Author: Rosella Presta

Angelo Caputo is the founder and reason for our company. He has accomplished so much. We asked him a few of your questions to get to know him better.

• Do you have a favorite fruit that reminds you of Italy or your childhood?
  • Prickly pears. During the war, prickly pears were readily available, so we ate them at every meal

 

• How often do you travel to Italy?
  • When my wife was alive, we would go during the summer and visit her family.

 

• What was the biggest obstacle in opening Caputos?
  • We operated outside and had very long hours. 

 

• How old when you met Romana?
  • I was 15 years old 

 

• Favorite place to go to buy produce for the stores?
  • The Benton Harbor Food Exchange in Michigan where I would go once or twice a week, depending on the time of year. I would leave at 3am, usually with one of my children at my side, to pick up locally homegrown produce picked that same morning. 

• Of all of your travels, what is your favorite?
  • Visiting Bethlehem, the place where Jesus was born. Another favorite of mine is Lourdes, France.

 

• Favorite fruit?
  • Moscato grapes

 

• All time favorite meal?
  • A panino. In my hometown, I would go to piazza coperta. There were many stands along the street and I  would ask for a mortadella sandwich. 

 

• What do you tell your grandkids?
  • I tell my grandkids they are my life. I also tell them to work hard because it will pay off

 

• What is your biggest accomplishment?
  • Our family business in hopes that it will be continued to be handed down through the generations 

 

• Favorite soup from Caputo’s
  • Italian wedding

 

• Favorite dessert
  • Gelato

• Favorite saying
  • Work hard, it pays off

 

• Favorite thing to do in your free time
  • Play cards 

 

• Favorite sport
  • Soccer, I love watching Team Italy play during the World Cup and Euro Cup 

From Our Family To Yours

The Fourth of July is right around the corner. The holiday to commemorate America is usually celebrated with friends and family at outdoor parties.  People celebrate in a variety of ways, but the celebrations usually involve food. If you’re in charge of a side dish and don’t know what to bring, we’ve got you covered. This caprese pasta salad recipe is your easy and simple crowd pleasing dish.

The pasta salad doesn’t require much. Here’s what you need:

Ingredients

• Pasta of your preference
  • Farfalle or bowtie pasta is our go to, but other cuts also work well!
• Caputo’s Homemade Bocconcini
• Fresh cherry tomatoes 
• Olive oil
• Garlic
• Basil 

Steps

1. Boil the pasta
2. While the pasta is cooking, cut the cherry tomatoes in half and sauté it with garlic, olive oil, and basil in a pan
3. Cut the bocconcini in half
4. Right after the pasta is done cooking, transfer it to a bowl or serving dish
5. Add olive oil and salt to the pasta
6. Mix all your ingredients in the bowl
7. Garnish with basil 
8. Enjoy!

The great thing about this recipe is that it is very customizable. You can add as many or as little ingredients as you want. You can choose your pasta cut or even mix!

From Our Family To Yours

There is always the one Sunday in June that is dedicated to appreciating all the father figures in a person’s life. It is a day to acknowledge all the valuable lessons, laughs, and guidance they have given over the years. With Father’s Day this Sunday, I can’t help but think of two very important men in our company. I would like to take this opportunity to recognize my father, Robertino Presta, and grandfather, Angelo Caputo.

My father started working at Caputo’s at a very young age. My grandfather appreciated him because of his strength, especially his ability to throw and catch watermelon when unloading a truck. Throughout his 30 plus years, he has learned and taught us. He has helped us and the business grow. He has taught us the importance of hard work and dedication. He has taught us a variety of different things from how to properly display produce to how to clean tables. My father embraces all challenges, coming up with unique and efficient ways to get past them. One of the things I feel most fortunate for is that my father believes in us, sometimes more than we believe in ourselves. He helps to give us the tools we need to succeed and guides us towards the path of success. I have learned so much from not only my father, but my grandfather too.

My grandfather has always been one of my biggest inspirations. He overcame so much and always persevered. When he was just 18 years old, he left his home in Italy and enlisted in the US Army so that he could create a better life for himself. He never shies away from hard work and faces adversity head on. He has always taken the time to teach us and work with us. He has passed along important tools and wisdom– things that we can carry with us

I am very lucky to have two men who believe in me. My father and grandfather are incredible men who have made many sacrifices to get to where they are today. I have the utmost respect for these two men and strive to make them proud.

Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers and father figures.

From Our Family To Yours

 

With Mother’s Day so close, we take a moment to think about all the strong women who have had an influence in our lives. We think about all the love and guidance they have given us and use Mother’s Day as an opportunity to say “thank you” for all they have done. If you’re still not sure what to give your loved ones on this special day, we have some options for you!

A simple gift to show you care is flowers– the gift that keeps on giving. With flowers, you are giving a gift that is pleasing to look at, sparks happiness, has a great aroma, and can remind the recipient of you 😉 Our garden centers are open and have an assortment of flowers. From hanging baskets to potted plants, there are many different colors and types that can appeal to anyone. If you would rather have an arrangement, check out our floral department! Our talented florists can create beautiful bouquets and arrangements that will leave your mom impressed!

