Ascione Bistro opened at 8006 Lincoln Ave. in downtown Skokie, the second location for the restaurant owned by third-generation restaurant owner Alex Argirov and his wife, Lauren Lucchesi, the Chicago Tribune reported. At 5,000 square feet, the Skokie Ascione is much bigger than the original Hyde Park location, and includes a 24-seat bar, patio seating and semi-open-air seating. The menu features generations-old Lucchesi family recipes from southern Italy. “We wanted to expand our business and (were) just looking to do something close to our house,” Lucchesi told the newspaper. “Something for our friends, something for our family and people in …

The eighth location of Joey’s Red Hots & Pizza opened recently at 7920 Lavergne Ave. in Burbank. The enterprise was founded by longtime friends Anthony Nardo and Nick Iozzo, who launched a hot dog stand more than two decades ago in south suburban Orland Park, Food Industry News reported. Today, Joey’s includes sit-down restaurants in seven suburban locations — New Lenox, Justice, Crest Hill, Riverdale, Orland Hills, Orland Park and Burbank — and one in Chicago’s Morgan Park neighborhood. Joey’s Red Hots serves Vienna Beef franks, Italian beef, gyros, pizza and gelato. The venture also features a catering arm and …

“Italopunk: 145 Recipes to Shock Your Nonna” is the English-language debut from Vanja van der Leeden, a Dutch-Indonesian chef and culinary writer. The cookbook features 145 recipes that “refresh beloved Italian dishes and reimagine what they can become,” a press release stated. “Rooted in the traditional elements of Italian trattoria cooking, van der Leeden shares riffs on classics — panzanella with mango, cacio e pepe with mint, tiramisù with sesame — offering a vegetable-forward, climate-conscious, seasonal collection that encourages readers to explore Italian ingredients beyond the usual grocery store fare.” Van der Leeden studied language and literature in Florence and …

The Women’s Division of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans honored nine accomplished women at the 2025 Impresa Awards. Scholarships were also presented to several deserving female high school seniors at the event. “We’re always so proud to host the Impresa Awards,” JCCIA Women’s Division President Rosemary Ranallo says. “It’s our opportunity to shine the spotlight on Italian-American women of accomplishment and to encourage young Italian-American women to follow in their footsteps.” This year’s honorees are: Lisa Capitanini, award-winning investigative producer for NBC 5 (WMAQ-TV) Chicago Tracey Tarantino DiBuono, founder and director of Zzazz Productions Linnea McHugh, chief policy …

The Italian American Veterans Museum has banded together with four other veterans museums from across the Chicago area to create a game-changing venture in Addison. The Chicagoland Veterans Campus will be located at 39 Army Trail Boulevard in a stately 100-year-old former school building owned by St. Paul Lutheran Church. Participating in the creation of the campus are the Chicagoland Combined Veterans Museum & Library (CCVML), Camp Grant Historical Society Museum, Hellenic American Veterans Memorial & Museum, Italian American Veterans Museum (IAVM) and 10th Mountain Division Museum. Spearheading the project is CCVML President Lorenzo Fiorentino, a retired Army Major and …

Consul General Mario Bartoli pulled out all the stops for the first Festa della Repubblica celebration of his tenure at the Italian Consulate in Chicago. Around 450 leaders from both sides of the Atlantic packed the Morse Genius Chicago Room of the Chicago History Museum and poured out onto the plaza behind the museum during the June 9 festivities. Food stations and information booths were arrayed indoors and out, with a Lamborghini gracing the plaza. Food service was coordinated by Joe Monastero with the assistance of Michelle Durpetti Events and Onesti Entertainment. Music was provided by DJ Tommaso Conforti. Presentations …

The Grand Lodge Illinois/Wisconsin of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America celebrated its 49th biennial grand convention on June 14 at Crystal Sky Banquets in McCook. After a hiatus since 2019 due to the Covid-19 crisis and the loss of key members, grand lodge officers and delegates from seven filial lodges gathered to share ideas, elect new leadership and honor community service. A ceremony honoring deceased members was followed by reports from grand lodge officers and lodge presidents. Chicago Heights Lodge President Giacomo Mancini spoke about his 35-year membership and his lodge’s 100-year anniversary in 2026. Participants …

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.