Dining

The Chicago-based restaurant group Ballyhoo Hospitality this winter opened its 14th location, DeNucci’s Hinsdale, located at 8 E. 1st Street in downtown Hinsdale. DeNucci’s has existing locations in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood and suburban Highland Park. Guests at the Hinsdale location can find familiar classics like Branzino Piccata, Eggplant Parmesan and Veal Marsala, alongside nightly specials such as Lasagna Bolognese. Leading the kitchen, chef Salvatore “Sal” Lo Cascio lends his signature touch to the restaurant’s Monday Chicago Tavern-Style Pizza Day. Gluten-free Sicilian-style pizza is also available. “Opening in Hinsdale is both a milestone and a natural next step for Ballyhoo,” …

Did you know that music can help you figure out how to cook pasta al dente? Barilla has nine playlists on Spotify designed for that purpose, with songs whose duration corresponds to the cooking time for various pasta shapes. The playlists are titled “Absolute Carbonara” (19 minutes), “Mixtape Spaghetti” (nine minutes), “Boom Bap Fusilli” (11 minutes), “Moody Day Linguine” (10 minutes), “Pleasant Melancholy Penne” (11 minutes), “Best Song Penne” (11 minutes), “Top Hits Spaghetti” (nine minutes), “Timeless Emotion Fusilli” (11 minutes) and “Simply Classics Linguine” (10 minutes). Dubbed “Playlist Timer,” the campaign was created by Publicis Italy in 2021. For …

The Italian dining chain Olive Garden recently rolled out changes at its 900 restaurant locations across the United States, including 33 in Illinois, the U.S. Sun reported. Its menu now includes a “lighter portions” section with seven entrees available for dinner and on weekends: Chicken Parmigiana, Spaghetti & Meatballs, Cheese Ravioli, Fettuccine Alfredo, Eggplant Parmigiana, Lasagna Classico and Five Cheese Ziti al Forno. Known for offering grated-on-the-spot cheese on entrees, Olive Garden now features cheese graters for $19.99 when customers order food online. Each grater purchased includes a free block of the chain’s Romano. For more, click here.  

In Chicago’s crowded steakhouse scene, Deliz Italian Steakhouse brings a lot of assets, including its location, Chicago Magazine reported. Deliz opened in December, in the spot formerly occupied by the restaurant Etta, at 1840 W. North Ave. “We wanted to bring something to Bucktown so people don’t have to go to River North or Gold Coast or the West Loop,” chef Jake Peterson told the magazine. “We wanted to give people something closer to home that could be that date-night spot or let them just come into the bar and get a pasta.” Peterson worked at Etta, famous for its …

In December, Italy’s cuisine was recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity — the first time a national cuisine received this honor. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni participated in a celebratory ceremony featuring a special illumination of the Colosseum in the nation’s red, white and green colors. “This recognition will give the Italian economy a decisive boost to reach new heights,” Meloni said. UNESCO describes Italian cuisine as a cultural and social blend of culinary traditions marked by the use of raw materials and artisanal food preparation techniques. “It is …

After tasting 2,874 wines from 26 countries last year, Bloomberg critic Elin McCoy has produced a list of her top 50 wines under $50, including 10 Italian varieties. Among whites, McCoy points to 2024 Aia Vecchia Vermentino ($15), 2024 Terra Alpina Chardonnay ($19) and 2022 Tasca d’Almerita Tenuta Regaleali Nozze d’Oro ($29). Her reds list features 2023 Avignonesi Rosso Da-Di ($23), 2024 Badia a Coltibuono Chill Ya Jolo ($19), 2023 Le Volte dell’Ornellaia ($30) and 2021 Le Ragnaie Rosso di Montalcino ($30). She lists one Italian rose, 2024 Istine Rosato ($24), and two Italian dessert wines, 2024 G.D. Vajra Moscato …

After being owned by three generations of an Italian family, Paterno’s Pizza at 5303 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago is under new ownership. “We are truly honored to continue running this locally loved pizza and sports bar,” the Patel family wrote on Facebook in January. “Our promise is simple: to respect everything that made Paterno’s special while slowly bringing in thoughtful improvements and a refreshed look over the coming months — without losing the heart and soul of this place.” The Paterno family emigrated from Italy in the 1930s and opened Paterno’s, which started as a liquor store, in 1954. …

The fourth location of Pronto Italian Sandwiches opened in the fall at 221 S. Washington St. in downtown Naperville, following eateries in Hinsdale and Des Plaines, and at O’Hare International Airport. The chain is owned by Peter and Dana Burdi, who first ventured into the culinary scene in 2009 with the Hinsdale restaurants Il Poggiolo, which closed last year, and Nabuki. Pronto Italian Sandwiches is all about its Tuscan schiacciata bread, Peter Burdi told the Naperville Sun. “It’s made with all products from Italy. All the flour is flown in from Italy, and the olive oil and things like that,” …

The second location of the restaurant Piacere Mio opened in November at 1303 W. Wilson Ave. in Chicago. The first location opened two years ago in Forest Park under the direction of owners Francisco Perez and chef Jose Marquez, who teamed up with Antonio de la Rosa to open the Chicago location. The menu includes a variety of pasta dishes from across Italy, such as pappardelle Bolognese, trofie al pesto Genovese, gnocchi verdi al tartufo, fusilli alla buttera, spaghetti cacio e pepe, orecchiette Pugliese, rigatoni rustica (with braised wagyu-beef short ribs), tagliatelle con aragosta, linguine alle vongole and fettuccine nero …

Sorelle Italian Market & Cafe, a new Italian cafe and market, opened in November within The Glen Town Center in Glenview. The location at 1941 Tower Drive is the second for the business, which also operates a cafe and market in Long Grove. Owner Mario Weber, a Glenview native, told the publication Journal & Topics that he always wanted to open a business in his hometown. “My parents used to bring me to the (Naval Air Station Glenview) air shows, and now we’re right on the corner by the tower,” said Weber. “It’s kind of a homecoming.” “Sorelle was created …