Food for thought Italian Film Festival USA will present “Three Goodbyes” at 6 p.m. on May 11 at Northwestern University, Kresge Hall 1515. Marta and Antonio split up after a trivial argument. Marta experiences a sudden lack of appetite and Antonio, a rising chef, immerses himself in his work. But despite being the one who ended things, Antonio can’t seem to forget Marta. When she discovers that her loss of appetite has more to do with her own health than the pain of separation, everything changes: the taste of food, the music, the desire, the certainty of the choices …

Liz Lombardo Stark has been appointed chairwoman of the board of the Illinois Restaurant Association. Lombardo Stark is the director of marketing and public relations at Gibsons Restaurant Group, as well as a member of the family that owns and operates the group. GRG includes Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse, Hugo’s Frog Bar & Fish House, LUXBAR, Quartino Ristorante & Wine Bar, and Gibsons Italia. Born and raised in the Chicago area, Lombardo Stark was immersed in the hospitality industry at an early age. She has many fond memories from within the walls of her family-owned establishments, Gibsons and its predecessor, …

Chicago’s Milly’s Pizza in the Pan was one of only two U.S. pizzerias that made the cut for the 18 best pizzas globally, according to Time Out. Milly’s landed at No. 12 on Time Out’s list — a slight drop from its No. 11 spot in 2025. The eatery “is known for pan-style pies with crispy edges and thick, airy crusts. … Editors singled out Milly’s thick-crust Untitled #1 as a standout example of Chicago’s signature pizza style, saying it represents the pinnacle of the city’s most iconic dish, topped with cheese, tomato sauce, pepperoni and jalapeños,” Time Out reported. …

Volare Ristorante Italiano at 201 E. Grand Ave. in Chicago was the top Illinois destination on a list of the most authentic Italian restaurants based on Tripadvisor reviews, according to a study conducted by Accademia Italiana Chef. Food Industry News reported that the study examined thousands of Tripadvisor reviews of Italian restaurants in all U.S. cities with more than 250,000 residents, looking for keywords such as “authentic,” “traditional” and “genuine.” Naples 15 restaurant in Madison, Wisconsin, and Parma Cucina Italiana in San Diego tied as the highest-rated authentic restaurants. For more, click here.

The Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans and Roselle Sister Cities Italian Committee will host the Italian American Liberty Gala on June 5 at Belvedere Banquets in Elk Grove Village. The event will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Festa della Repubblica and the 250th anniversary of the birth of the United States of America. The signing of a Sister City relationship between Mola di Bari, Puglia, and Roselle, Illinois, will be a highlight of the event, which will spotlight Pugliese cuisine and culture. Belvedere Banquets will be adorned with the traditional Pugliese illuminations known as luminarie. On the menu …

Casa Italia in Stone Park will host a summer camp from June 15-19 and June 22-26. Campers ages 5-12 will learn about Italian language and culture through games, songs, sports, skits, cooking, and formal and informal lessons. Directed by local language instructor Cav. Lyn Scolaro, the camp will be staffed by certified teachers recruited from local high-school language programs, as well as teaching assistants. The camp will run Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. A registration fee of $725 covers lunches, snacks and a complimentary T-shirt. Extended hours are available for an additional fee. The camp concludes with a …

  The Lucchesi nel Mondo Association will honor Lisa Gaddini Lendy and Aldo Giutini as Woman and Man of the Year on June 13 at the Mazzini-Verdi Club in Franklin Park. Lilia Leonardi Juarez will serve as master of ceremonies of the event, and Paul Ciminello will sing the national anthems. To make reservations, call Maria Banducci at 630-443-8722 or Elena Onesti at 773-908-1004. Lendy is the president of Anichini Brothers Wholesale Meats, a family business that recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. Founded in 1925 by Lendy’s grandfather Silvio Anichini and his brothers, the company services some of the best …

Casa Italia and the Italian American Studies Association will present “Italian American Servicemen in World War II” at 10:30 a.m. on June 6. The Zoom presentation will analyze the Italian American servicemen’s experience and their representation in Hollywood films. Italian Americans were likely the largest ethnic group within the U.S. armed forces to fight in World War II. Their service not only significantly contributed to the Allied victory, but also played a crucial role in destigmatizing the approximately 700,000 Italian American nationals living in the United States after Mussolini declared war on the U.S. Presenter Matteo Pretelli, associate professor of …

Local home renovation titan Bill Conforti has never been one to rest on his laurels. He took his first major leap into the industry in 1988 with the launch of Siding 1, following up five years later with Windows 1. In 1995, he rallied his extensive network of architects and contractors to create new homes via Cobblestone Development. And in 2009, he began offering interior and exterior remodeling services via Cobblestone Remodeling. As his offerings grew, so did positive word-of-mouth, with 60 percent of his new projects coming from referrals from satisfied customers. Known in the industry for his skills …

Many business owners dream of their children following in their footsteps. That dream became a reality for veteran property loss adjuster Ben Tedesco when his daughter Renee Tedesco-Ohr earned her public adjuster’s license in 2020. Tedesco-Ohr had been working at Ben Tedesco Inc. in a variety of capacities since 2014. “Renee is the best associate I’ve even had,” says Tedesco, who launched his firm in 1982. “It’s a comfort to know that the company will be in capable hands for decades to come.” Born in Elmwood Park and raised in Shiller Park, Tedesco-Ohr graduated from Mother Guerin High School then …