Muffuletta : A Classic Italian American Sandwich from the New Orleans Italian Enclave
The Muffuletta sandwich is made in America with Italian parts. This sandwich, while it is filled with delicious Italian meats, cheese and vegetable condiments, is unique to New Orleans. It’s forerunners first appeared in the French Quarter as early as the 1890’s, when a large number of Sicilians came to the port of New Orleans. These immigrants set...
Review: Napoli Express Pizza plays hits with new twists
Where do you go when you want to venture off the beaten path but still have a craving for the familiarity and dependability of your favorite comfort foods? I hopped in my car, headed north on Highway 6 and ended up at Napoli Express Pizza in Sugar Land. For those of you who have regularly read my column or follow me on Twitter, you may know that I...
New Boston-inspired Italian restaurant blooms in Austin suburb
An Italian dining concept with a "Boston-inspired menu" is taking root in Georgetown. The Garden at the Summit takes its inspiration from the North End, aka Boston's Little Italy. According to a September 29 release, its menu will include, among other things, crab cakes, lobster rolls, pasta, and Roman-style pizzas when it opens in the suburb in m...
Ostia Makes a Bid to Be Your New Favorite Neighborhood Spot
FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS, New Yorkers and tourists alike made damn sure to visit Barbuto, celebrity chef Jonathan Waxman’s neighborhood restaurant that blended Italian cuisine with new American approaches. While they were there, one dish stood above the rest: roast chicken with salsa verde. It’s the item most associated with the chef and his restaurant,...
Restaurateur Discusses Opening, and Maintaining, Tarantino's in South Dallas
If you have any extended dining history in Dallas, there's a good chance you have been in the company of one or more Tarantino. Chris, Patrick and Matthew Tarantino are all trained chefs who in the late 1990s and early 2000s were creating food in the kitchens of The Mansion on Turtle Creek, Beau Nash at the Hotel Crescent Court, the Green Room, TAB...
52 Weeks of Pizza: Capparelli’s on Main restaurant is comfortable with pizza excess
Pizza occupies just one section of a multifaceted Italian menu of pastas, sandwiches, salads, seafood, chicken and veal at Capparelli’s on Main, the family-run Monte Vista Italian restaurant. It’s not artsy and refined, but neither is it an afterthought. It’s the kind of pizza that unites us rather than divides us. It starts with a crust best descr...
Joe’s Italian eyes 50K mark for donated meals in Montgomery County
Joe Haliti is at it again. It’s no secret the local restaurateur has spent months donating meals to law enforcement, teachers, fire and medical personal as the COVID-19 pandemic lingered on. But on Monday, Haliti will give away 5,000 more meal to reach his goal of 50,000 meals donated throughout the county. This time anyone who wants an Italian lun...
New family-run Italian bakery-cafe in Frisco really takes the cake
A new family-owned bakery and cafe is opening in Frisco with a cool fondness for Italian desserts. Called Pietro's Bakery & Café, it's at 11625 Custer Rd. in a former BurgerIM where it will serve baked goods including cakes, cheesecakes, pastries, muffins, tarts, biscotti, cookies, and macarons. But this won't just be a bakery: It will be a casual...
Who's Marco and what's up with his pizza? Third location opens in Shreveport-Bossier
Marco’s Pizza is rapidly growing with new stores opening across the United States and a plan to increase its presence internationally by late 2020. More than two years ago, the pizza chain made its Louisiana debut and is a testament to the corporation’s development rate. The third Marco’s Pizza in northwest Louisiana opened this month at 1701 Jimmi...
Juliet Italian Kitchen To Open 2nd Austin Site, Start Hiring
Even as other eateries are closing their doors after financially succumbing to the coronavirus pandemic, Juliet Italian Kitchen on Monday announced plans to open a second location with an accompanying hiring spree. The second restaurant will be opened at The Arboretum along 10000 Research Blvd. by February 2021, officials said in an emailed advisor...
First-ever virtual Taste of Italy trade tasting, an unmitigated success!
On Monday and Tuesday of this week (September 21-22, 2020), the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce South Central held its first-ever virtual Taste of Italy trade tasting in cities across Texas. Participating winemakers and food producers were asked to ship samples to the U.S. earlier this year. Texas-based food and wine professionals and food and wi...
Good food, good music, good art is giving La Divina Italian Cafe new life in these pandemic times
La Divina Italian Cafe is mixing up delightful gelatos and sorbet mimosas, paninis and lasagna and serving them up with artwork and live music. And the combination of food and fun seems to be paying off. Like other eateries, the cafe at 3535 Perkins Road in Baton Rouge has had to overcome its share of challenges during the state's pandemic lockdown...