t is with great pride and personal interest that I am writing this article. My heritage is from Italy with my father’s family coming from the village of Leone, just outside Naples, Italy. My mom is of Irish decent, which entitles me to drink as well as eat! Such is the life that I lead. I thank both my parents for a wonderful family upbringing and for the many Sunday dinners of fine food and love around the table.

We are fortunate to have such a wonderful selection of Italian dining establishments, markets and wine shops in our area. We have a lot to be thankful for from the Italians and their civilization. Here we will concentrate on a few of the staples of life they have given us over the years­food and wine.

Ask Marie and Bill Wells the owners of Marie’s Italian Kitchen about the restaurant and they will tell you a restaurant must be a love affair. The hours too long, the work too hard, to be just a job. Bringing home style Italian food to Sarasota has been their passion for the past five years and they have the awards and glowing reviews to prove it.

Marie’s has been doing more and more off premises catering, which earned them second place in the Sarasota Herald Tribune Readers Choice “Best Caterer” award. Bill who has a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management is no stranger to catering having planned event menus for a NYC caterer. Marie and Bill are always looking for ways to improve. As they say, “never rest on your laurels and never think best is good.”

Looking for a good ristorante to enjoy a good martini? Goodfellas offers the atmosphere, food and service of a classic Manhattan upscale Italian Restaurant.

The place has come a long way since brothers Vincent and John Zito took over a year ago. Like Sinatra they did it “Their Way” and changed the name to Goodfellas Restaurant and Bar, to match the changed menus, recipes and ownership.

The lounge/bar is also improved with plenty of seating. Two for one happy hour is from 4 pm until 7 pm and Goodfellas has one of the best liquor selections in town. It is definitely a choice spot to relax and have a drink.

The menu has something for everyone from Veal Filets to Chicken, Steaks, Seafood, Pizza, Calzone and of course, Pasta. The open kitchen sends a wonderful aroma through the restaurant. Goodfella’s kitchen is overseen by either Vincent or John at all times. Vincent says, “This personal touch is what makes Goodfellas second to none. You can tell we care.” Goodfellas also features a wood burning oven for those delicious brick oven pizzas.

The effective lighting and beautiful decor makes this a great place for special occasion or romantic dining. They also feature live entertainment nightly and also have great early bird specials. Goodfellas, just a good place to visit anytime.

On Longboat Key is where diners have enjoyed Italian food from Ciao Italia. Owner Angelo Emmanuele and his nephew Carmine Astuto have been in operation over six and half years serving fine Southern Italian foods. Angelo hails from Sicily and had a pizzeria in Staten Island for 15 years before settling on Longboat Key. An avid soccer enthusiast his favorite team is Inter of Milan.

He prefers to present all homemade foods and even some that are not always found in other Italian eateries. How about a delicious spaghetti and meatballs with Angelo’s Marinara sauce? Simple yet so good.

Ciao Italia is a 50 seat ristorante located in the Centre Shops. Indoor and outdoor dining is available for lunch or dinner Monday through Saturday. One of the measures of success in the restaurant business is repeat customers and Ciao has plenty of those. One couple even comes every night for their meal!

Ciao specializes in Veal dishes including Marsala, Parmigiana and Bellisimo. Appetizers and soups feature Bruschetta Siciliana, Cold Antipasto and Zuppa di Mussels. Entrees include Sausage Alla Palermo, Linguine with Clam Sauce, Red Snapper Agrigento and Pollo Piccatta.

Gourmet Brick Oven Pizzas are also a favorite and everything is available for take away. Ciao Italia is great choice for casual Italian cuisine on Longboat Key.

A family style, casual Italian ristorante is Vincenzo’s Ristorante. Open for 7 years in Bee Ridge Square Plaza, Vincenzo’s is owned by Vincent and Teresa D’Angelo, who hail from Binghamton, New York (with Vincent’s parents from Abruzzie, Italy). A job in civil engineering led to the restaurant business for Vincent and it has proved to be an enjoyable profession for him and his family. Like many Italian ristorantes we are writing about, mostly everything is homemade.

