The Pasta Shop's 'Sweet Corn Ravioli' is a limited-edition, Jersey necessity
Shamrock Shakes, apple cider donuts and first-day-of-spring ice cream; there are some foods we wait all year for. Personally, though, no limited-edition treat keeps me counting down the days quite like The Pasta Shop's "Sweet Corn and Mascarpone Ravioli." And — judging from the cumulative 1,400 likes the dish got on Instagram last year — I know I'm...
Eataly, the Italian marketplace, says it will open in King of Prussia
Eataly, the vast Italian food hall with four dozen locations around the world, announced Thursday that it would open a location at King of Prussia Mall in 2025 — a decade since word began circulating that it was considering the Philadelphia market. In a statement, Eataly said it had signed “a multiyear lease” with mall operator Simon Property Group...
Raritan's Basilico Expands, To Open New Italian Café In Hillsborough
Hillsborough couple Joe Trani and Kari LaSpisa, owners of the Italian restaurant Basilico in Raritan, announced they are expanding and opening a second location. LaSpisa told Patch the second location will be coming to the Kingsbridge Shopping Center located at the corner of S Branch Road and Beekman Lane. The new space will be a brunch and lunc...
The history of the Italian Festival, aka Festa Italiana in Bradford, PA
The annual Festa Italiana, held each August on Festival Way, is eagerly anticipated by Bradfordians — and not by just those of Italian descent! It’s a three-day tradition of great homemade Italian food, games, music, dancing, fireworks and greeting old friends – many of whom return to Bradford expressly for Festa Italiana – as the city joyously cel...
Zennaro Joins Penn State Fencing Staff
Penn State Athletics has announced the addition of Matteo Zennaro as associate head coach for the men's and women's fencing programs. In addition, it was announced that Adam Kaszubowski will serve as interim head coach for the 2023-24 season. Zennaro had been an assistant for Harvard since 2018. During that span, the Crimson tallied nearly 40 All-A...
New Kensington church celebrates 42nd annual Italian Fest
Gina Abdallah of New Kensington knows the secret to a delicious cannoli is not its filling, nor is it the shell or nuts, or other accoutrements. It is the love you put into making it. “It’s what makes them tasty, the love,” Abdallah said. “I love doing it. I love being at festivals. I love my church. It’s a great part of the community.” Love was in...
IAP 288: Welcome to Rroseto, PA, the happiest place in Italian America!
For years we’ve been searching for an idyllic Italian American village where we might find the perfect spot to recreate the Italian American neighborhood life we all long for, and this week, we’ve literally hit the Big Time! In this week’s episode, we discuss our recent trip to Pennsylvania’s Slate Belt borough of Roseto, a historically Italian Ame...
Accomplished Philadelphia restaurateurs: Retirement in Italy is our destiny
Joe and Angela Cicala share a dream of buying a small farmhouse in Italy, and moving there after their restaurant (Cicala at the Divine Lorraine, a historic building in Philadelphia’s Spring Garden neighborhood) can be run from abroad. But they haven’t agreed on where. “I’m very much a beach person,” Joe said. “When I was living in Italy, it was in...
NJ's Creator Of The Italian Hot Dog Celebrates 91 Year Anniversary
It's been 91 years since a small hot dog joint in New Jersey concocted a the Italian hotdog. Jimmy Buff's, with locations in West Orange and Kenilworth, recently its celebrated 91-year anniversary. "WOW! 91 YEARS! On August 1, 1932, my grandparents opened a small eatery serving their Italian Style hot dogs and sausages," wrote Jimmy Buff's of West...
La Festa Italiana is Back August 9. Jersey City Tradition Since 1902
For some people, La Festa Italiana is like a trip back in time, partly because it harkens back to an era when Italian immigrants dominated downtown Jersey City. While in recent years, some of the religious aspects of the traditional feast have been cut back in order to accommodate a whole new population to that part of the city, Nicholas Grillo, on...
Anna Harsh, acclaimed dancer & writer, to sign her latest Italian dance book in Aliquippa
Acclaimed dancer and writer Anna Harsh will sign copies of her latest book Aug. 7 at the B.F. Jones Memorial Library. The 5:30 p.m. event will showcase Harsh's highly anticipated second book, "The Italian Dance Quest: Finding Power, Wealth, and Innovation." A continuation of Harsh's first memoir, "La Danza: Conflict, Passion, and Healing," both boo...
Italian Sandwich Shop Fatto Con Amore Coming to Montclair This Fall
The team behind one of New Jersey’s most popular restaurants will be opening their second business in Montclair later this year as Fatto Con Amore is coming to a storefront along the town’s main street. Montclair Hospitality Group Partners have announced a new sandwich concept they are opening at 349 Bloomfield Avenue. The company, founded by Ani R...