Tag Archives: Gioacchino’s

If you’ve ever dined at Gioacchino’s Restaurant in Bellwood, you know what good old-fashioned, made-from-scratch Italian cooking tastes like. During the summer months, many of the ingredients in Gioacchino’s time-honored recipes are literally homegrown in the garden that surrounds the house in Addison where Nella and Jack Curatolo have lived for 43 years. While Nella is the undisputed queen of the kitchen at Gioacchino’s, Jack is the acknowledged king of the family garden. He only has a “little acre” to work with, but oh, what a bounty it yields. Among the vegetables you’ll find are beefsteak, cherry, plum and heart …

Jack and Nella Curatolo, owners of Gioacchino’s Ristorante in Bellwood, have been welcoming residents from across Chicagoland — and around the world — into their humble Italian “cucina” for decades. This year marks the 40th year of an American success story — perfecting family recipes and making stuffed, pan and thick pizzas; pasta entrees; panzarotti and other Calabrese-inspired dishes the choice of distinguished food critics such as the late Pat Bruno as well as countless customers. Despite the long hours of tremendously difficult restaurant work, Nella and Jack forged on, adding to their menu, never cutting corners or compromising quality …

by Tina Valentino West suburban pizza-making maestro Jack Curatolo earned top honors at a competition hosted by the St. John Vianney Knights of Columbus Cardinal Cody Council #8070 in Northlake. When Grand Knight John Ainsworth put out the call for local pizzerias to duke it out at a best pizza competition in January, 17 well-known parlor’s rose to the challenge. A fundraiser with serious bragging rights for the winner, the competition was judged by Northlake Mayor Jeff Sherwin, Police Chief Robert Crawford and Cuomo Catering owner Tom Cuomo. Nearly 100 guests paid a nominal fee to get in on the …