Italian tastes, American influence Bella Luna in Oak Ridge
Carol Shina never planned to open a restaurant. She grew up in New York, where on Sundays, she reveled in the aromas of fresh garlic, basil, mushrooms and Italian sausage, along with the sounds of sizzling pans in her Italian grandmother’s kitchen. Shina and her husband started a nuclear imaging company in their garage; they now have about 40 emplo...
A new all-day Italian-style cafe coming to downtown Charleston
Despite vowing never to open a restaurant, Marie Stitt, the daughter of James Beard Award-winning chef Frank Stitt, is opening a restaurant. But she won’t be running it. That job goes to her husband, Edward Crouse. Crouse said Babas on Cannon will be an all-day cafe inspired by those the couple frequented in northern Italy while attending Slow Foo...
Marco's Pizza to open Corinth location in October
Corinth will soon be home to a Marco’s Pizza, one of the franchise owners said. Marco’s Pizza, which started in Ohio 40 years ago, will open in the former Papa John’s location in a strip mall on U.S. Highway 72 East just west of the South Harper Road intersection. Peter Morgan of Collierville, Tennessee said he and business partner Jeff Friedrich o...
Ghee’s Niven Patel to Open Italian Eatery Erba in 2019
Niven Patel, the man behind one of Miami’s most successful new restaurants, Ghee Indian Kitchen, is expanding his mini culinary empire with Erba, a pasta focused restaurant debuting sometime in 2019. “When I started this career of mine I always had a fascination for pasta, and a lot of people who don’t know me perceive me as the Indian chef,” notes...
Rosati's brings the flavors of Chicago to Mount Dora
While investigating franchise opportunities with his father, Michael Dowell took one bite of cheesy, deep-dish Chicago-style pizza and knew he was hooked. “After graduating UCF, my father and I decided to go into business together,” Dowell said. “My dad has always had businesses, but we had never really found our niche. Then we discovered Rosati's...
Terre del Sapore Serves Hearty Italian Fare in Coral Gables
Terre del Sapore feels like home. This Coral Gables restaurant is replete with a welcoming vibe, an exposed brick wall, and a wood-fired oven where you can watch your pizza being cooked. Owner Marcelo Lederman opened the eatery so he would have a place for his family and friends to enjoy the cuisine he loves best. The idea is for patrons to drop in...
Count on bar Vetti for fresh, delicious Italian fare
I had the pleasure of sitting down with Chef Andrew McCabe a few weeks back and vowed to put his restaurant, bar Vetti, on my list, in part because I was struck by how much he puts into his food. I finally made it in for a meal, and I wasn’t disappointed. First of all, the clean, upscale feel of the place — the neon “bar Vetti” sign on the wall com...
That's Amore: Alamance Salami maker is one of a kind
It’s a true case of “blink or you might miss it.” Giacomo Santomauro owns a salami factory right beside Hursey’s BBQ on N.C. 87. For the past six years, Santomauro, owner of San Giuseppe Salami Co., and his crew have produced salami, sausages and deli meats in a barn besides Hursey’s BBQ just outside of Elon. “Our salami is amazing,” he said. “It’s...
The Duo Behind Fratelli Milano Debut Their Latest Italian Eatery, Vista
Twelve years after they debuted Downtown mainstay Fratelli Milano owners Roberto Bearzi and Fiorella Blanco have opened up their second restaurant, Vista (5020 NE 2nd Avenue). Keeping with their Italian roots the new eatery offers up cuisine from Italy with Miami influences. On the all-day menu are dishes like calamari with sesame salt, crudo with...
What’s new in food: Sorrento Sweets will open in Hyde Park
Hyde Park Village has announced the signing of a new lease with Sorrento Sweets, an old-world Italian bakery, at 716 S Village Circle. Sorrento Sweets was founded in Pasco County and this new location will sell Italian cakes, pastries and cookies made out of its Pasco facility. That, plus gelato shakes, gelato floats, espresso drinks and more. Sorr...
BRAVO!’s Homecoming Chefs Dinner
July 23, 2018 was a unique evening at BRAVO! Italian Restaurant & Bar. As guests filled up the elegantly set diningroom, the kitchen had been filled for hours with a sight rarely seen in any restaurant: six chefs, all of whom began their careers at BRAVO! They were industriously preparing for the evening ahead while laughing and trading stories fro...
New Italian diner on State 81 to open Wednesday
George Diakomihalis believes fresher pasta will sweeten the lives of Anderson residents. With that in mind, Diakomihalis is part of a family foursome — which includes wife Foula, brother Michael and sister-in-law Vasoula — who plan to bring authentic Italian dishes to Anderson. Their new restaurant, Dolce Vita (the Italian term for "Sweet Life") ha...