Two legendary Chicago-area candymakers have joined forces. Ferrara Candy, a business unit of Ferrero SpA, agreed to acquire Jelly Belly Candy Co., Crain’s Chicago Business reported. The seed for Ferrara was planted at the Original Ferrara Bakery on Taylor Street, which blossomed into Ferrara Pan Candy in Forest Park. The business unit now employs 7,500 worldwide, including 2,200 in Illinois. Jelly Belly began as Goelitz Confectionery Company in suburban St. Louis and later moved to California. It has about 800 employees and operates a plant in North Chicago. Ferrero SpA is a multinational company headquartered in Luxembourg with roots in …

Carme Forte Jr. will ascend to the presidency of the Columbian Club of Chicago at a black-tie installation dinner on Jan. 27 at Medinah Country Club. For reservations, call Christopher Derks at 847-275-3130. Forte has been a member since 2015. “My father has been a member of the club for 20 years or more, and I always loved attending events with our family,” he explains. “I wanted to become more involved in a wonderful organization that furthers our Italian heritage and gives so much back to the community. “The CCC is a great group of men who are dedicated to …

While he was growing up in Chicago Heights during World War II, Dominic Candeloro wasn’t at all proud of his Italian ancestry. His father was a low-paid construction worker who only learned a few words of English. That and the fact that Italy was fighting against the Allies made him ashamed of his roots. The feeling persisted after the war, when the peninsula was in shambles and the country was frequently referred to as “war torn” in the press. It wasn’t until Candeloro saw Fellini’s film “La Dolce Vita” while he was pursuing his undergraduate degree at Northwestern University that …

Chicago attorney Bruno Marasso has been named to the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin’s Forty Under 40 list for 2023. Marasso is a partner at Romanucci & Blandin. A member of the Justinian Society of Lawyers since law school, Massaro has volunteered his time on the executive board since 2017, most recently serving as president for the 2022-23 year. He is also an active member of the Illinois State Bar Association, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, National Italian American Bar Association and American Association of Justice.  

A beloved Chicago pizzeria was recently ranked among the 100 best in the world by the Italian culinary website 50 Top Pizza. Spacca Napoli (1769 W. Sunnyside Ave., Chicago) came in at No. 93 on a list that included pizzerias from France, the Philippines, Spain, Japan, Denmark and more. Diego Vitagliano Pizzeria in Naples and I Masanielli in Caserta shared the top spot. “It’s always nice to be recognized,” Spacca Napoli owner Jonathan Goldsmith modestly responded. Goldsmith has won a slew of awards for his Neapolitan pizza over the years. He learned the trade from master Neapolitan pizzaiolo Enzo Coccia, …

  Eataly now has its own global line of artisan panettoni developed by its team of gastronomical experts. The line features four flavors — classico, pistachio cream, orange and chocolate, and pandoro — all based on a traditional recipe of lievito madre (mother yeast), free-range eggs and Madagascar vanilla. Located at 43 E. Ohio St. in Chicago, Eataly offers 50 panettoni and pandori from various brands, with flavors such as limoncello, chestnut, tiramisu, apricot, salted caramel, and more. Italians typically bring a dessert or sweet treat when they are invited to someone’s home, and during the winter holidays, that’s panettone …

Riccardo Michi, Massimo Di Vuolo and Carlo Maggi met about 30 years ago, when they worked at the now-closed Bice in Chicago. This year, they joined forces to open Il Milanese Ristorante, at 4356 N. Leavitt St. in Chicago, with a menu of dishes from the Piemonte, Lombardia and Veneto regions. The cuisine from these regions has been overlooked as chefs have gravitated toward fusion and updated traditional recipes, Maggi told Block Club Chicago. “Don’t get me wrong, I like experimenting,” Maggi said. “But I want to give new life [to classic] dishes.” For more, click here.    

Far from resting on its laurels, Salerno’s on the Fox is upping its game after 48 years in business. In the past year, owner Joe Salerno has refurbished the St. Charles restaurant’s bar and outdoor patio alongside the Fox River, the Daily Herald reported. Joe’s wife, Rosa, takes care of marketing, and their daughter works part time there. Salerno credited the entire staff with being integral to the restaurant’s success. “What they do for me is unbelievable,” he told the newspaper. The restaurant’s recipes are from Calabria. Salerno’s father, Adam, who opened the restaurant in 1975, passed away in early …

The Arcolian Dental Arts Society honored Joseph F. Hagenbruch, D.M.D., as Arcolian of the Year at its Christmas party on Dec. 12 at Elmcrest Banquets in Elmwood Park. The following profile was provided by the organization. Joseph F. Hagenbruch, D.M.D., a graduate of Washington University School of Dental Medicine in Saint Louis, Missouri, is a private practice general dentist in Harvard, Illinois.  Dr. Hagenbruch is a former American Dental Association Eighth District Trustee.  He is a former president of the Illinois State Dental Society (I.S.D.S.). He is a former president of the Illinois Academy of General Dentistry (I.A.G.D.) and of …

A statue of St. John Baptist Scalabrini was unveiled at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish and Shrine in Melrose Park on Nov. 12. The 6-foot-tall statue was commissioned in honor of the one-year anniversary of the canonization of Bishop Scalabrini, founder of the Missionaries of Saint Charles, the religious order that runs Mt. Carmel. It was installed in front of the church.