Rocco Mastrangelo Jr. is the co-owner of Cafe Diplomatico, which has been a Little Italy staple since 1968 and was founded by his father Rocco Mastrangelo Sr. Mastrangelo said his father also used to own the Royal back when it was called the Pylon and focused on Italian cinema. "He actually owned seven Italian cinemas in the city of Toronto between the late 1960's and the mid 1980's, and the Royal was one of his cinemas," he said.
Everybody talks about San Marzano tomatoes, and of course we love those tomatoes, but there can't be that many actual San Marzano tomatoes grown in some arena to feed the world and all the commercial ones you see in the jars and cans around the countries.
Dessert trolleys were banished to storerooms during Covid due to rigorous health guidelines, but many restaurants have since retrieved them, allowing them to glide between tables once more.
In Italy, food is never just food. It's memory, identity and, sometimes, a full-blown argument. This season, we explore how the past continues to shape the present, one region and one extraordinary meal at a time.
Gianmarco's Restaurant is a Birmingham staple founded by a father-and-sons trio who have brought generations of Italian family recipes to the city for nearly 20 years. The upscale yet welcoming spot is known for handmade pastas, fresh seafood, and signature dishes, such as veal Parmesan and house-made gnocchi, all served in an intimate, old-world setting.
The act of scooping up leftover sauce, oil, or butter from your dish with bread is so ingrained into Italian culture that there's actually a name for it: Fare la scarpetta, which translates to 'make the little shoe.' The bread, which is dragged around the plate to collect every last bit of flavor, is a cherished part of the dining experience in Italy.
