Food News

Sure, the lasagna at Frankie’s Deli in Lombard was recently rated the best in the western suburbs. But the Conforti family hasn’t stayed in business for half a century by resting on its laurels. They recently added a small butcher shop that packs a mighty protein punch. In addition to top-of-the-line beef, pork and poultry, the display case features Frankie’s famous handcrafted sausages. “We offer mild, medium and hot Italian sausage, Barese and Sicilian,” Frank Conforti notes. “And every week, we feature different specialty sausages like rapini, giardiniera, and red pepper and provolone.” http://frankiesdeliyorktown.com

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 …

  How good is your homemade wine? To find out, sign up for the fourth annual Battle of the Vino. Hosted by Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Markets, the event will be staged on Aug. 29 at the grocery chain’s new Carol Stream store, 520 E. North Ave. Home winemakers are invited to vie for a $250 Caputo’s gift card and other prizes; learn new tricks from Caputo’s resident wine experts; and sample wines, cheeses and deli meats as they put their own wine to the test. (630-620-4444, ext. 1034; www.caputomarkets.com)  

Terlato Wines has added several new labels to its luxury wine portfolio in recent months. Late last year, the Lake Bluff, Ill.-based wine producer and distributor began importing Epsilon, a new Italian sparkling rosé wine from the Veneto region. And effective Jan. 1, Terlato took over the U.S. sales and marketing of Cecchi, a leading producer of Chianti Classico and other Tuscan wines. Most recently, the company became the exclusive U.S. importer for the Burgundy Domaines of Château de Meursault and Château de Marsannay. The long-term agreement marks the addition of some of the most respected wines of the Côte …

  Alert Fra Noi reader Walter Santi unearthed some pretty remarkable statistics on the internet that portray pizza making as a powerhouse industry that’s on the rise. According to PMQ Pizza Magazine’s 2013 State of the Industry Report, the U.S. pizza industry rang up a staggering $36 billion in sales for the year ending 2012, with more than 60 percent of pizzeria operators reporting increasing sales over the previous year. The total pizzeria store count for September 2012 was an equally mind-boggling 71,856 nationwide, with nearly 40 percent of the stores owned and operated independently of national and regional chains. …

Frank Sgro, the legendary maître d’ at The Italian Village, will be retiring March 1 after 56 years spent working at the iconic restaurant. Sgro was only 16 years old in 1959 when he started working as a bus boy, working his way up to waiter and captain before earning the maître d’ position. With the exception of a stint in the Army from 1962 to 1964, has spent his entire professional career at The Italian Village restaurants. “I enjoyed every minute of it,” says Sgro. “I have worked for the greatest family in the business.” Over the years, Sgro …

Take a tantalizing culinary tour of Italy’s Lazio Region with Casa language instructor and amateur chef Giovanna Dimetros. Your adventure will include a cooking class, recipes, information about the region, and mini-language class with the spellings and pronunciations of Italian words and phrases related to food. Typical dishes from Sardegna will be prepared and enjoyed by the students with Italian music playing in the background. The session will run from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on March 25 in the Mentesana Weber Room of the Community Center at Casa Italia in Stone Park. Admission is $65 per person. This is a BYOB event. …

Gene & Georgetti received the inaugural Chicago Classic Award at this year Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Grand Chefs. The evening featured three-dozen Chicago’s chefs preparing and presenting their signature dishes to more than 750 guests. By the end of the night, more than half a million dollars was raised for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The event took place on Jan. 30 at the Fairmont Hotels and Resort. geneandgeorgetti.com