A Modern Italian Restaurant Debuts Where Cactus Bar & Grill Stood For Three Decades
Cactus Bar & Grill stood in the South Loop financial district for more than three decades before the pandemic forced the neighborhood institution to close in 2020. Now, a veteran Chicago chef hopes to tempt visitors with comforting piles of delicate orecchiette and plump raviolo stuffed with pecorino and guanciale. Cristian Mendoza and Petros Papat...
Ferrara: This unsung Italian foodie city deserves more attention
I’m in the cacophonous kitchen of Trattoria da Noemi, a restaurant established in 1958 in the northern Italian city of Ferrara. Maria Cristina Borgazzi, daughter of the titular owner, is demonstrating how she prepares her pièce de résistance. A thick layer of sweet pastry sits on a wide plate. As I watch, perplexed, Borgazzi deftly piles on cooked...
Italians in America – Our Immigrant Stories: In chef’s journey to culinary heights, he always felt nonna’s guiding hand
Just like when he was a boy and his nonna Carmela guided his little hands, to chef Chris Scarduzio, making a meal is a feast for the senses. All four of his grandparents hail from the Abruzzo region in Italy. Dad’s side settled in South Philadelphia while mom’s settled in Overbrook, West Philadelphia, St. Donato Parish. The youngest of four, Chris...
Bay of Naples, reusable plastic better than Styrofoam to fight pollution
The image of white Styrofoam boxes on fishermen's boats will soon be destined to disappear. In the Gulf of Naples, the municipalities of Pozzuoli and the island of Procida have joined in the fight against sea pollution.Thanks to European funds, thousands of plastic fish transport crates will be purchased to replace polystyrene ones, which are among...
Holiday Market at Troy Italian eatery features handmade cookies, cakes and specialty items
Elisabetta Balzola describes Cucina Lab Torino not as a restaurant, but as a “little corner of Italy” in Michigan. The chef and owner recently marked the third anniversary of the almost hidden place on Crooks at Wattles in Troy that's housed in the same building and behind the Troy Dental School. Balzola’s annual holiday market is set for 11 a.m.-...
Where to find the most beautiful Christmas trees in Italy
December is definitely here and Christmas is on its way, the cities in Italy are ready to celebrate the festive season with locals and tourists standing up their best Christmas decorations, and for us it is one of the best month ever to plan a trip in Italy. Both the most famous cities and the iconic Italian villages have their own Christmas tree t...
Author to Sign Her Cookbooks, With Support for Toys for Tots
A cookbook author wlll combine a signing of her work with a shopping benefit for Toys for Tots next week in Huntington, NY. Dena Fenza will be signing copies of her new interactive cookbook, My Italian American Table, at Towne Boutique at 255 Main St., Huntington, on Thursday. The event will include time to shop in the boutique, with 10 percent of...
The Specific Lemons That Make Italian Limoncello So Unique
If you've ever had the chance to go to Italy, or eaten at a traditional Italian restaurant in the United States, you may be familiar with the sweet drink known as limoncello. Limoncello is an Italian liqueur made from soaking lemon peels in alcohol and is most frequently served after meals as a digestive. Limoncello made in Italy uses a special typ...
IAP 304: “Who stole the panettone?” Gianluca Rottura on the best buys to add to this year’s holiday table
Gianluca Rottura, the proprietor of “In Vino Veritas,” New York City’s landmark wine store, returns to the Italian American Podcast to bring us his take on the famed Italian Amari… But, we go completely off the rails and end up getting some of his best recommendations for the drinks and delicacies you’re going to want to try this Holiday Season! F...
Discover Lazio: History, Culture, and Scenery
Nestled in the center of Italy, Lazio invites visitors with its rich history, vibrant culture, and diverse landscapes, making it an irresistible destination for travelers and prospective residents. At its heart lies Rome, a city steeped in iconic monuments and ancient marvels. While visitors gravitate toward the Colosseum, Vatican City, and Trevi F...
The Etruscan Biga, Acquired Illegally by the MET Museum in 1902, Still Unreturned
There is an exquisite Etruscan bronze chariot, called the Biga di Monteleone di Spoleto, on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York that is considered the finest preserved example of such a pre-Roman period chariot in the world. The museum claims that it was discovered back in 1902 in Monteleone, Umbria, when a landowner working his...
Celebrating “L’avvento,” between spirituality and tradition
The Advent period is a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas, as well as the return of Jesus at the second coming. The term “Advent” is derived from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming” or “arrival:” for many, it is a period of spiritual reflection as well as joyous anticipation. Ad...