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 …

Attorney Isabella Mazzanti has joined the Chicago-based law firm of Romanucci & Blandin. Mazzanti earned her law degree from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law and her undergraduate degree in communications from the University of Dubuque, Iowa. During law school, she helped Chicago residents through UIC Law’s Pro Bono Civil Litigation Clinic and clerked at several Chicago-area law firms before spending two years as a law clerk at Romanucci & Blandin. Mazzanti will concentrate her practice on cases involving sexual abuse, motor vehicle and traffic accidents, individuals suffering from workplace injuries, premises and product liabilities, birth injuries, and medical …

A new law sponsored by State Rep. Bob Rita would give local governments the power to make their own rules about drones flying over public spaces. “Whether it’s parents watching their child’s softball game, young swimmers in a competition, or people enjoying our trail system, everyone should be able to enjoy local parks without worrying about drones causing problems,” Rep. Rita said. “This legislation will allow park districts to regulate drone usage so that guests can feel safe and secure while enjoying public spaces.”  

With fewer migrants being sent to Illinois and shelter populations now declining, State Rep. Anthony DeLuca is calling on the legislature to redirect funding intended for migrant issues toward direct property-tax relief payments for qualified homeowners in the south suburbs. DeLuca’s House Bill 5913 would redirect unspent state budget dollars intended for migrant issues toward a one-time property-tax rebate for low- and moderate-income homeowners. The rebate would be available for those who live in Bloom, Calumet, Rich, Thornton or Bremen Townships in Cook County. “Homeowners are rightfully frustrated by skyrocketing property taxes, and they expect the state to intervene and …

Nando Milano Trattoria in Champaign, Illinois, was the only Italian restaurant named among the “Best in Central Illinois” by Eater Chicago. “Guests can expect to pay $100 per person for dinner before drinks and tip, and yes, lest you think your eyes deceive you, that is a $600 bottle of wine on the list,” Eater writes. However, the high prices are not a deterrent to the restaurant’s popularity in town. Chef-owner Alessio Vullo, who first opened Nando Milano in Chicago, launched the second location after moving with his wife, who embarked on her medical internship in Champaign. Appetizers include beef, …

Celebrity chef Fabio Viviani opened his new restaurant, Giostra, in October in suburban Chicago’s South Barrington. Located in The Arboretum shopping center, the restaurant is named after the carousel that anchors Piazza della Repubblica in Viviani’s hometown of Florence, Italy, the Daily Herald reported. Giostra’s menu centers around classic Italian dishes crafted from recipes passed down from Viviani’s mother and grandmother, blending tradition with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Viviani, who lives in Barrington Hills, also co-launched Jars, a gourmet-dessert franchise, and Lago Italian in Lake Zurich. For more, click here.

The owners of Il Girasole Trattoria, which opened in July in Chicago, may be from Mexico but have extensive experience and deep appreciation for Italian cuisine. The restaurant at 2700 N. Western Ave. is owned by Christian Hernandez and Rodolfo Hernandez (no relation) and aims to serve “high-quality, northern Italian comfort food,” Block Club Chicago reported. Christian Hernandez and his family spent more than 20 years working front of house at Italian restaurants in Chicago, including Piccolo Sogno and Riccardo Trattoria in Lincoln Park. Chef Rodolfo Hernandez has been cooking in Italian restaurants for 34 years, including at Riccardo’s. Christian …

The first ice cream establishment in the world to earn a Michelin star is located in Taichung, Taiwan. Minimal is sister to the contemporary restaurant Sur, which also has one star. Founded by chef Arwin Wan, former pastry chef at Sur, Minimal offers a seven-course tasting menu for about $37. The menu changes seasonally, featuring, for example, flavors with pine needles, green plums and sorghum wine. “Focusing on ice and ice cream, the restaurant skillfully layers flavors and textures through temperature variations and creative combinations, using unique local ingredients,” Michelin says.

Anna Maria Pasteria, at 4400 N. Clark St. in Chicago since 1989, closed in October. Owner Anna Maria Picciolini wrote on Facebook that she decided to retire “with a heart full of gratitude and a few bittersweet tears.” Originally from Italy’s Basilicata region, Picciolini opened the restaurant with her sister, Maria Spinelli, who died in 2017. The restaurant closed briefly in June after a driver crashed into it. The Greater Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce raised about $20,000 through a GoFundMe that helped cover repairs and assist employees during the closure.

  The Chicago Office of the Italian Trade Agency, the government agency entrusted with fostering international business growth of Italian companies and products in the United States, organized a U.S. trade delegation to the region of Puglia in October. The 11-member delegation included buyers from major U.S. supermarket chains with total combined annual sales of $21 billion. The group was led by Pat Capriati, a marketing promotion senior manager for ITA. Capriati collaborated with Unioncamere Puglia to coordinate more than 200 business-to-business meetings with leading local manufacturers of food and wines. Capriati focuses his marketing efforts on establishing collaborative agreements …