Calabria Italian Deli and Cafe

UPDATE!!! CHECK OUT CALABRIAS NEW LOOK! The dining area is getting cozier everyday. After the window renovation they are now sprucing up the place. New warmer paint on the walls, new table arrangement and soon new flooring that will make the place look and feel more like a cafe, deli and Italian specialty food shop! Now the atmosphere will be as good as the food! Graci Pasquale! You done good! Check it out soon! P.S. My all time favorite is the eggplant parmesan sandwich, love it!

I always enjoy going to Calabria at 1905 W. 103rd but unfortunately it's like going to Target, you always buy more things than you intend to. Everything looks & smells sooooo good! I stopped by the other day for pizza set ups. I bought the mini-pizza set ups & of course could not leave with out a container of fresh grated Romano cheese, some lovely baked deli ham and a jar of giardiniera,(spicy chopped up Italian vegetables in oil that are great on any kind of sandwich). The pizza set ups were fun, I prepared them at home with my daughter, she has fun making up her own mini-pizza. I was thinking this would be a great idea for a child's B-day party or even girls night out, at home. The pizza sauce was sweet & the sausage was delicious and they provided plenty of cheese for the top. 15 min in the oven at 350 & Wa La! Pizza time! We are so lucky to have a great Italian Deli right in the heart of Beverly. My Italian relatives from Sicily & Calabria would be pleased!

Fresh Roasted Coffee on Premise at The Beverly Bakery & Cafe!

UPDATE! The Bevery Bakery is now ROASTING COFFEE! It is the only coffee roastery south of Bridgeport. Stop in and watch them roast! Pick up a pound, or mix up a custom pound and bring it home. There is so much to enjoy at the Beverly Bakery & Cafe at 10528 S. Western. Stop in sometime and relax in the cafe. Enjoy a delicious cup of fresh roasted coffee while agonizing over your choice of "fresh out of the oven", breads and scones, pastries, cookies, donuts and more.. If your feeling sensible enjoy a lovely and fresh breakfast or lunch first, prepared with their fresh baked breads. You can then decide which specialty cake to order for your next party or event. Your hosts and local residents Jim and Jean Marie Quigley will be happy to indulge all of your edible desires. Stop in or make it a meeting place with your friends. Find out about their special events and rotating art exhibits. You will make this cafe a regular stop in your daily plan! Call 773-238-5580 for hours.

Beverly and Morgan Park the Best Real Estate Investment Around!

Existing residents of Beverly and Morgan Park have always known and new residents are finding out that investing in your home here is not as risky as one would think. Even in this financial climate you could drive around our beautiful neighborhood and see homeowners involved in significant home improvement projects ranging from a few "tear downs",(the complete demolition of a home with a new home built on that site), to gut remodels, additions and major renovations. Beverly/Morgan Park residents are confident that the investment they are making will pay off short term in the wonderful "urban/suburban" lifestyle that they can enjoy every day here and long term in the value that will be added to their home. A value they are confident will be recouped at some point if needed.

The interesting thing about Beverly/Morgan Park people is that all around it is a safe investment because for the most part once you settle in or discover Beverly and Morgan Park you rarely have the desire to leave! That's the secret to a wonderful, stable housing marketplace!

On one clear day last week, I took a few photos of projects in the area taking place right now.

Giuseppe's Trattoria Italiana on Olde Western Avenue in Blue Island

Dining at Giuseppe's Trattoria at 13351 S. Olde Western Ave,(between Broadway & Des Plaines St) in Blue Island, Illinois is like eating in your Italian, Aunts kitchen and enjoying the finest, original italian food you can imagine. There is a reason why! The owners are from Naples, Italy and the recipes are from their Aunt that still helps out, there in the restaurant.

They are very accomodating at Giuseppe's. If you ask for it and they have the ingredients then they will make it. We were in the mood for mussels in white wine garlic sauce which was not on the appetizer menu and they said no problem and soon enough they arrived surrounded by lovely pieces of garlic bread to sopp up the delicious garlicky sauce! We also enjoyed thick layers of lasagna, homemade gnnochi in a pesto creme sauce,classic and creamy fettucini alfredo and eggplant parmesan.

Finally for desert we could not leave with out sharing a gigantic piece of delicious and creamy tiramisu. Layers of lady fingers, marscapone cheese, chocolate and cream. It was a delicious dinner in a lovely, comfy atmosphere. Full service bar with beer, wine and liquor. We enjoyed delicious wine and Peroni Beer from Italy with our dinner. I look forward to returning again and again! Call for more info.(708) 388-8900

It's a Wonder if you have never been to Bill Grants Wonderburger!

Bill Grants Wonderburger 11045 S. Kedzie in Mt. Greenwood is a South side tradition, classic or legend. You pick the word, you own the experience. If you have never enjoyed a Wonderburger you just have to check it out, and if it has been a while, you have to stop in again soon just to prove to yourself it is still there and has not changed a bit.

Between the burgers, curly fries, onion rings or what ever you choose you will feel as if you have stepped back in time or landed in Mayberry RFD. Your burger or sandwich comes in a basket and everything else comes on antique melanin plates or bowls. I think they are the same plates and bowls they used when I was a child and walked up to Mt. Greenwood and went to Wonderburger after shopping at the Woolworth's next door,(that has since been torn down).

The food is good and cheap, the waitstaff young and lethargic and the atmosphere is nostalgic and worth every penny! Check it out some time soon before you no longer can!

Soups On! At the KODA Bistro Cooking Class!

I really enjoyed last Saturday early afternoon at Koda Bistro and Wine Bar in Beverly at 10352 S. Western Avenue. Chef Aaron Browning wowed a full house with 3 of his favorite easy to make soups including the recipe for their wonderful classic French Onion soup. Students were comfortably seated in the beautiful wine bar area and had clear sight to Chef Aaron's preparations via the overhead camera projected on the flat screen behind him. Everyone relaxed and enjoyed a glass of wine or delicious coffee as they watched and learned. Questions flowed through out the class and Chef Aaron was happy to respond as well as add his own unique stories and anecdotes from his travels in Europe and experiences in renowned kitchens including The Everest Room under Chef Jean Jojo. We learned how to prepare and sampled Potato Leek Vichyssoise, Country Lentil with Smoked Bacon and his Classic French Onion rendition. I can not wait to try them all at home and I am looking forward to the next class,contact KODA Bistro for more info. www.kodabistro.com 10352 S. Western Avenue 773-445-KODA (5632)