The menu items are traditional in preparation and feature tasty Veal, Chicken, Pasta and Shrimp dinners. All are served with soup or salad or side of pasta and are priced from $7.50 to $14. In addition there are over 45 nightly specials in rotation with two offered nightly. Eight different white or red sauces are served with your selections, so you are not at a loss for choices here.

Due to Vincenzo’s customers requests, there are now many wines by the glass in addition to the bottle. Beer is also served for either lunch or dinner.

A unique item that is serve at Vincenzo’s is Chicken Spiedies­marinated grilled chicken cubes. These have been extremely popular in the New York state region of Binghamton and have also been a hit here.

Sandwiches, Pizzas, Calzones, Strombolis and a delicious Antipasto are also featured at Vincenzo’s Ristorante. Stop in today for lunch or dinner and enjoy. Bellisimo.

The new kid on the block is certainly turning a few heads. Ferrari’s Ristorante has been under new ownership just a few months and already they are doing a bang-up trade. The new owners are the husband and wife team of Francesco (the chef) and Vincenza (the ball of fire from Long Island). They certainly make you feel right at home in their cozy and quaint location on Sarasota’s South Tamiami Trail. Even the outdoor dining adjacent to the parking lot on always busy US 41 is pleasant and homey.

Francesco hails from Bologna and has been a chef for 35 years. He is extremely particular on his food preparation and creativity­and it shows. The menu is Northern Italian and is very complete in its presentations of Antipasti, Zuppe, Insalate, Pasta, Pesce, Pollo, Vitello and Dolci. Everything is cooked to order. Francesco even goes to the market daily to decide on the specials he wants to prepare for the evening’s meal. With the professional wait staff and delicious food you really feel like you are in Italy at Ferraris.

Vincenza runs the front of the restaurant and is extremely vivacious in a pleasing way. She wants you to enjoy your evening and will do as much as possible to make your dinner special. With that combination it is no wonder why Ferraris Ristorante is a crowd pleaser for exceptional Italian cuisine. Look for the cars out front and come in for a special Italian dinner at Ferraris tonight.

“We believe that the majority of people have pretty low expectations when they think of dining at a buffet,” says Bella Cucina owners Randy Ellis and John Medico. “Eating like a horse is the only way to get your moneys worth. It’s quantity not quality might be the customer’s philosophy.” For two years Bella Cucina Italian Gourmet Buffet has been changing the perception of what a buffet can be. It’s all about the quality of the products and the experience to prepare them.

Just as many, more expensive restaurants, Bella Cucina buys the freshest Atlantic Salmon, Prince Edward Island Mussels, the Veal is Provimi and they only use the top round of beef in their presentation. They make their Marinara sauce with peeled California tomatoes and fresh garlic and basil.

From chicken they roast, a rich stock is prepared and is used as a base for many of the soups. The Caesar dressing starts with Roland anchovies, minced with garlic and fresh lemon juice. The house dressing includes aged Balsamic Vinegar, shallots and virgin olive oil. Over 35 different kinds of fruits and vegetables are purchased on a daily basis. You will not find chocolate pudding from a #10 can at Bella Cucina. However, Amaretto Rice Pudding and fresh fruit in yogurt cream are made daily.

Kids hard to please? How about hand tossed pizzas, pastas, sauces, meatballs, lasagne, breadsticks, Italian ice and soft serve ice cream with plenty of toppings? That should satisfy them nicely.

Bella Cucina’s Italian Gourmet Buffet provides you and your family with real food at a great value. The price? Lunch $6.50, dinner $9.95. The staff, with years of experience at Marina Jack’s and Michael’s on East, is very experienced and the 30 item homemade Italian buffet is just great.

Some restaurant owners can really operate their business. One gentleman who has a great feel for his trade is Giorgio Oldano of the ristorante that bears his name, Da Giorgio Ristorante. Open just three years, Escoffier award-winning Chef/Owner Giorgio has filled a wonderful need for fine Northern Italian and Continental cuisine on Anna Maria Island. The knowledge of his food, style, and class of the ristorante does not go unnoticed by the loyal following of locals and out-of-towners who frequent there for dinner nightly.

