Ferraro Foods, a leading distributor of specialty Italian foods and supplies to pizzerias and Italian restaurants, launched an app in partnership with the e-commerce platform Pepper, which provides AI-driven solutions for the food distribution industry. The Pepper app is designed to enhance and simplify how Ferraro Foods interacts with its extensive network of over 8,000 customers across 26 states. “At Ferraro Foods, we pride ourselves on truly understanding our customers through highly personalized service, and the Pepper app will help us play to that strength by providing a faster and more straightforward ordering process,” Ferraro Foods CEO Dan Hill said. …

The National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame celebrated its 45th annual gala on Nov. 15 at Belvedere Banquets in Elk Grove Village. More than 700 attendees witnessed the induction of NBA star Chris Corchiani, ESPN national correspondent Sal Paolantonio, NFL pioneer Bruno Banducci, wrestling great Lou Albano, baseball pioneer Philomena Gianfrancisco and boxing referee Johnny LoBianco. NBA legend and television personality Mike Fratello received the Mario Andretti Lifetime Achievement Award, Teamster official Joe Martucci was the Sportsman of the Year and Roberto Clemente High School baseball coach Richard Tomoleoni was a regional inductee. Paralympic champion and past NIASHF inductee Linda …

On Nov. 10, Com.It.Es (Comitato degli italiani all’estero) organized a pilgrimage to the town of Cherry, Illinois, on the 115th anniversary of the 1909 mine disaster that took the lives of 250 souls, 73 of whom were Italian immigrants. A group of 28 in the company of Italian Consul General Mario Bartoli traveled by bus to the tiny town 100 miles southwest of Chicago. The pilgrimage included a visit to the mine site, the Cherry Mine Disaster Museum and Library, and the cemetery, where Bartoli laid a wreath at the monument honoring those who had perished. The disaster remains largely unknown within the …

The Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans honored five elected officials at its second annual Government Relations Luncheon on Nov. 19 at the Des Plaines Theatre. The event was spearheaded by JCCIA President Ron Onesti, with Enza Ranieri, a recipient of last year’s awards, chairing the committee. More than 150 organization presidents, elected officials and community leaders came together for the event. “In an environment where elected officials walk on eggshells when it comes to controversial issues such as Columbus Day, it’s crucial that we recognize those who bravely stand up for our community, our traditions and our culture,” Onesti …

The cacio e pepe at Chicago’s Rose Mary restaurant earned the distinction of being the most popular pasta dish in Illinois, according to Yelp Elite members, Business Insider reported. Owned by chef Joe Flamm and located at 932 W. Fulton Market, Rose Mary features a blend of Italian and Croatian cuisine reflective of Flamm’s Italian heritage and his wife’s Croatian heritage. The restaurant is named after Flamm’s grandmothers, Mary and Mary Rose, and the herb rosemary, which grows natively along the Italian and Croatian coastlines. “Rose Mary is the culmination of everything I have done with my career. But more …

Iconic Italian steakhouse Gene & Georgetti, now owned and operated by the third generation, was named among Chicago’s best family-owned restaurants by Eater Chicago. Gene Michelotti and Alfredo Federighi (nicknamed “Georgetti”) founded the restaurant at 500 N. Franklin Street in 1941. It was then purchased by Michelotti’s son-in-law, Anthony “Tony” Durpetti, who ran it with his wife, Marion. The restaurant unveiled an expansion in 1997, with two second-floor dining rooms and fire doors that separated the newly constructed building from the original erected in 1872. Durpetti died in September. Now, his daughter Michelle Durpetti keeps “the flame burning bright by …

For one week this month, Boka Restaurant Group will run a pop-up of Balena, a popular Italian restaurant in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood that closed after a fire in 2017. The transient dining experience will run from Jan. 19-26 at The Wellsley, a private-event venue at 504 N. Wells St. in Chicago, Time Out reported. According to an official press release, Balena’s temporary iteration will feature “many iconic dishes cherished by guests,” including the Kale Tonnato Caesar Salad, Tagliolini Nero with Uni and Crab, Grilled Hanger Steak with Salsa Verde, and the signature tiramisu. ⁠The five-course, family-style meal will cost …

Crust Fund Pizza is “like a pizzeria, but it’s kind of mythical, and mostly exists in my head, except for when it exists in an alley a couple nights a month.” That’s how John Carruthers described to the Chicago Tribune the charitable pizza-making project he launched in 2020. The project had raised more than $80,000 by October and was expected to raise more than $100,000 by the end of 2024. “Crust Fund Pizza is a way to share the love of tavern-style pizza,” he said about his Chicago-style, thin-crust, square-cut pies. “And to shine a light on the places doing …

The Grand Lodge of Illinois/Wisconsin of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America celebrated its 100th anniversary on Oct. 13 at the Silver Oaks Country Club. The event brought together members and friends to reflect on the century-long journey of an organization dedicated to preserving Italian heritage, promoting community service and supporting charitable causes. Since its founding in 1924, the Grand Lodge of Illinois/Wisconsin has had 20 distinguished leaders, each leaving a lasting impact on the organization and its mission. The centennial celebration honored those who have served in this prestigious role, and it also spotlighted the remarkable …

The Burgio Woman’s Club staged its second annual Ladies Night Out Cocktail Social on Sept. 19 at the Des Plaines Theater. Nearly 60 women turned out for the event, which was hosted by Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans President Ron Onesti. The organization announced its new name, the Society Burgio for Women, at the gathering. The change was made to make the organization more welcoming to women who may not be direct descendants from the town of Burgio, according to society president Ann Parisi. At the top of the program, Parisi thanked Onesti for his generosity. “Your hospitality and …