The Grapevine

I think we can all agree that sometimes we need a meal that tastes like a hug feels. Most of the time, a grilled cheese sandwich can do the trick! It’s the ultimate comfort food for many reasons! Maybe it reminds you of being a kid, maybe it’s the melted cheese (because who doesn’t love melted cheese), maybe it’s the special way you make it. No matter the reason, grilled cheese is classic.

April is National Grilled Cheese Month and we know that for adults and kids alike, you can’t go wrong with  grilled cheese come mealtime! 

When you think about grilled cheese, you probably automatically picture two pieces of sandwich bread and a slice of american cheese, but there is so much more that you can do to make your grilled cheese burst with flavor!  

Want to take your grilled cheese to the next level? Here are 4 ways to make your grilled cheese even better than normal!

1. Add cheese to the outside of bread

Why not make your grilled cheese extra cheesy? Coat the bread in olive oil or butter and add shredded cheese on the outside of the bread for great taste and a delicious crunch. This forms a crispy cheese crust as you grill each side of the bread and serves as an added layer of flavor. You can even use a different type of cheese to complement the inside.

2. Use a special jam or jelly on the inside

A unique way to add some flavor is by spreading a gourmet jelly or jam on the inside of the bread! If you like a little bit of spice, coating the bread with pepper jelly adds a delicious kick of heat. If you prefer sweet, add a fig spread! We have a variety of fig spreads with different flavor profiles so there are plenty to choose from. This simple action completely changes your grilled cheese and makes it even more delicious !

3. Add Mac & Cheese

Mac and cheese and grilled cheese both make perfect comfort foods, so why not combine them? If you have leftover mac and cheese, there’s more you can do then just warm it up and eat it the same way. The addition of a creamy mac and cheese to your sandwich will give make for an extra cheesy taste! You can even add bacon for a crunch and great flavor! You can even grab some of our already prepared mac and cheese from our prepared foods section so you don’t have to go through the hassle of making it yourself! The result is a gourmet grilled cheese sandwich in just a few extra, easy steps.

4. Caramelized Onions

French onion soup grilled cheese? Yes please! All the elements of a French onion soup bring a sense of comfort, so why not transform this iconic soup into a grilled cheese… especially because we all know the best part of this soup is the melted cheese on top! That cheese is Gruyere cheese and it makes for a great type of cheese to make the star of your sandwich. Gruyere is known to be great for melting and has a rich, creamy taste! The addition of caramelized onions add a great flavor for an easy and customized grilled cheese!

These are just a few! You can use a specific bread, a mix of cheeses, specialty cheese, or maybe you add extras to your sandwich that take it to the next level! You can add things like mac and cheese, bacon, avocado, tomatoes, flavored olive oil, and more to make your grilled cheese elite!

Grilled cheese is a perfect way to play around and just have fun in the kitchen! So start cooking and just have some fun with it.

From Our Family To Yours

Many holidays come with tradition. In Italian culture, traditions are centered around what brings everyone together… food! The days leading up to Easter are spent in the kitchen, prepping meals and all the delicious desserts and foods that remind you of this joyous occasion. If you have less time to prep this year, but are still looking to enjoy some of the traditional items, you’ve come to the right place! Come pick up all your traditional items that we make by hand for you to enjoy or come get all the ingredients you need for them!

Here are 6 Items we look forward to every Easter!

1. Calzone

Calzone is dough in the shape of a pie or a pizza, then filled with various foods. There are two different kinds. The traditional style has no meat, but is filled with eggs, black olives, onions, and mozzarella cheese. All the ingredients are put into our homemade crust. On Good Friday, we eat calzone because there is no meat on Fridays during Lent. Some people enjoy another type of Calzone enjoyed on Easter Sunday. This one is our homemade sausage, eggs, black olives, onions, and mozzarella cheese. This calzone is typically enjoyed on Easter day. The addition of meat makes it a heartier calzone. Heartier foods were typically used at feasts. Since Easter is a celebration and everyone is rejoicing, the more ingredients, the better for the calzone with meat!

