What if your family’s immigration story bypassed the iconic Ellis Island, heading straight to the sunny shores of San Diego? Join us as we sit down with Tom Cesarini, founder of Convivio, who uncovers his rich Sicilian heritage and shares his family’s unique journey to America. From working in a macaroni factory to establishing a vibrant enclave in...
No vision board, no grand plan, no dreams of greatness. The only thing comedian Sebastian Maniscalco really knew when he came to Los Angeles from the suburbs of Illinois 26 years ago was that he wanted to make people laugh and hopefully make some money doing it, at least enough to live on and keep his Italian family off his back about the dubious c...
Ggiata Delicatessen has been making headlines and winning hearts (and stomachs) since they opened their first store in Melrose Hill back in 2021. Their New Jersey-style Italian American sandwiches have become local favorites almost immediately. And now they’re opening their 4th location in Highland Park, and this new store is the first location to...
Italian roots run deep in Healdsburg, which makes it the ideal place to celebrate the inaugural Festa Italia di Healdsburg (CA) from 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Aug. 18 at Orsi Family Vineyards. More than two dozen wineries will have their top Italian varietals available for tasting, from the little known Aglianico to Sangiovese, one of the most popular. The...
Did you know that San Diego Padres star pitcher Joe Musgrove has a family connection to Little Italy? His grandmother, Lucy Papitto, resided in San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood for 30 years! I didn’t know this until I saw a relatively new mural and plaque today. The beautiful mural can be found on India Street a little south of Grape Street. I...
Los Angeles’s booming Italian restaurant scene is something of a chicken-and-egg situation. Whether it’s Angelenos’ tremendous appetite for pasta fueling the proliferation of Italian restaurants or an abundance of Italian restaurants that inspire the craving, there’s no denying that Italian food has flourished around town. The latest newcomer to jo...
Eataly, the global Italian marketplace and retail concept, is proud to announce its partnership with Concorso Italiano for the 2024 season of Monterey Car Week. As the preeminent lifestyle event for enthusiasts of Italian motors, Concorso Italiano will take place at the Bayonet & Black Horse Golf Course in Seaside, California. With a picturesque se...
When acclaimed Apple Valley restaurant Di Napoli’s Firehouse closed recently, many patrons found themselves in a predicament. Where could they find the same wonderful food, service and atmosphere? Gailen Waggoner, a regular reader of this column, and his wife, Sharon, were Di Napoli’s regulars. When they learned that a new family-owned Italian rest...
It’s Italian Heritage Night at Oracle Park, an evening when the traditional black and orange colors of the San Francisco Giants mix up with the Italian tricolore. Fans and baseball lovers outside the stadium are ready to see their team take on the Toronto Blue Jays. Stephen Revetria walks around and says “hi” while people take their seats, ready t...
Orsi Family Vineyards in Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley is proud to host the inaugural Festa Italia di Healdsburg on Sunday, August 18, 2024. This one-day event celebrates Italian grape varieties grown in California, bringing together artisan producers and wine enthusiasts to explore and enjoy exceptional Italian varietal wines often undiscovered...
“Avengers: The Kang Dynasty” has been retitled with a full-tilt pivot. The next Avengers films will be “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Avengers: Secret Wars” and they will both be directed by the Russo Brothers. Directors Joe and Anthony Russo — who helmed four films in the MCU, including 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame” — are uniting with Marvel Studios once...
The latest project from the 35-year-old Toscana Restaurant Group is a charming ode to Roman cuisine called All Roads. Opening Friday, July 26, at 145 South Barrington Avenue in Brentwood, All Roads serves traditional Roman pinsas in a wine bar setting with an attached bottle shop. Toscana Restaurant Group’s collection of Italian restaurants include...