As part of Gene & Georgetti’s 85th anniversary celebrations, a portion of Franklin Street near the legendary Chicago steakhouse was officially dedicated as Way. Durpetti, who took over the restaurant in 1989 after the passing of his father-in-law, died last year. “It was a moment decades in the making and one that reflects the indelible impact Tony had on our family, our team and the city we proudly call home,” the restaurant stated about the dedication. The ceremony was led by 42nd Ward Alderman Brendan Reilly, with remarks delivered by Tony’s daughter, Michelle Durpetti, now managing partner, and her husband, …

Chicago’s only Aurelio’s Pizza, located in the South Loop neighborhood, closed in the spring. “It’s been a pleasure to serve you over the past 10 years,” the restaurant posted on Facebook. “Our lease has come to an end and we have chosen not to renew. We are excited to put our efforts into growing the brand with new franchise locations!” The first Aurelio’s Pizza opened its doors in 1959 in Homewood, Illinois. In 1974, Aurelio’s Pizza became the first Chicago-area pizzeria to franchise its concept. There are now 35 locations in the United States. For more, click here.

Nic + Junior’s, a new restaurant from James Beard Foundation Award semifinalist chef Junior Borges and chef-restaurateur Nic Yanes, is now open in Chicago’s River North neighborhood. The venue at 405 N. Wabash Ave. reflects the chefs’ diverse global influences, including their Brazilian and Italian backgrounds. Dishes like the Tapioca + Brazilian Cheese Fritter exemplify the blend of cuisines, with tapioca fritter from Brazil, mortadella from Italy and giardiniera from Chicago. The restaurant has a 53-seat bar, 32-seat dining room and intimate outdoor patio. Plans are in place to expand the patio area. For more, click here.

The owner and chef behind the first plant-based Italian restaurant in the United States shares all her secrets in a debut cookbook titled “Vegana Italiana.” A native of New York, Tara Punzone opened Pura Vita in West Hollywood, California, in 2018, focusing on transforming classic Italian staples into vegan dishes without sacrificing flavor. The cookbook offers more than 100 vegan Italian recipes inspired by her family’s meals and favorites from her restaurant. “When Punzone decided to go vegan when she was 12 years old, she learned how to follow a vegan lifestyle without compromising her traditions, heritage or love of …

The first Italian American pilgrimage to the National Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini in Chicago was such a resounding success, the shrine is gearing up to replicate the experience on Sept. 21 Buses will once again pick up and drop off attendees at Casa Italia in Stone Park and the Old Neighborhood Italian American Club in Chicago, with Villa Cesare in Schererville, Indiana, and the American Italian Cultural Society in Crest Hill added to the itinerary. Pickup times will vary, depending on distance from the shrine. Tours of the shrine will precede a noon Mass, followed by a reception. …

At the start of the 21st century, shopping online was still a futuristic fantasy. And then, in the spring of 2000, Federico Marchetti invented one of the world’s first platforms for online sales, launching a company that would revolutionize the luxury fashion sector. In “The Geek of Chic: An American Dream, Italian Style,” Marchetti tells the tale of an awkward kid from the seaside town of Ravenna, Italy, who transformed himself into a pioneer in online retail. He’ll be sharing that story at a Sept. 17 book signing at the Book Cellar in Chicago. Readers will follow Marchetti’s improbable career …

The legacy of Florentine poet Dante Alighieri was once again celebrated as the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans hosted its annual Dante and DiFrisco Awards Luncheon at the Galleria Marchetti in Chicago on May 22. Lynn Sweet was the 2025 recipient of the Dante Award. A respected journalist for the Chicago Sun-Times for more than 40 years, she most recently served as its Washington bureau chief. “I am deeply honored to have my decades of work in Chicago recognized by such a distinguished group,” Sweet said. “The award represents truth in journalism, and Lynn is a fiery example of …

The Italian restaurant Tortello, whose owner Dario Monni is from Venice, was named by Eater Chicago among the city’s best outdoor dining spots. Monni and his wife, Jill Gray, a native Chicagoan, opened the neighborhood counter-service restaurant and handcrafted pastificio in 2019. “Locals are known to frequently swing by for fresh pasta and jarred sauces, including a stellar cacio e pepe, to cook at home, but there’s a lot to be said for slurping freshly made pappardelle on its Division Street patio for lunch or dinner (or both),” Eater wrote. For more, click here.

After 54 years in business, My Pi Pizza — among Chicago’s most iconic pizzerias — announced it was closing in June. “From our first location on Sheridan Road in 1971 to our Bucktown home since 2000, My Pi has been a labor of love,” the restaurant wrote on Instagram. “We introduced deep-dish beyond Illinois, opened 25 locations across nine states and shared our family recipe with generations of pizza lovers.” Founder Larry Aronson, whose family came from Belarus, perfected his recipe using lower-acid tomatoes, a top-secret “spice pack” and dough built on generations of baking knowledge, Time Out reported. The …

Italian candy giant Ferrero plans to launch its first new flavor variety of Nutella next year, right from the Chicago area, the Chicago Tribune reported. Nutella Peanut was developed by Ferrero’s food scientists and will be made exclusively at the company’s factory in suburban Franklin Park. “We think it’s going to be big,” Seth Gonzalez, senior director of marketing for Nutella, told the newspaper. “We do plan on it becoming a significant part of the portfolio going forward, and so we hope that consumers will get behind it and come try it out.” The plant — which also makes peanut-packed …