2. Easter Bread

Easter bread is a fun and colorful tradition! It is a sweet bread with dyed eggs baked right into the bread! It is usually baked in a circle to symbolize the crown of thorns that was put on Jesus.

3. Pastiera

Pastiera, also known as Easter pie, is a traditional Easter dessert whose main ingredient is Ricotta! This dessert is light, has notes of citrus, and takes a while to prepare which is why picking one up in store is worth it! Pastiera is meant to symbolize peace and Resurrection! If you don’t want a whole pie, pick up a few slices of our pizza di ricotta in our bakery case!

4. Tuma

Tuma is a cheese that can really only be found right around Easter! It is a mild and creamy cheese, similar to ricotta, but a bit firmer. Around this time, people use it in baking and cooking! 

5. Lamb Cake

And for dessert, a lamb cake! This popular European dessert is a pound cake in the shape of a lamb. It is then decorated however you wish! Usually with frosting, including green frosting on the plate to show a lamb laying in the grass. This tradition also symbolizes Jesus’ role as the Lamb of God.

6. Glazed Taralli

A classic Easter cookie are glazed taralli. You might be familiar with the taralli crackers we have year round, but this sweeter version only comes around for Easter. It is larger than the normal taralli, sweet notes baked into the dough, and glazed with an icing

What are your favorite Eater traditions? Let us know in the comments! Buona Pasqua!

From Our Family To Yours

 People have many different traditions when it comes to Easter, but most involve food. Sharing a meal has become symbolic of celebrations and Easter is a testament to this. If you’re looking for a homemade meal that will fill you up and not drain all your energy preparing it, we are here for you! We can offer you a homemade feast at an unbeatable price!

As a family business, we value time spent together. Time with loved ones is important and we want you to enjoy it to the fullest. Our Easter Feast is prepared in-house by our commissary. Just like all of our food, the feast is prepared with all natural ingredients with no preservatives. We take pride in using only the highest quality of ingredients.

The meal includes traditional and delicious Easter items that can feed between 10-12 people. Each course of the meal has a variety of options that you can choose from to best feed your group. The feast includes a ½ pan of salad, a ½ pan of vegetables, and a ½ pan of pasta or potatoes. For the main entrée, you get a choice of  a whole baked ham with our signature apricot pineapple glaze or our Mediterranean style boneless roasted leg of lamb. There is a side of a dozen dinner rolls and can’t forget the dessert! You can choose between zeppole or eclairs!

If you are just looking for a main entree, you can order a single roasted leg of lamb or a baked ham! A new offering this year is a whole roasted lamb.

Check out our holiday feast flyer for all your choices and more information. Call (630) 620-4444 ext. 1040 for more information and to place your order!

Going to do your own cooking but want some help with certain items? Check out our new catering menu to see our offerings!

From Our Family To Yours

With summer quickly approaching, we know that means that parties and gatherings are going to pick up too. Maybe you’re hosting a graduation, a birthday, or just a get together with your family. Party planning can be stressful, but picking food for the party doesn’t have to be!

Our La Bella Romana catering department can help you with all your needs!

You’ll be getting an authentic, home cooked meal without having to spend hours in the kitchen making the food! 

The inspiration for our catering department comes from my grandmother and our matriarch, Romana Caputo. 

Romana was Angelo’s guiding force and his pillar of strength. In 1984, Angelo began his quest to start a private label. He used this new private label as an opportunity to honor his wife and named it, La Bella Romana, which translates to “The Beautiful Romana.” La Bella Romana products are sold exclusively at Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Markets and the La Bella Romana brand includes our Cucina and Catering department.

Romana was known for her passion for cooking. Nobody could prepare a feast or host a party quite like her. Every person left her house feeling full and like a member of the family! Her love and incredible talent for cooking inspired many of our featured recipes. In upholding Romana’s legacy, we take pride in creating delicious meals with the best ingredients. Family is who we are, and we want you to make the most of all the time you can spend with your family.

Choosing La Bella Romana Catering is an easy way to make any event or gathering a success!

