The website The Infatuation recently named Bar Roma in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood among the best pasta spots in the city. “Their staples like oxtail ragù with tagliatelle or spaghetti and meatballs (these beefy spheres are as excellent as the pasta) strongly place this spot in the category of restaurants called ‘I Wish This Was My Neighborhood Spot,’” the website states. Chef Alfredo Ramos, a graduate of the Culinary School of Kendall College, was chef de cuisine at Printer’s Row Restaurant in Chicago when he was nominated as a top-10 sous chef in the nation by Bertolli Olive Oil. He later …

Frank Conforti Jr. — along with the three generations of the Conforti family who have run Frankie’s Deli for more than half a century — were the guests of honor at Casa Italia’s 54th annual gala. The event will take place on Saturday, Nov. 8, at The Carlisle in Lombard. Joining Frank Jr. in the spotlight were his parents, Frank Sr. and Connie, and his son Mario, who have played key roles in making Frankie’s one of the most popular Italian food emporiums in the western suburbs, along with his wife, Linda, their son Frankie and son-in-law, Dominick Carmignani, who …

“Union Proud” was the theme of the Italian American Executives of Transportation’s 2025 awards dinner on Nov. 15 at Ashton Place in Willowbrook. The IAET honored labor leaders Michael DiGrazia, Anthony Guida and Michael Macellaio at the event, and present John Ferrentino with its Humanitarian of the Year Award. The following profiles were provided by the IAET: Michael DiGrazia Michael DiGrazia began his career working alongside his brothers in the logistics and warehousing industry, where he learned every aspect of transportation and distribution. As Michael often says, “There’s nothing made I can’t drive.” He proudly maintains a Commercial Driver’s License …

The Italian Catholic Federation Branch 392 presents Gino and Tatiana Rago with its Mother Cabrini Award on Nov. 16. The following profile was provided by the organization: Gino and Tatiana Rago Gino Rago was born in Chicago in 1965 to immigrant parents from Mola di Bari, Italy. Growing up, he lived briefly in Italy and spent many summers living with and visiting his grandparents. He would help his grandfather Leonardo work his farm, and watch his mom and grandmother bake cookies and prepare traditional meals. When Gino began first grade in Chicago, he only spoke Italian, at times joining other bilingual …

Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino, the bishop of Assisi, Italy, and curator of the tomb and relics of Carlo Acutis, was in town in July as part of a national tour to spotlight the life and legacy of the renowned teen, who used technology to evangelize before dying of leukemia in 2006 at the age of 15. Acutis was beatified on Oct. 10, 2020, and canonized on Sept. 7 of this year. The archbishop celebrated masses and offered public venerations of a relic of Acutis at two Chicago parishes: on July 15 at Blessed Carlo Acutis Parish (St. Hedwig Church), the only …

The wine2wine Vinitaly Business Forum will debut in Chicago on Oct. 5 and 6 at the iconic Navy Pier, marking the first time this trade and networking event has been held outside Italy. Over two days, the program will feature a range of masterclasses designed to contextualize every aspect of the contemporary wine industry and showcase Italian styles, regions and trends currently shaping the global wine scene. Among the event’s offerings, the Italian Trade Agency will host three masterclasses to strengthen the role of Italian wine in the U.S. market and highlight ITA’s mission as a facilitator for Italian producers abroad. For more, click …

Thirty-One Days of Italians has released its 2025 List, honoring extraordinary people of Italian heritage who significantly influenced the history and development of America. The project was launched in 2006, with a list being provided annually for the month of October. The first day in October honors the Italian immigrant and the last day is set aside to honor someone not on the list. Honorary members are on the List every year and include Fr. Pietro Bandini, Constantino Brumidi, Mother Francis Cabrini, Enrico Caruso, Christopher Columbus, Enrico Fermi, Amadeo Pietro Giannini, Guglielmo Marconi, Filippo Mazzei, Antonio Meucci, Maria Montessori, Andrea Palladio, Antonio Pasin, …

A new Pompei restaurant opened last month in Elmwood Park, guided by the third generation of the family-owned Chicago staple. The original restaurant on Taylor Street in Little Italy started more than a century ago as a bakery that sold bread, cheese pizza and, later, pastries. In the 1980s, the menu expanded to include other varieties of pizza, plus sandwiches and “strudels” (similar to calzone). The new location at 22 Conti Parkway in Elmwood Park is a great fit because of the area’s deep connection to Little Italy, owner Ralph Davino told the Wednesday Journal. Many Italians settled in Elmwood …

The Elmhurst retail location of Lezza Spumoni & Desserts is celebrating its 10th year in the Chicago suburb, Food Industry News reported. The bakery started in Chicago’s Little Italy with a spumoni recipe brought from Italy by Salvatore Lezza in 1905. The business, which eventually moved to suburban Bellwood due to the need for more space, was later run by Salvatore’s son Victor. Today the business is in the hands of Ed Lezza Sr. (the family’s third generation) and nephew Louis (fourth generation). Opened in 2015, the Elmhurst store also features a cake-tasting room and a coffee bar that serves …

Roman chefs accused Britain’s leading recipe brand of bastardizing the famous cacio e pepe pasta dish, The Times reported this summer. The original recipe calls for combining black pepper and sharp Pecorino Romano, but Good Food published a recipe that added butter and featured Parmigiano Reggiano instead of Pecorino Romano. In a letter to Good Food and the British Embassy in Rome, chefs in the Italian capital complained about the move. “That’s like us coming to Britain and demanding the finest double malt whiskey mixed with lemonade,” said Claudio Pica, author of the letter and president of the Rome branch …