Army Specialist 5th Class Allan Zitella
The youngest of three children, Allan Zitella was born in Chicago to Joseph and Christina (Zipparo) Barrile. His mother died when Zitella was 3 years old and he and his siblings, Richard and JoAnn, were eventually adopted by their maternal great-aunt and -uncle, Anna and James Zitella. Zitella grew up in the neighborhood around Harlem and North ave...
Roncadin Opens New Plant in the USA
On November 18th, Italian frozen pizza maker Roncadin officially opened a new production plant in Vernon Hills, Illinois, marking a significant step in its U.S. expansion. The 7,000-square-meter facility, which employs 100 staff, houses a production line capable of producing 30 million pizzas annually, using carefully sourced ingredients and tradit...
Little Italy Holiday Artwalk adds artists and tours
A year-end tradition, Little Italy Holiday Artwalk – Dec. 6 to 8 - has a few additions this year including organized tours of the Little Italy neighborhood and of the 1908 Baroque Revival Holy Rosary Church. The artwalk will take place 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, noon to 9 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7 and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8. The goal is to bri...
Costa’s Ristorante a dining destination in northwest Illinois for over 30 years
The menu at Saro Costa’s restaurant may be well-rounded, but it didn’t get that way by cutting corners. That’s because when you sit down at Costa’s Pizzeria and Ristorante in Byron, you’d be hard-pressed not to find something you’ll like. While Italian fare is his bread and butter (and that bread’s made from scratch, he’s proud to say), he’s got a...
Pizzeria DiLauro A Slice of Tradition in Chagrin Falls
Nestled in the charming village of Chagrin Falls, Pizzeria DiLauro, an East Coast inspired pizzeria, stands as a testament to the timeless appeal of authentic, handmade pizza. This family-owned pizzeria has become a beloved fixture in the local dining scene, offering a warm and inviting atmosphere where customers feel like family, and each bite tel...
New Italian-American restaurant, Little Chicagos, operates along Walnut Street in downtown Muncie.
Family is the single word describes the goal and mission of Little Chicagos. Managed by Aaron and Rhonda Blake, the husband-wife duo aims to create an atmosphere full of family. They strive to replicate the feeling of being with family, starting with scratch-cooking in a laughter-filled kitchen and extending to the Italian cafe design of the dining...
Film Showcasing Career Of Iconic DJ Dick Biondi Debuts Thursday At BAC n Chicago
The long awaited documentary about the coolest, hippest, Radio Hall of Famer – the late, great Dick Biondi – will receive a special viewing Thursday, Nov. 14. The film screening and fundraiser starts at 6 p.m. at the Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St., Chicago. Proceeds from the screening will go toward putting the final touches on the film bef...
Bar Corallini brings a taste of Italy to Madison
Through the floor-to-ceiling window near the north entrance of Bar Corallini, people passing by can stop and watch the head chef, Giovanni Novella, hand make his own pastas and pizza doughs. Prepping rigatoni, spaghetti or his personal favorite, pappardelle, Novella perfectly shapes each piece of pasta, all while making it look mesmerizingly easy....
Special Olympian makes Italian American Sports Hall of Fame history
Evanston’s Caroline Colianne was named the first Special Olympian to join the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday. “For them to recognize what our athletes bring to the world is fantastic,” said Peter Beale-DelVecchio, president and Chief Executive Officer of Special Olympics Illinois. “So often they’re told, ‘You can’t do thi...
Lake Forest Italian tailor the last of a ‘dying breed’
In an old brick building covered in vines, sitting along McKinley Road in Lake Forest, is a vestige of a disappearing era — Carlo’s Tailor Shop. The workshop is crowded with racks of in-progress suits, well-used tools, spools of thread and scrap organized in a way only one man understands. That man is Piero Amidei, who at 77 years of age runs the s...
Perrone, Clark honored by Greater Rockford Italian American Association
As Italian Heritage Month came to an end last month, we once again honored local Italian-Americans of note. The Greater Rockford Italian American Association held its annual Italian Hall of Fame and Special Recognition Award Dinner on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, at the Venetian Club in Rockford, Illinois. The GRIAA is a non-profit organization of volu...
Italian American Chamber of Commerce Goes to the Opera
Members of the Italian American Chamber of Commerce of Michigan, along with their spouses and friends, attended the Detroit Opera production of La Traviata on October 27, 2024. One of Giuseppe Verdi's most beloved operas, it was enthusiastically received by the group and a packed house. The opera was directed by the internationally recognized Fran...