His Italian flair­Giorgio hails from Asti, Italy­and the foods that come from his cucina are delightful. A recent trip to “the home land” benefits us all as Giorgio visited many wineries and came up with a few new food ideas for his customers. (That is Giorgio on the left in the photo above.) The prices have remained the same as last year. Great food and wines at a reasonable price for fine Italian dining can be enjoyed Monday through Saturday at Da Giorgio.

Enquire about their specially prepared dishes to go for your next home event. The creative talents of Giorgio are not just limited to Italian cuisine. His many talents include a variety of other foods as well. Call today for the details or stop in tonight for dinner and see what we mean.

Live entertainment with Luigi Toth most evenings contributes to the already pleasant atmosphere at Da Giorgio. If you are fortunate even Giorgio himself will come out of the kitchen to sing a few songs. Wonderful dining awaits you tonight at Da Giorgio Ristorante on Holmes Beach.

Its hard to believe that seven years have passed since Mediterraneo has opened. You know when a restaurant is as good as they are, it seems as if they have been around forever. Serving contemporary Italian cuisine, owners Daniele Baroni, Giovanni Migliorini and Alessandro Rossi have delighted the area lovers of fine Italian cuisine with their wonderful food, spirits and wine.

Their chic atmosphere and food transports you to the elegance of Milan, Florence and Rome while dining in downtown Sarasota. Diners can enjoy appetizers of Sautéed Shrimp with white beans and onions or Air-Dried Beef with grilled eggplant and goat cheese. Entrees are many and feature Breaded Veal Chop with arugula and diced tomato or Linguini with Mixed Seafood to name a few.

Open for lunch and dinner (and a new private dining room) Mediterraneo is an extremely popular trattoria that certainly exceeds your expectations of fine Italian dining.

For the “new people in town” or from 1985 and beyond, let me present a little Sarasota Italian history. When I moved here in 1978, it was difficult to find a decent place for a slice of pizza, never mind a wonderful sit down meal. There was one deli called Anthony’s that was a forerunner of what was to come in Sarasota. The Puccio family from Palermo, Sicily started the first Italian deli in in 1974 on South Osprey Avenue. Named Anthony’s after Mr. Puccio, it was well received by our then Italian Mayor Tony Sapprito, who’d finally found a good authentic deli in town.

Time marched on and a young Anthony took over after father went to a higher level. They moved the deli across the street and it is still one of Sarasota’s most popular delis and caterers today. They are the longest owners of any business on Osprey Avenue and continue to satisfy old and new generations with their personable service and fine Italian foods and goods.

Anthony runs the operation with assistance from his mom and aunt. Steve is a big help with the cooking and working the deli as well. The place just bustles for lunch during the week and catering is very steady.

Everything is homemade at Anthony’s and the aromas as you walk into the place is heavenly. Their lunch offerings of fresh pasta, sandwiches, salads and many more Italian favorites are truly delicious and at a reasonable price. Beer and wine is now offered also.

Anthony’s Restaurant, Deli& Catering is an Italian tradition in Sarasota. “Thanks Dad - love, your familia.”

Family matters, in Italian culture, especially in the food business. Brothers Achille and Massimo Negri are the bookends that hold their charming Cafe Amici together so well.

Hailing from Martina Franca a province of Bari, Italy, Achille worked with his father who owned a grocery store. His early adult life took him to Bermuda where he worked as a chef for 8 years. Florida called, and he and his wife Marsha settled in sunny Sarasota at the original Cafe Amici in University Park. They moved the restaurant to the downtown Sarasota location just over 2 years ago where it has grown steadily since.

Younger brother Massimo worked at The Ritz-Carlton in Paris and as Assistant Food and Beverage Manager in some beautiful hotels in Venice before joining his brother at Cafe Amici. Married to Lisa and with a lovely little girl Sophia, Massimo handles the front of the ristorante with Achille, who can chef when he wants, or has to.

Cafe Amici serves traditional Italian cuisine and they serve lunch Monday through Saturday and dinner daily. The food is delicious and their following is very large. It is nice to see them greet their regulars with such warmth. Be a regular, feel the warmth and enjoy the fine foods and wines at Cafe Amici today.

