Always on the lookout for unique Italian offerings, La Mozzarella has unearthed a cheese with a proud Pugliese pedigree. Hailing from the far southern region and dating back to the 14th century, the company’s caciocavallo is aged in caves for at least six months, emerging with a thin, light-brown rind and an interior the color of straw. Hard, compact and perfect for grating, it has an earthy flavor and a buttery, stony and slightly picante aftertaste. Natural, smoked and di grotta versions are available wholesale. (lamozzarella.com)

Never one to rest on its laurels, Volpi Foods has added Heritage Prosciutto to its already extensive list of artisan salumi and cured meats. The company is partnering with family farms throughout Missouri and Illinois to humanely raise and harvest high-quality heritage-breed pork. The product is aged for more than 18 months under the watchful eye of Volpi’s master salumiere, yielding a rustic flavor with a nutty finish that’s sure to stand out on any holiday charcuterie. Heritage Prosciutto is available for both wholesale and retail customers. (volpifoods.com)

Pan American Bank & Trust has been selected by American Banker as one of the Best Banks To Work For in 2018 nationwide. “Being selected is a tribute to the strength of our culture, including our commitment to each other, our clients and our communities,” says Pan American President and CEO Frank Cerrone. “We are truly grateful for this honor and will continue to be one of the best banks working for you!” Launched in 2013 by American Banker and Best Companies Group, the Best Banks to Work For program, identifies, recognizes and honors U.S. banks for outstanding employee satisfaction. …

The National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame has a stellar crop of inductees and honorees on tap for its 41st annual gala on Nov. 3 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. (312-226-5566) The NIASHF Class of 2018 includes Gina Carano, Rocco B. Commisso, Joe Girardi and Gene Pingatore. Perry Mandera will be honored as the Sportsman of the Year. The program will be emceed by 2016 Baseball Hall of Famer Mike Piazza and New York Mets Radio Announcer Wayne Randazzo. Carano is mixed martial arts competitor who compiled a dominating record of 12–1–1 in Muay Thai and a 7–1 in …

  The Festa Italiana at Villa Cesare in Schererville grew by leaps and bounds in its second year, adding an additional day to the event and nearly doubling its attendence. Roughly 7,000 festival-goers were serenaded by traditional and non-traditional music as they sampled from an expanded array of food, craft and beer and wine vendors. They also enjoyed non-stop live entertainment, played bocce at their leisure and in tournaments, watched pasta-making demonstrations, participated in spaghetti-eating and grape-stomping competitions, and learned from the experts at a wine-and-food pairing. For more information about Villa Cesare, click here.  

Gemma B. Allen of the family law firm Allen & Glassman received Loyola University Chicago’s 2018 Felice Award from the school’s John Felice Rome Center at Loyola’s annual Founders’ Dinner. Named after the Rome Center’s founding director, the award is among the highest honors given by the university. Allen received her bachelor’s degree magna cum laude in 1966 from Loyola and was a student at the Rome Center. Allen’s “commitment to the field of family law and her active participation on multiple councils and boards” were among the reasons noted by University President Jo Ann Rooney in her letter informing …

  The Chandelier Room at Casa Italia was transformed into a Milan runway for this year’s Columbus Day Queen Pageant, and event organizers couldn’t be more pleased. “It was like a Versace fashion show!” enthuses Jo Ann Serpico, executive director of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans. “We had 22 contestants, the room looked absolutely beautiful and the event went off without a hitch!” Serpico is equally proud of the fact that no admission was charged, paving the way for a capacity crowd of nearly 200 family members and friends. Elizabeth Cavalieri Konopacki walked away with the crown, and …

  Chicago’s own Spacca Napoli was recently acknowledged by the Consorzio di Tutela Della Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP as the best Neapolitan Pizzeria outside of Italy at this year presentation of the Guida Top 50 in Naples. Earlier this year, the Chicago pizzeria was ranked among the top Italian restaurants in Chicago by Gambero Rosso. “(Owner) Jonathan Goldsmith trained under Enzo Coccia and other great pizza masters,” the Italian food and wine magazine notes. “In this way he managed to raise the palate of the Windy City to a higher level.” Non ce male, eh?

  This year’s Columbus Day parade chairperson is accomplished, committed to her heritage and tireless in her efforts to promote relations between America and Italy. The daughter of Giovanni and Maria, Mariann Gullo was born and raised in Elk Grove Village and graduated from St. Viator High School. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree from DePaul University with a major in Marketing and Communications and a minor in Italian, and pursued an MBA at Loyola with a concentration in Finance. At the young age of 22, she began working at Gullo International Development Corporation. A commercial and industrial real estate and …

The Italian American Labor Council of Greater Chicago honored Ralph Affrunti on Oct. 13 at Alta Villa Banquets in Addison. (630-853-9052) The following bio is provided by the organization. Ralph Affrunti Ralph Affrunti was elected president of the Chicago and Cook County Building and Construction Trades Council in February 2016. He started his apprenticeship in the Terrazzo Trade in the fall of 1989 with the Carpenters International Union. After finishing his three-year apprenticeship and becoming a journeyman, he was elected to the finance committee of Local 89T. In 1992, Ralph was elected to the Executive Board of Local 89T. He …