Sharing Mama’s Italian Pastry Cream recipe for a delicious holiday treat
By Jasper J. Mirabile Jr. Everyone has a special memory of their childhood. Most of mine revolve around the kitchen and family. While most kids were out playing T-ball, my time was spent in the kitchen being intrigued by my mother and grandmother gathering just a few ingredients and producing a meal for the family. Whether it be waking up to the...
Cooks of Italian descent share heritage through food
There's a saying in the Little Balkans area of Southeast Kansas that if your family name ends in a vowel, you likely belong to a family of immigrant coal miner descent. Mengarelli. Maransani. Stefanoni. They were among the thousands of Italians who came to the area after the first underground coal mines opened in the late 1800s. Read...
9 Fresh Uses For ‘Broccoli Rabe,’ An Italian Superstar
Summer has yet to deliver its full range of vegetables, but one stalwart crop that keeps on giving is Brassica rapa (from rapum, Latin for "turnip"). Brimming with flavor, this vegetable is known variously in its native Italy as cime di rapa ("turnip tops"), broccoletti di rape or just rape (pronounced räp'-eh), rapi, rappini, friarielli, vrucculi...
Rita's Italian Ice Brand New To Nebraska
by Natalie Micale Rita's Italian Ice is now open in Lincoln and it's the first store in Nebraska to offer Italian ice custard. The store's franchise is owned by the Malone family from Crete, Nebraska. Mike and Elynn Malone say they tried the store's hallmark item, ice custard in Kansas when they were visiting their daughter and loved...
Former Kazmos Lounge to Become Italian Restaurant
by Mark Antonation Kazmos Lounge closed six years ago. Since then, there hasn't been much activity in the corner spot at West 14th Avenue and Kalamath Street in the Lincoln Park neighborhood — but a public-hearing notice went up at the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses recently for a hotel and restaurant liquor license at the addres...
A second gelato-maker is coming to downtown Springfield
Drawn by foot traffic and a concentration of students, a college student majoring in entrepreneurship expects to open a new gelato store downtown. Cameron Maes, a sophomore at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles and former Missouri State student, said he wants to open Maes Gelateria as early as May 1. Read more Sou...
Diego’s Bar & Grill opening in Gladstone
Ivan Marquez has built a strong following with two Overland Park restaurants — one full-service, the other fast-casual. Now he's expanding with a third restaurant. But this one is in Gladstone. Marquez and Marco Diaz plan to open Diego's Bar & Grill on Friday, in the former Tanner's Bar & Grill space at 6024 N.E. Antioch Road,...
Cibare Brings Modern Italian Cuisine to South County
By Sarah Fenske When you think of dining in south county, you may not think of housemade pasta, genuine Neapolitan pizza or from-scratch cannoli. But that's all on offer at Cibare (777 River City Casino Boulevard, 888-578-7289), the new modern Italian restaurant at River City Casino. The concept, which has its grand opening tonigh...
Blue Grotto has some big changes ahead, including a new name
Fintan Molloy, owner of Brookside's Blue Grotto, says the seven-year-old restaurant is turning its focus away from pizza. The new menu will emphasize steak, fish and burgers. And a new name is on the horizon: Bia, the Gaelic word for food. Molloy says the transition to the new name will not be immediate. "The Blue Grotto's primary clientel...
Put an Italian spin on the traditional Thanksgiving spread
By Rachel Nania Step through the double doors at 1525 Wisconsin Ave. NW, and you'll be instantly transported from urban to Umbria. An old farm scooter in the entryway is filled with local produce and surrounding shelves are stocked with imported pastas, olive oils, coffees and ceramics. Just beyond the packaged provisions is a wine shop, a bu...
Bagalis Restaurant -- Classic Italian and Haute Colorado Cuisine at 9000 feet
by Kristin Mason Oh Bagalis, Bagalis! The words escape me when attempting to describe the delectable cuisine being effortlessly ushered out of the immaculate kitchen onto the pristine stage known as the dining room floor of Bagalis. From the moment you spot this adorable eatery on a quaint corner of Main Street in the picturesque...
Cafe di Scala to reopen as Aposto
by Michael Morain Well, it's "arrivederci" for Cafe di Scala. After 10 years, the popular Sherman Hill restaurant will serve its final course on New Year's Eve. But don't worry, diners: It will reopen Jan. 1 as Aposto, with the same team out front and back in the kitchen. Under owner Tony Lemmo and chef Phil Shires' new plan...