It’s interesting how some restaurant owners are very keen to tell you about their past while some are a bit more reserved. Roberto Mei of Cafe Baci is on the quiet side yet when he lets you into his past it’s an interesting story.

His father is from Rome and his mother from the southern Tuscan region of Italy called Pitigliano, near Orvieto. Roberto’s grandfather had a ristorante just behind the Vatican in Rome called Ristorante Mei. It was a very popular spot for the GI’s during WWll and has since been torn down and replaced by condos. Sound familiar Florida residents?

Roberto accomplished his restaurant training in Florence over the years. The Mei family settled in New York City and in 1953 opened Fontana di Trevi on 57th Street across the street from Carnegie Hall. Well known in NYC, the ristorante was one of the places that singer Billy Joel used as backdrop for his wonderful “Scenes From an Italian Restaurant” You know the one - “Bottle of red, bottle of white, it all depends upon your appetite.” (One of my personal favs by the way).Many more celebrities have visited Fontana di Trevi over the years as Roberto humbly showed me the autographed menus from years past.

Opening Cafe Baci in 1991, Roberto describes the ristorante as serving Northern Italian, Roman and Tuscan specialties. Their Wine Spectator award-winning wine list and consistent accolades from the locals have made Cafe Baci one of the area’s most popular Italian ristorantes.

What does he like about the business? “I like the people most of all, especially the retirees who have such a flavorful background. Plus the immediate satisfaction of a job well done.”

His visits to Tuscany are enjoyed on a yearly basis with his wife Denise, constantly bring new ideas and keeping the traditions of his family in front of the public in a grand way. Stop in today for lunch or dinner at Cafe Baci and taste the tradition.

Another restaurateur who has had his roots in Sarasota for many years is Guissepie “Joe” Casadio. With Italian heritage from near the beautiful region of Portofino, Joe had a ristorante in Italy before working as a sommelier on a cruise line and then cruised into Sarasota in 1978. Like so many restaurateurs he got his start at the famed Cafe L’Europe as a maitre d’.

He took over what was Rocky Raccoons on Siesta Key (we’re going into a time warp here folks) and changed it to Ristorante Casadio’s until he sold it five years later and it became La Terrazza. Joe bought Piccirilli’s on the North Trail and re-sold a short time later. He then purchased Osteria on St. Armands Circle which is still serving fine Italian cuisine in a romantic setting.

The early’90s saw the economy slowing down a bit a Joe switched gears and opened up the original Gastronomia on the South Trail. People will remember the traffic jams to get into this little joint where pasta and wine were served to thousands over the years. Joe sold his share after three years and refurbished the property he had bought a few years back on the North Trail and opened Cuoco Matto. This is a very busy ristorante that serves good Italian food at a fair price. Casual and friendly to families, it is a big hit on the North Trail.

Recent expansions of Cuoco Matto include an upstairs office and private room for up to 45 guests for any function. In 1996 he bought Polpo Mario and sold it in 2000. It is now DeMarco’s Restaurant on Clark Road.

Coco Bella in Bradenton was a quick buy and sell venture for Joe in 1998. His new jewel is 15 South on St. Armands Circle. This is a more modern-style ristorante more akin to those found in Italy nowadays. It features a pizza bar, 80 wines by the glass, over 500 wines in stock and wonderful selection of Italian foods that you will most certainly enjoy.

A new addition at 15 South is the upstairs Jazz Club. This 3,000 square foot space can accommodate 150 people to enjoy food, drinks and live jazz nightly. What a needed addition to the dining and entertainment scene.

Joe doesn’t do it all alone. Behind every good man there is a good woman and her name is Anne, Joe’s wife. Together they work hard and enjoy the benefits of three very popular Italian ristorantes in Sarasota. Congratulations and continued success!

“If you can make here you can make it anywhere” - sorry Frank, but this line is appropriate to Cosimo’s Trattoria&Bar. Opening in Southgate Mall was a blessing for Managing Partner John Ganley and his group at Cosimo’s. They have been busy since day one at this now chic shopping plaza. Customers are really working up an appetite at Saks, Pottery Barn, Dillards, Victoria’s Secret and the other fine stores in Southgate Plaza. Cosimo’s has certainly given the shoppers the needed sustenance to forge ahead with purchasing and to shop, shop, shop!

