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Stepping into Maria’s Ristorante & Pizzeria in Morris for lunch one day, I immediately noticed something. Maria’s has the charm of Italy without trying too hard. Tables arrangements had a cafe feel. The murals of famous locales blended into the decor. The place mats tell the history and geography of Italy. And the hospitality was among the best I’v...

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Everyone understands the risk of handing a Chicagoan ketchup, so what's the right condiment to pass? That's easy. Giardiniera. (Say it with me, "jar-din-air-ah.") It's the quintessential Chicago condiment, one that's as brazen and boisterous as the city itself. This fiery mix contains some combination of pickled chiles, celery, cauliflower, carrots...

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When Gianluca Butticè moved from his native Sicily to the U.S., he faced the challenges of learning English and American culture. Surmounting that learning curve inspired him to make the journey easier for others. So after spending the past several years teaching Italian, he is branching out into offering tours of Italy that encompass language and...

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Sausage will be grilling, families will be dancing, and dads will be honored as Onesti Entertainment hosts its 24th annual Italian Block Party-Oakley Avenue Festa Pasta Vino on Father’s Day weekend, June 16 to 18. The Father’s Day tradition will feature Italian food specialties representing generations-old recipes from the restaurants located in Ch...

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After serving Italian beef and more for 68 years, what’s another 18 days? That’s what’s happening until June 3 at Chicago and Grand avenues, as Joe Boston’s Italian Beef, the Chicago street food stalwart for nearly 70 years, announced over the weekend that it will stay open more than two additional weeks. The family ownership, who previously announ...

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IA Literati 2017 — Casa Italia’s 13th annual celebration of local Italian-American authors — will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on June 17 in the Florentine Room of the Italian Cultural Center in Stone Park. Book sales and signings, raffles, and a meet-and-greet with the authors will take place at 9:30 a.m., and authors will read from their w...

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“Good cooking and a lot of flavor don’t have to take a lot of time,” says Fabio Viviani, chef, restauranteur and TV personality, explaining why he wrote "Fabio’s 30-Minute Italian." His beautifully photographed cookbook is filled with wonderfully accessible recipes. “The whole premise is easy,” he said. Viviani, who lives in the Chicago area now...

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The Feast of San Giovanni Bosco SS. Crocifisso Di Ciminna at Casa Italia in Stone Park is sponsored by Società San Giovanni Bosco SS. Crocifisso di Ciminna. Festivities culminate on June 4 with an 11:30 a.m. procession and noon Mass, followed by a family festival with food, live entertainment, a procession with the Sicilian Band of Chicago and a tr...

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Chicagoans will attest that there is no shortage of delicious Italian food in the Windy City. On every corner and from every price point, there’s always an option for handmade pastas (shoutout to the "pasta queen of Chicago" for winning the James Beard Award for Best Chef) or grandma’s bolognaise recipe. And yet, if you haven’t dined at Antoine Ced...

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The Columbian Club of Chicago will host a Sunday brunch at 10 a.m. on June 4 at Miseracordia Home Chicago. The event will feature a performance by Miseracordia’s own group, The Heartbreakers, and raise funds to benefit the home’s more than 600 residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Proceeds from a split-the-pot will be donated...

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