A slice of New Jersey at Spirito’s Italian Diner in Carlsbad (CA)
I’ve been daydreaming about a food-centric trip that includes a tour of old-school Italian diners, which are common in New Jersey. Ideally, this trip would take place in October, when the chill in the air perfectly complements the hearty fare. Think chicken and eggplant parmesan, meatball subs, and ravioli. Long Beach Island is one possible destina...
Festa Americana 2024: Celebrating American Culture and History in Italy
U.S. Naval Support Activity (NSA) Naples hosted the annual Festa Americana at Carney Park to celebrate America’s Independence Day, Jul 4. Held in conjunction with the NATO’s 75th anniversary, the event brought together service members and their families, Department of Defense civilians, local Italian nationals, and NATO service members to celebrate...
Bertoletti, Sudo win top dog honors at Nathan’s Famous power-eating contest, absent longtime champ
Patrick Bertoletti gobbled up 58 hot dogs to win his first men’s title Thursday at the annual Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest, taking advantage of the absence of the event's biggest star. In the women's competition, defending champion Miki Sudo won her 10th title and set a new world record by downing 51 links. Joey “Jaws” Ches...
Santa Marina Society celebrates century-old tradition in Inwood
For over 100 years, the Santa Marina Society in Inwood (NY) has been celebrating and honoring the patron saint Santa Marina. The annual feast and mass is held to commemorate their ancestor’s immigration from Filandari, a small town in the Calabria region of Italy to Inwood. Their devotion to Santa Marina is what makes this feast special. “So many p...
The pretty Italian city named 'most underrated' with less tourists than Rome or Venice
This gorgeous Italian city is just as good a location for a city break as Rome or Venice, but without the crowds, and boasts the largest seaside piazza in Europe. Trieste, Italy was named one of the "most underrated" cities in Europe, jam-packed full of history and culture, as well as delicious Italian food. Visitors can wander the ancient Roman Am...
17 Italian Cheeses You Need To Try At Least Once
Say cheese! On second thought, say "formaggio" — because today we're taking a deep dive into the wonderful world of Italian cheeses. Italy has such a rich, complex history that you can hardly dig a hole in Rome without running into an ancient artifact. This is a history that you can tell with cheese. From the rugged mountains in the north to the su...
New restaurant Bruschetta serves up authentic Italian cuisine in Stateline
The story behind the new fine Italian cuisine restaurant, Bruschetta, started growing roots pre-pandemic in the Bay Area. Erik Rhoades had owned and operated a restaurant for about four years before he brought in chef Victor Guerrero. After a successful run at that location, Rhoades ultimately sold the restaurant right before COVID hit, then moved...
The One-Of-A-Kind Italian Market In New York That You Could Spend Hours Exploring
For food lovers, New York City truly is the gateway to the world. There’s so much to discover in the city, so many different cuisines from so many different regions, that even residents of New York City might often feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices. May we make a suggestion? It’s never a bad idea to start with cheese and meat. That’s...
This Italian Island Is As Alluring As Capri Without The Crowds And Hefty Price Tag
Italy is one country that's finding it challenging to balance the explosion of tourism with preservation of its cultural and natural jewels. From charging day passes in Venice to unsustainable hordes at the Colosseum, visitors and Italians alike are often looking for a break from the hot spots in order to focus on the true identity of Italy. While...
Fine and Rare: La Traviata, Illuminata, and John Turturro’s Dream
When I first thought of writing about Illuminata, my uncle had been a handful of ashes for more than a year. Cancer meandered north from his prostate and made lesions on his liver, then penetrated his beautiful brain. I imagined sending him this essay—I wanted to write it because I knew he would enjoy it. After all, we loved opera and we loved one...
Naples: a gourmet paradise celebrated by global travelers
Beautiful Naples has recently received yet another accolade: it’s been chosen by readers and writers of the famous travel and tourism magazine Time Out as the place with the best food in the world. This type of list is not unusual in this day and age, especially when considering the exponential growth of food tourism around the world, Belpaese incl...
Arts academy honors Mustari at inaugural bash
Serving as the first principal of The Chicago Academy for The Arts was never the plan for Frank Mustari. A guidance counselor at Niles West High School in suburban Skokie, Mustari asked to take a leave of absence in 1981 to help establish the academy, the first of its kind in the city. “I thought the concept was a great idea. I was working at a hig...