Their service is two fold. First there is the walk-up window for quick and easy slices of pizza and the like. Go inside for a more relaxed lunch or dinner and select from their new menu. Appetizers of Stuffed Portobello, Eggplant Timbale, Grilled Asparagus are a wonderful start. Soups and salads include a Tuscan Cobb Salad, Pasta e Fagioli and an Asian Chicken Salad. Yes, the description John gives as being “new age Italian with a cultural twist” is very apparent here.

For the’mains’ Cosimo’s offers a variety of wood-fired brick oven pizzas that are exceptional. Plus you can create your own. Pastas also come with a neat drawing of the shape of pasta you can choose from. The Fontina and Prosciutto Purses sound delightful. It is tossed in fresh sage and grappa brown butter, topped with Parmigiana.

Who handles the cooking at Cosimo’s? Why it is Chef Gigi who controls the kitchen and adds his wonderful touches to every dish at Cosimo’s.

A varied wine list and a full bar add to your enjoyment. Open for lunch and dinner seven days, (and even after the Plaza closes), Cosimo’s is always serving great food at a great price.

For an offer you can’t refuse I suggest a trip, pronto, to any of the Capalbo’s in Sarasota or Cortez. Their pizza buffet is absolutely the best in quality and quantity.

Imagine ordering your own personal pizza, accompanied by a 20 item salad bar and dessert for under $6! It’s all you care to eat and it’s unbelievably good at Capalbo’s. If pizza is not on your mind, diners can order pasta dinners or sandwiches for lunch and beer and wine. Don’t miss out on the pizza though, it is that good.

Owner Mike Capalbo’s family is from Colabria, Italy and emigrated to Rhode Island in 1900. For over 30 years now Mike has operated pizza and Italian restaurants in Rhode Island, North Carolina and Florida.

His favorite part about owning a restaurant? “The people is what I like about it the most,” he tells me. “They make my day. I wouldn’t be in this business if I didn’t like meeting and making people happy.”

d Mike’s son Glenn runs the Sarasota restaurant, which also features the same family oriented pizza buffet-style restaurant. Make your next pizza choice Capalbo’s and you’ll make a lot of people very happy.

Okay, describe your ristorante. Casual authentic Italian cuisine from all parts of Italy. A rustic atmosphere that makes the diner feel welcome. Owners? From Naples and Rome where they have a second ristorante (Mamma Teresa). Visited Florida to see relatives, fell in love with area and decided to open Ciao Bella!

Succinct yet very apropos for Ciao Bella! Open just a few weeks, they have done wonders with the place. In what was House of Curry they have transformed the 80 seat ristorante very nicely with marble, stone and tasty appointments.

Out of the cucina comes wonderful Veal Chops, fish, chicken and of course pasta. The Calamari Fritti is just divine. Homemade desserts, beer and wine round out the menu nicely.

Serving lunch Monday through Saturday and dinner every night, Ciao Bella! is well worth a visit for the Italian food we all love.

Anna Maria Island is where the locals have found the Island Deli &Catering Pizza Gourmet in Holmes Beach. If it sounds like a mouthful it’s because it is. Owner Joe DeNigris has found a niche for his restaurant/food delivery business. Not only can customers eat in the casual restaurant, but they can also have it delivered to them at home.

Soups, salads, sandwiches and entrees are available for lunch or dinner Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 8 pm. A new addition is the terrific salad bar where customers can enjoy their favorite items for only $4.99 a pound. Nightly specials are extremely popular for dinner and can include Prime Rib, Pork Marsala, Grouper Florentine, Raspberry Duck or Meat Loaf Dinner and pizza to name just a few. The food is great and so is the price.

French and Italian wines are available for purchase. Speaking of French and Italian, owner Joe is­a bit. He was born in Puglianello near Naples where he lived until he was 11 years old. His family then moved to Albertville, France where Joe worked in many French restaurants in the kitchens gaining experience. He speaks fluent French and Italian.

