes and DeLaurentiis' family recipes on a delightful dinner...
San Fermo Restaurant Opening on Ballard Avenue in November
by Julia Wayne Tim Baker and his son, Sam West, have been scheming about opening an Italian restaurant for years. In late November, they will. It's called San Fermo, and you've walked by the building a zillion times. It's the green Ballard Avenue house that's always looked a bit out of place on a street of thick-walled multi-story, multi-u...
Ritrovo preserves culinary traditions and authentic flavors of Italy
by Rita Cipalla Spread the love, share the wealth and eat well while doing it. These concepts drive the successful business model adapted by Ilyse Rathet and Ron Post, co-founders of Ritrovo Italian Regional Foods in Seattle. The couple has spent years carefully cultivating top-quality, regionally inspired, authentic Italian food...
Ballard Pizza Co. Now Slinging Its Pies in South Lake Union
Amazon's growing campus has recently added Ethan Stowell's Ballard Pizza Company to its impressive restaurant collection, which also includes Great State Burger and Bar Noroeste from Josh Henderson, Skillet, Mamnoon Street and Anar, and Marination. The new Ballard Pizza Company outpost opened on April 11, serving New York-style "whole pies...
Maggiore Culinary Concepts: A father-son duo
They are business partners helming seven restaurants in two states spanning American breakfast to Italian fine dining concepts. Yet Tomaso Maggiore and his son Joey play up the very personal side of their connection as they swap stories to a comedic cadence and banter that only the closest of family members can achieve. They talk about the...
Social club wined and dined Sinatra, mobsters and the feds
By John M. Glionna It was a Thursday night and the place was packed: the Italian American Social Club was saying goodbye to one of its own. Singer Mark Giovi was leaving town, and the dress-for-success crowd sipped martinis and watched him work the room with the verve of a Rat Pack member. Just like the old days. Read more &nbs...
First look: Burrasca, former rustic Tuscan food cart turned brick and mortar, in Southeast Portland
By Samantha Bakall After more than seven months of waiting and a successful Kickstarter campaign, Burrasca, the rustic Tuscan food cart from Florentine native Paolo Calamai, and one of The Oregonian's top 10 of 2014, will open July 14 in the former Block's Cafe space in Southeast Portland. Burrasca 2.0 will continue serving menu favorites...
Little Italy without the pizza; also chicken and waffles
by Ronald Holden What's up here? A liquor license application from an outfit named Aglio e Olio (2743 E. Madison St.) lists Luigi DeNunzio as one of the applicants. He's well-known in the Italian-American restaurant community, with two Pioneer Square restaurants to his name (Al Boccalino and Che Sara Sara), plus Cafe Bengodi, recently relo...
West Seattle food: Pellegrini Italian Market now open in The Junction
By Randall Hauk For months, people have been asking what's going on at the former La Romanza Bistro site at 4521 California SW in The Junction – especially once mosaic tile started to cover the facade. Finally a sign went up. And then, Pellegrini Italian Market opened for business quietly during the recent West Seattle Summer Fest...