Food

  The North American Pizza & Culinary Academy in Lisle celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 11. THE NAPCA offers culinary classes to students of all skill levels, including a five-day program that will allow students to earn the designation of Certified Pizzaiolo. A part of the prestigious Scuola Italiana Pizzaioli in Venice, NAPCA is one of two schools in the United States to offer this level of accreditation. Although pizza is the primary focus of the school, a wide variety of other culinary classes are offered, covering everything from basic knife skills and artisanal baking …

  Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and County Commissioner Peter Silvestri recently presented Edward Lezza, Jr. with a resolution honoring the 113-year history of Lezza Spumoni & Desserts. The resolution reads: Whereas, the origin of Lezza’s famous spumoni is in Naples, Italy; and the recipe came to Chicago’s West Side with Salvatore Lezza in 1905; and Whereas, Salvatore Lezza handed the secret of genuine spumoni down to his son Victor; and Whereas, Lezza’s spumoni is made up of four flavors of ice cream — chocolate, strawberry, rum, and pistachio — with a whipped cream center studded with candied fruit …

  Italian cuisine was on the menu for the first episode of Dishalicious, a new Chicago-based food series that airs on WTTW at 8:30 p.m. on Fridays. Hosted by Sarah Grueneberg, the award-winning owner of Monteverde and Pastificio, the show spotlights three notable local chefs each week who collaborate on a three-course meal featuring specific cuisines. Her guests for the April 6 episode were Tony Mantuano of Spiaggia and Bar Toma, Giuseppe Tentori of GT Fish and Oyster and GT Prime, and Leigh Omilinsky of Nico Osteria.  

Fra Noi advertiser Spacca Napoli ranks among the top Italian restaurants in Chicago, according to Gambero Rosso. “(Owner) Jonathan Goldsmith trained under Enzo Coccia and other great pizza masters,” the Italian food and wine magazine notes. “In this way he managed to raise the palate of the Windy City to a higher level.” The magazine credits the restaurant with the best pizza margherita in the city. Also hailed are Pelago Ristorante, Osteria Langhe, Forno Rosso, Cocco Pazzo, Due Lire Vino & Cucina, Riccardo Trattoria and Tocco.

Up against 39 other contestants, Lenny Rago of Panino’s Pizza took home the $5,000 grand prize at the Pizza Pizzazz Culinary Competition with his “Hog Heaven” pizza. Held during the Mid-America Restaurant Expo in Columbus, Ohio, the contest invites 40 pizzeria operators to battle it out in a blind taste test. Second place went to Kyle Rosch of Brenz Pizza in Chapel Hill, N.C., and third place was taken home by Craig Allenbaugh of Sauced Wood Fired Pizza in Fairview Park, Ohio.

Each December, Greco & Sons holds a Christmas party to thank its Chicago-area customers. As a supplier of Italian food specialties to more than 8,000 restaurants, pizzerias, beef stands, fast food operations, schools, grocery stores and country clubs across Chicagoland, the company is a leader in the foodservice industry. Founded in 1990, the company has fostered business relationships that have helped thousands of businesses grow, especially those in the Italian-American community. The event was held at the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame on Taylor Street in Chicago. It was a star-studded night, with Hollywood actor Gianni Russo unveiling …

Each year, the best pizzaiuoli from around the world compete for the coveted Caputo Cup, preparing and serving their signature pizze for judges who assess them based on taste, bake, crust and appearance. This year, Chicago’s own Gianni Gallucci of Forno Rosso Pizzeria and Zero Ottantuno Mobile Pizzeria took home the cup, wowing the judges with his “Margherita Extra” pizza topped with San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella di bufala, piennolo tomatoes, basil and extra virgin olive oil.

Lenny Rago of Panino’s Pizzeria took second place at the International Pizza Challenge held at the International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas. More than 200 competitors from 10 different countries competed in five different categories: Napoletana, Gluten Free, Pan, Traditional and Non-Traditional. Rago took second in the Pan Division with the “Smoked Pan,” a pizza topped with homemade pork butt sausage, smoked mozzarella cheese, homemade pizza sauce, grated grana padano, crumbled apple wood smoked bacon, whole and skim milk shredded mozzarella, fresh green peppers, pesto mousse, smoked olive oil and fresh basil.

Coco Pazzo has been hailed as having the best Italian wine list in Chicago by Gambero Rosso, an internationally renowned authority on Italian wine and restaurants. Wine Director Tamra Weiss was presented with the award at the Tre Bicchieri World Tour Wine Tasting kick-off in Chicago on Feb. 7. “I am honored to be recognized with this prestigious award,” Weiss says. “I am so proud that our restaurant was singled out by this world-renowned organization.” “We are thrilled to be recognized for the quality and diversity of the wines on our menu,” husband and co-owner Jack Weiss adds. “It is …

  Buona Beef opened its 18th location in Algonquin in November. The new restaurant is located at 501 S. Randall Road. Buona is the area’s largest family-owned Italian beef restaurant group and official Italian Beef of the World Series Champions Chicago Cubs. The grand opening festivities included giveaways and freebies, including free beef for a year for the first 100 customers and a prize wheel with Buona swag and gift cards. “We’re excited to serve the Algonquin community,” says second-generation owner Joe Buonavolanto. “It’s a thriving area that our family is proud to be a part of.”