His travels took him to the United States and he opened Campagne Catering in Derby, Connecticut (a very Italian area of Connecticut). Here he did large parties, Italian weddings and the like before selling the business and moving to Anna Maria Island 10 years ago. Pleasing Islanders for those years, Island Gourmet can now please you. Stop in or call today.

There is family and then there is familia. The latter can be found at Caragiulos as brothers John, Marc, Rob, Paul and Anthony Caragiulo have put a cornerstone to what is good Italian dining in downtown Sarasota.

Settling in from Long Island in 1989, the family opened their Palm Avenue location with dad, for a resounding success. The atmosphere is casual as are the prices for such wonderful food prepared by Capo Regime Della Cucina, Randal Roulette.

Salads include Goat Cheese with caramelized walnuts, portobellos, onions and baby greens, Chopped Salad with Genoa salami, chick peas,and grilled chicken. Pastas feature the Penne alla Norma with tomatoes, roasted eggplant and aged ricotta or the Penne Pasolini with grilled chicken, Gorgonzola and sundried tomatoes.

Entrees of Grilled Salmon, Seared Tuna Puttanesca and Chargrilled Ribeye are a good example of what the boys can do. Of course there is pizza, wine, libations, live entertainment in the bar on weekends and awards for years, including a finalist for the “Best Italian Restaurant” in 2002 from the readers of the Sarasota Herald Tribune. Zagat calls Caragiulos a “charming, cozy gem.”

A new Italian wine list has been very well received. Great selections at affordable prices­what a great idea! Dining events include the First Friday Palm Avenue Art Walk, Valentine’s Day and any of the boy’s birthdays. Caragiulos is a great family operated traditional Italian trattoria with great fare.

Talk about your neighborhood Italian joint. At Filippo’s Pizzeria the chairs along the bar even have the names of the regulars taped on the back! That’s customer satisfaction. Their new location on North Lockwood Ridge Road has enabled proprietor Filippo Pivitello to reach out to a larger “slice of the pie.” This complements the second location at Bee Ridge and Webber Street nicely.

Filippo is Sicilian and lived in New York cooking at a very young age in his father’s ristorante. “But he didn’t make pizza,” he tells me. Filippo’s Pizzeria specializes in pizza of course. (Does any son do what his father tells him not to do­once maybe?) It paid off as they have been constant “Pizza Winners” in various reader’s polls over the years.

They also have a huge variety of pastas including Baked Ziti, Tortellini, Penne, Angel Hair, Linguini and Gnocchi Caprese. Hot and cold subs, Antipasti and a wine and beer list that should please those with an thirst for a good drink at a good price. Diners can also eat outdoors in the North Lockwood Ridge location.

Casual, friendly and extremely popular, Filippo’s Pizzeria is a big hit for those wanting a huge variety of good Italian food. Pop in for lunch or dinner at either location and mangia.

He is Italian, she is Irish. “You make the wine, we drink it,” says Chere DeMarco of the bond between nationalities. The bond has great strength in DeMarco’s Italian Restaurant’s personal and business lifestyle as well.

Joe DeMarco is from Campobasso, Italy, outside Naples. The restaurant business was a great success for him in Cleveland, where he and Chere operated four restaurants. A move to Sarasota three years ago prompted them to purchase Polpo Mario on Clark Road and change it to DeMarco’s Italian Restaurant.

Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week, DeMarco’s is well known for their veal, baked spaghetti and fresh fish. They also do a few Spiedini dishes with salmon and chicken that sound delicious.

The prices are very reasonable­salads from $4.95, entrees $8.95 to $14.95. The interior of the restaurant itself is just charming. Very comfortable and plush surroundings make you feel very special for any meal at DeMarco’s. Breakfasts include a variety of egg dishes, omelettes, pancakes and French toast. Lunch features over 35 different sandwiches, a nice variety of salads and daily specials. Beer and wine is also served here.

Tucked away in a average set of store fronts, DeMarco’s Italian Restaurant is a wonderful surprise on the inside and serves delicious Italian food that will make you feel good all over.

