Zucchini blossoms pop up on menus across the area each summer, but Amore Mio in Palatine has a leg up on the competition. “They come straight from my father’s garden,” says Chef Tony Barbanente, who lightly breads them; fills them with mozzarella, cherry tomatoes and basil; and pan fries them to perfection. And the bounty of Nicola Barbanente’s garden doesn’t end there. In season, he and his wife, Francesca, cart eggplants, cucumbers, long beans, Melrose peppers and host of other veggies and herbs from their home in Inverness directly to Tony’s kitchen. http://amoremioil.com/wp/

One of the best Italian restaurants in the Chicago area closed its doors in July. Owner Frances Fiorentino and her son and business manager Stephen poured their hearts and souls into Fiorentino’s Cucina Italiana on Ashland Avenue in Chicago for nine years, earning accolades and a loyal customer base with their inviting atmosphere, attentive staff, and delightfully conceived and impeccably crafted dishes. “We are proud of our employees for their dedication and kindness. They are family to us,” Frances wrote in a heartfelt farewell. “We will be forever grateful to everyone who ever walked through our front doors and introduced …

Gino Bartucci is no stranger to the food industry. His father, Gino, ran the legendary Gino’s Italian Imports in the family owned Piazza Italia on Harlem Avenue for many years, and his uncle, Tony, has run Pasta Fresh in the same cluster of shops for decades. Bartucci grew up in both businesses, so it should come as no surprise that he has made a name for himself, not only as the food and beverage director for the Dana Hotel & Spa, but as the new proprietor of BarTucci, which he opened late last year in Piazza Italia with his business …

In business, when time-honored traditions blend with new technologies, innovative products and fresh ideas, consumers win and companies thrive. That’s the secret behind the success of Volpi Foods Inc., which has dramatically modernized its processes and diversified its offerings while staying true to the values that have sustained it for more than a century. Established in St. Louis in 1902, Volpi is now headed by Lorenza Pasetti, great-niece of company founder Giovanni Volpi and the third generation of her family to produce authentic Italian meat products from distinctive Old World recipes. “Like my father and great uncles before me, I …

Tukaiz, an award-winning marketing services production company based in Franklin Park, has announced the opening of its in-house boutique creative division, agenz. Specializing in campaign strategy and design creation for both digital and traditional media, agenz also offers instant access to Tukaiz’ award-winning marketing production services. The addition of a dedicated agency allows Tukaiz to move rapidly from creative conception to final production delivery, according to Tukaiz President and Managing Partner Dan Defino. “Having a comprehensive agency capability right on our campus gives us yet another service we can offer clients who understand the value of streamlining their marketing efforts …

by Sheldon Shacket “What ever happened to that Siding-1 building on the corner of Oakley and Clybourn?” Ask its founder, Bill Conforti, and his response will go well beyond the matter-of-fact. As he stands across the street from the demolished 3066 N. Clybourn Ave. construction site, Bill becomes more than a little emotional when reminiscing about the 28 years he spent developing his Siding-1, Windows-1 Exterior business and constructing the company’s headquarters on that site. As a supplement to the higher volume siding and windows business, Conforti had also opened Cobblestone Development in the building next door. “I actually formed …

A new law sponsored by state Rep. John C. D’Amico, D-Chicago, will help long-term Illinois residents with clean driving records in the state avoid an onerous process of getting an Illinois drivers’ license after their driving privileges have been suspended in another state. “Illinois drivers whose licenses have been revoked in another state are facing weeks and even months going between another state and Illinois before they can legally drive to work or pick up their children,” D’Amico said. “Allowing drivers who have clean driving histories and a long-term residency to reinstate their driver’s license in Illinois is simply relieving …

The Italian Cultural Center at Casa Italia will once again offer a wide range of Italian classes for both children and adults at sites across the Chicago area. Parents can choose from exploratory classes for 5- to 7-year-olds and beginning, intermediate and advanced classes for children ages 8 to 13. Adult classes range from beginning and intermediate to advanced and advanced conversational. Private lessons for children and adults also are available. (708-345-5933) http://casaitaliachicago.net

Western Springs attorney Umberto Davi has been installed as president of the Illinois State Bar Association. Davi was elected to the ISBA Board of Governors in 1998 and re-elected in 2004, 2008 and 2011. He has served on the ISBA’s 201-member assembly and has been active on numerous committees. A past president of the Justinian Society of Lawyers and founder of the Sicilian American Cultural Association, Davi is a member of the board of trustees of The John Marshall Law School. A Willowbrook village trustee, he has served as president of the Willowbrook Police Pension Board for more than 10 …

The Giants Awards dinner sponsored annually by the Ed Kelly Sports Program could have doubled as a special meeting of the Arcolian Dental Arts Society. Dr. Samuel J. Cascio was presented with the Marshall H. Smulson Humanitarian Award, and a host of Italian-American dentists turned out in force. On hand were (from left) Drs. Anthony Spina, Michael Biasello, Samuel Cascio, Paul Smulson, Joseph Discipio, Lou Imburgia, and Michael Cascio, son of Dr. Sam and a fellow DDS.