Tag Archives: Panino’s

The Italian Catholic Federation Branch 392 presents Gino and Tatiana Rago with its Mother Cabrini Award on Nov. 16. The following profile was provided by the organization: Gino and Tatiana Rago Gino Rago was born in Chicago in 1965 to immigrant parents from Mola di Bari, Italy. Growing up, he lived briefly in Italy and spent many summers living with and visiting his grandparents. He would help his grandfather Leonardo work his farm, and watch his mom and grandmother bake cookies and prepare traditional meals. When Gino began first grade in Chicago, he only spoke Italian, at times joining other bilingual …

The culinary coach of the U.S. Pizza Team took second place in a pizza championship held on Oct. 8 in Granada, Spain, while four other USPT members finished in the top 10. Gino Rago of Panino’s Pizza in Chicago took home second place in the Pizza Classica division, with Michael LaMarca (Master Pizza, Cleveland, Ohio), Jason Samosky (Samosky’s Homestyle Pizzeria, Valley City, Ohio) and Dave Sommers (Mad Mushroom, West Lafayette, Indiana) placing fourth, seventh and 10th respectively. Thirty-two competitors from around the world participated in the fourth annual Pizza por Pasión, organized by Antonia Ricciardi, president of the Università di …

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.