Serving Sarasota since 1984, Casa Italia was bought by Raj and Nita Mathur in September 2002. From England, Raj and Nita have consolidated the success of Casa Italia over the years and everything remains much the same as before. They do now accept credit cards, so spend to your heart’s content.

See for yourself and take in the wonderful aromas of fresh bread, imported cheeses and the best selection of imported olives around. Another welcome addition is that they now have fresh Italian sausage. Italian and Spanish wines adorn the shelves, with many of them extremely well priced.

What would an Italian market be without pasta. Here you can find a terrific selection (both fresh and frozen), along with a nice variety of canned tomatoes and sauces. Special case discounts are available on a number of items in the store.

Just arrived at Casa Italia is the Novello 2002 olive oil. This is the season’s new oil having just arrived from Italy. This wonderful olive oil has a loyal following and disappears quickly from the shelves, so be one of the first to sample it!

Continuing the tradition of the past eight years, Casa Italia will again be offering cooking classes with the renown cooking author, Giulliano Hazan. They are scheduled for January 15 and 29, February 26 and March 12. The cost is $70 per person and you can get more details by calling Casa Italia.

Our area can’t seem to get enough of Italian food. A wonderful new addition to the ever-growing Italian dining scene is Infantino’s at 3800 South Tamiami Trail. The Chef/Owners Al and Debbie Infantino have the restaurant business in their hearts, and their family has had a few restaurants in the New York area.

Consequently their restaurant is a New York Italian-style with everything being prepared homemade (including the tasty sauces). Lunch is served Monday through Friday, with dinners Monday through Saturday featuring Calamari, Three Cheese Mushrooms, Antipasto, Baked Lasagna, Veal Infantino, Chicken Francese, Chicken Florentine and Seafood Fra Diavolo.

The atmosphere is very comfortable and clean and it’s a great place to take the family as well (prices are very reasonable).

Easy to find in the Paradise Plaza (across from Southgate Mall), Infantino’s should be your next choice for either lunch or dinner. Mangia bene.

“An Island pub with an Italian flavor” is how owners Augie Meneley and Alan Chamberlin describe their Augie’s on the Island. Casual Italian food is enjoyed here with Spaghetti, Gourmet Pizzas, Eggplant Parmigiana, Baked Ziti, Antipasto, Salads and their “world famous” Stromboli available for you to enjoy for either lunch or dinner.

The atmosphere is beachy with a new horseshoe bar enabling customers to get closer to the action. The owners are very personable and can easily mingle with their customers.

Live music with various local artists play on the weekends and a late night menu is served until the wee hours. Stop in today for the best Stromboli (Augie can sure carry on the tradition), and enjoy lively local flavor with your Italian meal at Augies on the Island.

There is a shining star in the dining galaxy at Galileo Ristorante. Chef/Owner Thomas Harvey graduated with honors from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. He served as Executive Chef at the US House of Representatives in our Nation's Capital where he prepared meals for Presidents Bush and Clinton, and our distinguished leaders of the US Congress. Galileo combines the finest Italian ingredients with an American flare to create extraordinary culinary masterpieces.

Galileo offers an extensive wine list to dazzle even the most sophisticated palate. The restaurant overlooks Little Sarasota Bay and the quaint boatyard, reminiscent of an old New England style fishing village.

The restaurant features a wrap around deck and seats approximately 70 people indoors and out for dinner only. The romantic and intimate environment is perfect for creating an unforgettable dining experience. Enjoy your dining tonight a Galileo.

The timing couldn’t be better for the 2nd Annual Italy in Sarasota. This special two month event will highlight Italian food, artisans, opera, scientific analysis, interior design, language, wine tasting, theatre, film, art, video and more. How exciting!

The events will run in Sarasota from February 3 to March 9. They will be presented in a variety of locations including Selby Library, Ringling Museum, Burns Court, Ferraris Ristorante, Cafe L’Europe, Ethan Alan Interiors and others. There is even a chance to win a trip to Italy.

For a complete schedule of these exciting events, see the sponsor’s, Sarasota Italian Cultural Events, Inc. website at www.sicedautore.com or phone (941)-308-0733 ext. 651.