Adam Sobel channels Italian-American roots for new Mina Test Kitchen incarnation, Little Italy
For Middle'terranea, the first incarnation of two-month-old Mina Test Kitchen, Michael Mina found culinary inspiration in his Egyptian heritage, while chef Adam Sobel channeled his Jewish roots. While the temporary pop-up restaurant experiment was very well received, it was expected to be short-lived, and we now have an end-date: Saturday, Oct...
Italian in flux
It's a bit eerie to see the former Spiedo's Ristorante in downtown San Mateo starting to get stripped down to its studs and its facade peeled off. It was once the place to be, where power brokers met for lunch and Rotarians and members of the Chamber of Commerce could be seen in every booth. It was where I first had a drink with the late Gary...
The Nutella truck (yes it's real), with free samples, in L.A. this weekend
Nutella is celebrating 50 years of its smooth chocolate-hazelnut spread with a Nutella truck tour around the U.S. And this weekend, the Nutella "Spread the Happy" truck will be in Los Angeles -- with free samples. From Saturday to Tuesday, the truck will be making stops around the city, handing out free samples of Nutella with a variety of...
Ask A Somm: Which Wines Pair Best With Pizza?
Considered one of San Francisco's essential restaurants, Tony's Pizza Napoletana is a multi-faceted pizza operation that fires up myriad of pie styles, from Detroit to Sicilian to coal-fired. With its wide range of pizzas and toppings, wine director Juli Gregg pairs mostly Italian and California-sourced juice, much of which is based on the...
Culver City chef gives Thanksgiving desserts Italian twist
By Lori Corbin When it comes to Thanksgiving desserts, most families have their tried and true recipes, but one local chef suggests giving your sweet dish an Italian twist! Even though Thanksgiving is an American holiday, chef Akasha Richmond is whipping up her holiday desserts with an Italian twist, for good reason. Read more &...
Locanda Del Lago gives you the north of Italy on the Westside
The Westside does Italian. If ever there were a past shortage, the effect in L.A. would be felt most severely from Beverly Hills to Brentwood and nearby points south and west. Fortunately, such a disaster scenario has yet to occur. So, rejoice Westsiders, and indulge in the ubiquity of decadent Italian cuisine without ever having to cross...
A guide to find a taste of Italy in Napa Valley
by Valentina Zannoni The old world boasts some of the most famous and prolific wine regions spreading from the world renowned Champagne in France to the equally famous Chianti in Tuscany. It is however no surprise that the so called new world has caught onto wine making, with flare and inventiveness, producing a variety of exciting tipples...
Cosmopolitan Tavern & Italian Grill celebrate new downtown restaurant with strong community support
When Gary Lanfranco, owner of the Cosmopolitan Tavern & Italian Grill, was forced to move his longtime downtown Fresno restaurant to a new location, he hoped most of his loyal customers would follow him. They did. And so did others, lots of others. Open for just two weeks, customers have packed the restaurant's new and much larger...
A San Francisco il food delivery made in Romagna
di Alessandro Mazza Lui si chiama Guido Pedrelli, è di Cesena, ha 34 anni e ora vive a San Francisco. Lei si chiama Nonnabox.com ed è l'invenzione che sfrutta una forma di commercio in voga negli Usa per far assaporare i piatti delle regioni italiane: la subscription box. Cioè un abbonamento mensile che permette di ricevere a casa prodotti...
Alex Italian Restaurant in Napa Valley Appoints New Executive Chef Riccardo Bilotta
Alex Italian restaurant, focused on authentic Italian cuisine, appointed Riccardo Bilotta as its new executive chef, in the hope that his culinary achievements will bring a new dimension to the already renowned restaurant. Originally from Trieste, Italy, Chef Riccardo Bilotta brings over 13 years of experience gained while cooking at some of Europ...
Biba Ristorante, at 30, remains one of Sacramento’s best
Earlier this year, we published a popular happy-hour guide proposing evening drink and food specials as entry points into Sacramento's highest-end restaurants. This project was my personal gateway to Biba Ristorante Italiano. Sampling this midtown Sacramento fine-dining staple's wonderful happy-hour dishes prompted several subsequent visit...
Table Talk: Little Napoli deserves its reputation for reliable charm, satisfying food and a buoyancy of spirit
All right, I am the only one in the region who had not been to Little Napoli of Carmel, even though I lived down the street on Monte Verde for eight years. Why? I don't know. It looked so charming — that bright blue door, the flying Italian flags, the arched golden Tuscan arch, the Ferrari racing car kitsch...It was for Others. Tourists. O...