International Tasting Tea to feature Italian food
by Joshua Vail The annual 4-H International Tasting Tea will feature a taste of Italy this year at the Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum. The featured country is inspired by Beatrice Di Cristina, an exchange student from Italy staying with the Kim Umbarger family. Di Cristina is from Perugia, a city about two hours north of Rome. She s...
Nash D'Amico shares new Rice Village, downtown projects
by Cara Smith Nash D'Amico's latest project is still over a month away from opening, but the seasoned Italian restaurateur is already scoping out ripe opportunities. D'Amico, best known for his Rice Village staple D'Amico's Italian Market Cafe, told the HBJ that even though his latest project, Fellini Gelato & Caffee, is still und...
Dine on our Dime: Bambino’s Italian Cafe south
by Katie Tonarely Reader Kat Minx describes herself as a downtown Springfield kind of gal, but after an extended trip around the United States that included spots along the West Coast, she found herself back in Springfield, living on the south side. Her new home meant finding new stomping grounds that didn't all include downtown Springfi...
Dine on Our Dime: D'Arpino's Italian Cafe
Small, but mighty. D'Arpino's Italian Cafe on South National is the epitome of "blink and you might miss it," but for those who know it's around, it's become a yummy staple. This small restaurant has a big following, people who stick around and become regulars. A dream come true for this Italian family. And those regulars become like famil...
Welcome Reception for Isabella Dalla Ragione
For thousands of years, peasants in Umbria and Tuscany cultivated fruit trees and family orchards. This way of life ended after the Second World War. The varieties in these regions were replaced, first, by generic fruit and, more recently, by fruit from other countries. Italian author and agronomist, Isabella Dalla Ragione will give a lecture at Mi...
Zino Ristorante
Forget what the map says. "Italy didn't used to be a country," says Nick Haley provocatively. "It was kingdoms. Regions — each one practicing its own traditional cuisine. Each one staying within its borders." But not Haley. The Zino Ristorante executive chef and co-owner likes to mix it up a little — it's one of the benefits of being a con...
Parella brings good Italian fare back to Calhoun Square
by Nancy Ngo Italian fare is back in Calhoun Square, in the spot once occupied by the long-running Figlio, which had most recently been an American restaurant and bar. Parella, with white walls, cozy booths and an open kitchen, offers a contemporary dining space. Michael Larson of Digby's in Roseville brought in Todd Macdonald of...
Helena restaurant named best in Montana
Lucca's Italian Restaurant in Helena has been named best in Montana by a business website. Lucca's is on the Walking Mall in downtown Helena. Owner Frederick Stout says he just happened to learn while talking to someone on Thursday that his business was named best restaurant in Montana in an article on MSN.com; the story originated on...
Parella: New casual Italian format includes half-pound meatballs
by Mecca Bos Minneapolis, can we not have nice things? It seems like the bombardment of too many Italian restaurants focusing on crudo means they are already starting to fall like a house of cards. One of our very favorites, Parella, recently lost Executive Chef Todd Macdonald (though he is remaining as silent partner). He we...
New restaurant brings taste of Little Italy to Bay St. Louis
A pit stop in Bay St. Louis made such a big impression on two restaurant owners, they decided to adjust their plans and settle here. Italian Garden Restaurant opened Saturday at 828 U.S. 90 in the Bay, across from Bay Arts Center, and is owned by Giovanni Karelli and his wife, Mergita Sadiku. Karelli, originally from Bartlesville, Okl...
Brendan Marsden details Modesto's 'American-Italian' replacement, Mona's
When Modesto closed last month after a 15-year run, owner Brendan Marsden had already announced that he would open a new concept in the restaurant's space on the Hill (5257 Shaw Avenue), and that this new concept would involve pizza. Yet another Italian restaurant on the Hill? Not exactly. As Marsden first revealed to St. Louis Magazi...
Coperta Could Be the Start of a Lovely Roman Holiday
By Gretchen Kurtz Paul and Aileen Reilly, the brother-sister team behind Beast + Bottle, couldn't have picked a better spot for Coperta, their Italian restaurant that opened at the height of summer. It's located on the edge of downtown across from Benedict Fountain Park, so after a leisurely meal, you can head out the door, belly full of w...