You can cook her breakfast! Come grab all the fixings you need to make a stay at home brunch. You won’t have to leave your house and it will be delicious. Bacon, sausage, eggs, toast, pancakes, french toast– whatever mom likes, we can help you make! If you want to put a fun spin on french toast, make panettone french toast! Panettone is an italian sweet bread and a fun replacement for your classic french toast recipe. The consistency of panettone makes it a unique meal option sure to please a crowd. While panettone are usually enjoyed on major holidays like Christmas and New Year’s Day, we have some available now! Maina panettone are wrapped in cellophane and a smaller panettone which make it easier to bake with and to eat individually. The panettone can be given as a gift!

If your mom has a sweet tooth, we’ve got just the thing for you! Available on Friday (5/10) we will have heart shaped cannoli cakes! These cakes are great, especially if you’re in charge of dessert! It consists of yellow sponge cake and cannoli filling. They are shaped in a heart and decorated with beautiful buttercream flowers. This simple gesture shows mom you care while nourishing her stomach, just like I’m sure she did for you!

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there, especially the moms in the Caputo family. Romana Caputo and Antonella Caputo Presta are both embodiments of strong, incredible women. They have taught us and helped us to grow. They have inspired us and nourished our hearts, minds, and souls. They are each amazing mothers and grandmothers who bring such joy to those lucky enough to have them as influences. Happy Mother’s Day Nonna Romana and Mommy, we love you ❤️

From Our Family To Yours

The beginning of May is the start of many festivities– from graduations to Mother’s Day, there is plenty to celebrate. One important celebration that occurs at the beginning of each May is Cinco de Mayo!

Cinco de Mayo is often mixed up with Mexican Independence Day, but it is actually the celebration of a Mexican Army’s victory over the French at Battle of the Puebla on May 5th, 1862. This victory boosted morale and helped the nation come together and bond over patriotism. Cinco de Mayo has become widely popular in America as a way to celebrate Mexican culture and heritage. People nationwide celebrate with traditional Mexican meals and drinks, and we are here to help make your celebration muy bien!

    One way to celebrate is with tacos! Our Addison location is now home to a stainless steel tortilla machine imported from Mexico. This allows us to make fresh tortillas in-house daily! We even fry our tortillas to make our own chips! Like all of our other prepared foods, our tortillas are all natural and have no preservatives. Yellow or white corn, crispy or soft, we’ve got it all! Our tortillas and chips also pair wonderfully with items from different departments! Our chips are delicious with our homemade guacamole and salsas, and you can try our tortillas with our pre-marinated fajita mix from the meat department. The fajita meat and taco meat are already marinated, so all you have to do is cook the meat!

No time to cook, but still want to celebrate? No problem! We also have taco kits in our prepared foods. These taco kits feature pre-marinated meat already seasoned to perfection, our homemade tortillas, and toppings! They are a perfect solution to a taco night on the go because it is easy to prepare.

Every party needs some drinks! From Tecate to Modelo to Corona, we’ve got all your beer needs. Don’t forget about Jarritos– a Mexican soda drink that come in many different flavors. These sodas are great alone or can be the perfect mixer!

We have many options for dessert, but an authentic option (and one that’s on sale!!) is our tres leches parfait! Tres leches is a a sponge cake that has been soaked in a sweet milk and is made up of 3 milks- evaporated, condensed and cream. Ours are featured in a parfait container which makes it easy to transport and easy to share or keep for yourself 😉

Throwing your own celebration? We have plenty of traditional Mexican food items on sale this week– cheese, shredded lettuce, beans, jalapenos, chips, and more! Stop in to get all the items you need to make your fiesta a hit!

From Our Family To Yours

These past few weeks have been rainy and as the saying goes “April showers bring May flowers!” This proves true because our garden center is opening soon! It’s the perfect time to spruce up your home gardens and add a little color to your home and we’ve got just what you need!

Our garden center has been open since pretty much the beginning of time 😉 A few weeks ago, our buyers visited Michigan to check out this year’s crop. We have been buying our vegetables from the same family owned farm in Michigan for over 50 years now! We get a variety of our plants from there including our signature melrose peppers! Melrose peppers are a sweet heirloom pepper perfect for frying! It got its origin in a local Chicago neighborhood– Melrose Park! The story is that a family immigrated to Melrose Park and brought these pepper seeds with them. The uniqueness of the pepper is what makes them so well known. We offer the plants so that you can grow your own Melrose peppers! Some of the other herbs we sell are the classic items you are sure to see in your Nonno’s garden– swiss chard, chicory, mint, tomatoes, basil, and more!

In addition to fruits and vegetables, we have an assortment of beautiful plants to add some color to your homes and home gardens! From hanging baskets to potted plants, we’ve got them all in many colors! Studies have proven that having flowers in your home can increase happiness, reduce anxiety, and can even increase your energy. I know that flowers always make me feel happy– how can you not when you see the beautiful colors?

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We also have some really cool and exciting things for kids this year! We are featuring some of Chef Jeff’s plants which are plants for children. The individual plants are a great way to teach responsibility and watch things grow! These include things like corn, pumpkins, and even popcorn!

Our garden centers are only opened for a limited amount of time. Stop by and browse to see what we have that you need in your home gardens!

From Our Family To Yours