Come celebrate Festa Italiana
When & Where
These Celebrations Include
Guest Culinary Experts
Mario Rizzotti
Appearing: Sat, October 10th
An Italian culinary expert dedicated to educating and fostering a true understanding of authentic Italian foods and ingredients. True Italian cuisine is built with love and enjoyed with the people you care about most. From there, everything from the proper ingredients to tasteful presentation is of the highest priority. These standards are what separate Chef Mario from the rest of the herd. His abilities have been sought out by major corporations, non-profits, trade shows, women’s groups, organizations as a reflection of his expert knowledge in Italian Culture and Cuisine. He always thrives to deliver a memorable, one of a kind experience.
Christian Fantoni
Appearing: Sat, October 17th
Chef Christian Fantoni, executive chef of Filini in Chicago, grew up in Bergamo, Italy, where his mother cooked for an Italian prince and inspired his love for Northern Italian cuisine. After graduating from culinary school in Bergamo, he moved to New York in 1994, honing his craft at acclaimed restaurants including Le Bernardin, Le Cirque, and Fiamma Osteria, where he helped maintain its Michelin star rating in 2007. Known for blending Italian tradition with American tastes, he has cooked at the James Beard House, worked alongside Mario Batali, and led kitchens in both New York and Chicago, including Bice Restaurant, RPM Italian, and Portillo Restaurant Group.
Special Guests and Activities
Stevie Swing
Sat, October 3rd • 12 - 4PM
Sat, October 10th • 12 - 4PM
Bill and Giuliana Rancic
Sat, October 17th • 12 - 2PM
Joe Martino and Stella Raimondi
DJ Beats
Caricature Artist
JOJO
Bench Soccer
Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans
Since 1952, The Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans has served as the Congress of fifty-plus Italian American organizations in the Chicagoland area. Preservation of Italian Culture, Government Relations and the Unification of the Italian American community is its prime focus.
Visit jccia.org
See What's In Store
Check out the fun from our previous events! Guests got to experience samples from over 25 authentic Italian brands like Carbone, Gastone Lago, Buitoni, BelGioioso, Stella Rosa, and more! Plus, they got to enjoy professional, live cooking demonstrations from Italian Culinary Experts or Chefs, raffle prizes, exclusive same-day savings, and live Italian music sponsored by La Panzanella!
Event Photos
Shoppers stop at our Welcome Table for coupons, freebies, and a preview of all featured brands!
A caricature artist adds extra excitement with portraits for shoppers to take home!
Professional cooking demonstrations take place at every event!
Entertainers like Stevie Swing set the tone for the event with live and fitting music for shoppers to enjoy!
Be Informed On Upcoming Specialty Events Near You
Celebrate culture, tradition, and community through engaging events for all ages right at your local store!
"Grazie" to our sponsors
Let's Be Social
