The owner and chef behind the first plant-based Italian restaurant in the United States shares all her secrets in a debut cookbook titled “Vegana Italiana.” A native of New York, Tara Punzone opened Pura Vita in West Hollywood, California, in 2018, focusing on transforming classic Italian staples into vegan dishes without sacrificing flavor. The cookbook offers more than 100 vegan Italian recipes inspired by her family’s meals and favorites from her restaurant. “When Punzone decided to go vegan when she was 12 years old, she learned how to follow a vegan lifestyle without compromising her traditions, heritage or love of …

The first Italian American pilgrimage to the National Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini in Chicago was such a resounding success, the shrine is gearing up to replicate the experience on Sept. 21 Buses will once again pick up and drop off attendees at Casa Italia in Stone Park and the Old Neighborhood Italian American Club in Chicago, with Villa Cesare in Schererville, Indiana, and the American Italian Cultural Society in Crest Hill added to the itinerary. Pickup times will vary, depending on distance from the shrine. Tours of the shrine will precede a noon Mass, followed by a reception. …

At the start of the 21st century, shopping online was still a futuristic fantasy. And then, in the spring of 2000, Federico Marchetti invented one of the world’s first platforms for online sales, launching a company that would revolutionize the luxury fashion sector. In “The Geek of Chic: An American Dream, Italian Style,” Marchetti tells the tale of an awkward kid from the seaside town of Ravenna, Italy, who transformed himself into a pioneer in online retail. He’ll be sharing that story at a Sept. 17 book signing at the Book Cellar in Chicago. Readers will follow Marchetti’s improbable career …

The legacy of Florentine poet Dante Alighieri was once again celebrated as the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans hosted its annual Dante and DiFrisco Awards Luncheon at the Galleria Marchetti in Chicago on May 22. Lynn Sweet was the 2025 recipient of the Dante Award. A respected journalist for the Chicago Sun-Times for more than 40 years, she most recently served as its Washington bureau chief. “I am deeply honored to have my decades of work in Chicago recognized by such a distinguished group,” Sweet said. “The award represents truth in journalism, and Lynn is a fiery example of …

The Italian restaurant Tortello, whose owner Dario Monni is from Venice, was named by Eater Chicago among the city’s best outdoor dining spots. Monni and his wife, Jill Gray, a native Chicagoan, opened the neighborhood counter-service restaurant and handcrafted pastificio in 2019. “Locals are known to frequently swing by for fresh pasta and jarred sauces, including a stellar cacio e pepe, to cook at home, but there’s a lot to be said for slurping freshly made pappardelle on its Division Street patio for lunch or dinner (or both),” Eater wrote. For more, click here.

After 54 years in business, My Pi Pizza — among Chicago’s most iconic pizzerias — announced it was closing in June. “From our first location on Sheridan Road in 1971 to our Bucktown home since 2000, My Pi has been a labor of love,” the restaurant wrote on Instagram. “We introduced deep-dish beyond Illinois, opened 25 locations across nine states and shared our family recipe with generations of pizza lovers.” Founder Larry Aronson, whose family came from Belarus, perfected his recipe using lower-acid tomatoes, a top-secret “spice pack” and dough built on generations of baking knowledge, Time Out reported. The …

Italian candy giant Ferrero plans to launch its first new flavor variety of Nutella next year, right from the Chicago area, the Chicago Tribune reported. Nutella Peanut was developed by Ferrero’s food scientists and will be made exclusively at the company’s factory in suburban Franklin Park. “We think it’s going to be big,” Seth Gonzalez, senior director of marketing for Nutella, told the newspaper. “We do plan on it becoming a significant part of the portfolio going forward, and so we hope that consumers will get behind it and come try it out.” The plant — which also makes peanut-packed …

Seven-time James Beard-nominated chef Cathy Whims published her first cookbook, “The Italian Summer Kitchen: Timeless Recipes for La Dolce Vita,” in the spring. Whims owns Nostrana, an Italian restaurant that celebrated its 20th anniversary this year in Portland, Oregon. Her cookbook features some of the restaurant’s most beloved dishes, along with some of her own from travels abroad, Axios reported. Recipes include fluffy potato gnocchi, zucchini Parmigiana, tuna-caper pâté, grilled shrimp with herbed remoulade, fennel Alfredo pasta, eggplant caponata and Nostrana’s famous Caesar salad. All are focused on “simple, veggie-forward Italian cooking.” “I think that’s a real tenet of Italian …

  Roselle Sister Cities Italian Committee will host a tour of the region of Puglia from Sept. 7-16. “Puglia is known for its history-rich cities, vibrant culture, dramatic seaside cliffs, crystal-clear waters and rustic cuisine,” tour creator Pat Capriati notes. “We’ve put together a trip that will showcase all those qualities.” The itinerary will include Bari, Mola di Bari, Alberobello, Martina Franca, Lecce, Otranto, Martina Franca, Torre dell’Orso, Santa Maria di Leuca, Polignano a Mare, San Vito, Rutigliano and Manduria. Along the way, participants will witness the pageantry of the Feast of Maria SS Addolorata; explore the ancient trulli of …

On May 13, more than 300 elected officials, political lobbyists and community leaders converged on the Bank of Springfield Convention Center for the third annual Italian Caucus Reception in the state’s capital. What began as a quiet dinner prepared by Elmwood Park Mayor Angelo “Skip” Saviano and Bloomingdale Mayor Franco Coladipietro has blossomed into what legislators refer to as the “best party in Springfield.” The event is chaired by State Rep. Anthony Deluca and Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans President Ron Onesti. “When I heard about the event a few years ago, I thought it would be a great …