Liz Lombardo Stark has been appointed chairwoman of the board of the Illinois Restaurant Association. Lombardo Stark is the director of marketing and public relations at Gibsons Restaurant Group, as well as a member of the family that owns and operates the group. GRG includes Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse, Hugo’s Frog Bar & Fish House, LUXBAR, Quartino Ristorante & Wine Bar, and Gibsons Italia. Born and raised in the Chicago area, Lombardo Stark was immersed in the hospitality industry at an early age. She has many fond memories from within the walls of her family-owned establishments, Gibsons and its predecessor, …

Chicago’s Milly’s Pizza in the Pan was one of only two U.S. pizzerias that made the cut for the 18 best pizzas globally, according to Time Out. Milly’s landed at No. 12 on Time Out’s list — a slight drop from its No. 11 spot in 2025. The eatery “is known for pan-style pies with crispy edges and thick, airy crusts. … Editors singled out Milly’s thick-crust Untitled #1 as a standout example of Chicago’s signature pizza style, saying it represents the pinnacle of the city’s most iconic dish, topped with cheese, tomato sauce, pepperoni and jalapeños,” Time Out reported. …

Volare Ristorante Italiano at 201 E. Grand Ave. in Chicago was the top Illinois destination on a list of the most authentic Italian restaurants based on Tripadvisor reviews, according to a study conducted by Accademia Italiana Chef. Food Industry News reported that the study examined thousands of Tripadvisor reviews of Italian restaurants in all U.S. cities with more than 250,000 residents, looking for keywords such as “authentic,” “traditional” and “genuine.” Naples 15 restaurant in Madison, Wisconsin, and Parma Cucina Italiana in San Diego tied as the highest-rated authentic restaurants. For more, click here.

The Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans and Roselle Sister Cities Italian Committee will host the Italian American Liberty Gala on June 5 at Belvedere Banquets in Elk Grove Village. The event will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Festa della Repubblica and the 250th anniversary of the birth of the United States of America. The signing of a Sister City relationship between Mola di Bari, Puglia, and Roselle, Illinois, will be a highlight of the event, which will spotlight Pugliese cuisine and culture. Belvedere Banquets will be adorned with the traditional Pugliese illuminations known as luminarie. On the menu …

Local home renovation titan Bill Conforti has never been one to rest on his laurels. He took his first major leap into the industry in 1988 with the launch of Siding 1, following up five years later with Windows 1. In 1995, he rallied his extensive network of architects and contractors to create new homes via Cobblestone Development. And in 2009, he began offering interior and exterior remodeling services via Cobblestone Remodeling. As his offerings grew, so did positive word-of-mouth, with 60 percent of his new projects coming from referrals from satisfied customers. Known in the industry for his skills …

Many business owners dream of their children following in their footsteps. That dream became a reality for veteran property loss adjuster Ben Tedesco when his daughter Renee Tedesco-Ohr earned her public adjuster’s license in 2020. Tedesco-Ohr had been working at Ben Tedesco Inc. in a variety of capacities since 2014. “Renee is the best associate I’ve even had,” says Tedesco, who launched his firm in 1982. “It’s a comfort to know that the company will be in capable hands for decades to come.” Born in Elmwood Park and raised in Shiller Park, Tedesco-Ohr graduated from Mother Guerin High School then …

The Women’s Division of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans held its 2026  Festa della Donna on March 10 at the Des Plaines Theatre. Carmela Capriati and Sharon DePrizio chaired the event, which was hosted by Onesti Entertainment. This year’s theme was “Italian American Women Business Owners,” with 17 standout entrepreneurs sharing the spotlight. Around 150 guests turned out to hear stories about how they all got started. The honorees represented a diverse range of businesses, including consulting, retail, fashion design, bridal couture, Italian product development and distribution, real estate, financial and insurance, floral design, marketing and branding, food industry, …

Two-time James Beard Award recipient chef Rick Tramonto joined Roanoke Hospitality as vice president of culinary for Grill on 21, on the 21st floor of The LaSalle Chicago hotel in the Loop. The initiative stems from the company’s commitment to ensuring that the once-vibrant dining scene of the city’s downtown financial district is restored, Food Industry News reported. A celebrity chef who has written eight books, Tramonto has worked in many facets of the industry in his career, including serving as executive chef and founding partner of Tru in Chicago, and overseeing Tramonto’s Steak & Seafood in Wheeling and RT …

  After 42 years, Tony Spavone’s Ristorante in Bloomingdale has changed ownership, although it might not be apparent to customers. New owners Dan and Teresa Williams, who live in nearby Wood Dale, bought the eatery at 266 W. Lake St. from founder Tony Spavone in late October. However, Spavone remains actively involved in the running of the restaurant, which has helped tremendously with the transition, Dan Williams explained. “It’s been a great partnership,” Williams said. Born in Naples, Spavone came to the U.S. as a boy and learned to cook at 13 while working in his father’s Chicago restaurant, Seven …

Gibsons Italia in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood took the top spot among the 13 Illinois restaurants featured in Restaurant Business’ 100 top-grossing independent restaurants for 2025. The modern Italian steakhouse boasted more than $32 million in sales, with an average check of $114. The No. 1 spot was claimed by Mila in Miami, with more than $51 million in sales. Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse in Chicago, Oak Brook and Rosemont are also on the list, as well as Bob Chinn’s Crab House in Wheeling, and Cindy’s Rooftop, Hugo’s Frog Bar & Fish House, Quartino, Swift & Sons, Cira, Luxbar, Girl …