My new book, Authentic Italian: The Real Story of Italy’s Food and Its People, debunks myths about Italian food in the United States. One of those myths is that returning GIs from World War II brought pizza back from Italy to America and that’s how pizza became popular in America. DEBUNKED. Pizza was already here–brought by the Italian immigrants o...

Raddoppia in un anno il turismo enogastronomico in Italia. Oltre 110 milioni di presenze nel 2017, il doppio rispetto al 2016, motivate proprio dal turismo enogastronomico. La loro spesa ha superato i 10 miliardi. Il punto sull’argomento è arrivato da Isnart-Unioncamere, che nel rapporto presentato a Bari all'open day Coldiretti, ha stimato un impa...

A new Italian spot has opened its doors in the neighborhood. Located at 3706 W. Armitage (between Lawndale and Ridgeway avenues) in Logan Square, the new arrival is called Fresco Pasta.This new addition offers pizzas by the slice or the pie. Try the Louisiana Spicy Barbecue Chicken pizza, with bacon, onions and spicy barbecue sauce, or the Deliciou...

Solevo Kitchen & Social Club, inspired by Italian supper clubs in 1950s Las Vegas, is being developed for a fall opening at 55 Phila St., a commercial space on the ground floor of the new Spencer Condominiums. It is just up the block from Hattie’s Restaurant and Caffe Lena. The owners are Giovannina Solevo and her chef-brother, Ronald Solevo, who a...

In an interview, noted Milan-born philosopher, author, enologist and gastronome Luigi Veronelli (1926-2004) once stated, “wine is the song of the earth to the sky”. He thus created an elevated image that all professionals in the field of wine – and of any other fruit of nature in which man is able to find excellence – should keep in mind. This imag...

When one thinks of Bushwick, the words "graffiti" or "hipsters" probably come to mind. When one thinks of food in the neighborhood, quite a few pizza places, authentic taco spots, solid bodega sammies, and a variety of cuisines in between may make your mouth water.  While yes, the neighborhood has a plethora of awesome options for food, there reall...

Give him two slices – and an award. Forty-one years after “Saturday Night Fever” changed the game for southern Brooklyn, its leading man will be returning to the borough he helped make famous. On Tuesday, June 12, John Travolta will stop by Lenny’s Pizza, 1969 86th St., to receive a special achievement award from State Sen. Marty Golden, and be cel...

Calabria, more specifically the area of Rada dei Giunchi, holds the world record for the production of bergamot. Here, a temperate-tropical and humid microclimate has supported cultures since 1750. Bergamot is a peculiar citrus fruit, both for its origins and genesis.  Some think it comes from lemons or limes, but bitter oranges are more likely to...

Is it a bakery or a bistro, a café or a new source for upscale take-out meals? Mezzo Italiano Organic Kitchen in Cambria is all of the above and more. It is open from 3 p.m. to midnight Thursdays through Tuesdays, serving Peet’s coffee and espresso and providing a new haunt for late-nighters. With its hand-tiled, freeform “boomerang” seating bar an...

Acquista Trattoria was packed on a recent Wednesday evening as the setting sun cast a warm, golden glow over the lovely dining room. This corner restaurant, perched at the intersection of Union Turnpike and 178th Street, opened in 2001 by Fabio Acquista and has reigned supreme for its classic Italian cuisine made from scratch and served with pride...