Remember, our La Bella Romana Cucina is just as prepared to serve a simple, grab-and-go meal as feed a family of eight or cater a party of 1,800. Every day of the week we offer a wide selection of entrees, sides, soups, and salads. When planning a larger event, simply call your local store — or get in touch with our catering department at (630) 620-4444 ext 1040.

We have items for every meal– trays, buffets, meal combos, full meals, and more! We’d love to work with you to make your next event a success!

We also have plenty of options for desserts! From the classic pastries and cookies to cake pops, chocolate covered pretzels and strawberries, macaroon trees, and more!

Check out the catering menu and dessert options here

From Our Family To Yours

St. Joseph’s Day is March 19th and it’s a big celebration in Italian culture! 

This day calls for a feast! Some people attend parties where friends and family come together to honor St. Joseph or San Giuseppe. You might even notice many St. Joseph’s Day tables in your communities around this time as a tribute to him. The traditions vary, but most celebrations include a lot of food and the St. Joseph’s Day staple– Zeppole!

Italians usually celebrate St. Joseph’s Day with a big feast. The tradition of the feast dates back to the middle ages. Sicily was in the middle of a big drought. This drought was causing crops to dry up and left Sicilians on the brink of famine. They prayed to St. Joseph to relieve them with rain and in return they would honor him with a big feast or a banquet. When the rain came a few days later, they honored him as they said he would.

This tradition is still intact and many people come together to feast in St. Joseph’s honor! There are a few traditional meal items for you to enjoy on March 19th!

Fava Beans

It is believed that fava beans are what saved the people suffering from the drought from starvation. Enjoy some pasta with fava beans or find fava beans as decoration on the table!

Pasta con Sarde

Pasta con sarde is a long cut of pasta with breadcrumbs and anchovies or sardines Traditionally, Mafaldine pasta is used. This long, wavy pasta cut is great for gathering all the breadcrumbs on the pasta. The breadcrumbs are meant to resemble sawdust, an ode to St. Joseph’s carpentry background! 

Zeppole

Dessert is a must and on St. Joseph’s Day, you’re sure to find zeppole on the table! Zeppole are traditional donut-like fritters that are coiled on top. They are stuffed with different fillings and topped with a dusting of powdered sugar. This is fitting because St. Joseph also happens to be the patron saint of pastry chefs! There are many different types of zeppole. Traditional zeppole are filled with cannoli or custard. We make both of these versions from scratch in our bakery! Stop by and pick up your zeppole and try out our new flavors to celebrate St. Joseph’s Day!

What are your go-to meals or traditions on St. Joseph’s day? Share them down below!

St. Joseph’s Day is also celebrated as Father’s Day in Italy, so be sure to wish all the father-like figures in your life a Happy Father’s Day this Saturday!

From Our Family To Yours

March 2nd marks the beginning of the Lenten season, an important time for the Christian community! This is the 40 days leading up to Easter and is a period of reflection and sacrifice. There are many traditions during this time and one important rule to follow is the fasting from meat on certain days.

Every Friday in Lent, you are supposed to refrain from eating meat. Lent is a time of simplicity and when observances were being created, meat and land animals were considered a symbol of celebration and prosperity. Because of this, Christians abstain from eating meat to honor the fact that it is a solemn period of time. The day of the week was chosen because Jesus suffered and died on a Friday. For these reasons, the practicing religions cut out meat on Fridays.

Although it seems simple, when it comes to making multiple meals that don’t include meat and that everyone will like can become difficult week after week. 

Here are 4 meatless meal suggestions to help you out when you’re not sure what to make!

Stir Fry

Grab your favorite veggies, rice or noodles, and your favorite sauce for a meatless dinner that will leave you wanting more! A stir fry is great because it is totally customizable– you get to pick every aspect of it and can choose the ingredients that work best for your meal. You can add or remove as many veggies as you like, just like you can pick the sauce that will completely change the flavor! 

Stir Fry Recipe: https://shopcaputos.com/recipe-rack?dishId=9a62d670-55cf-4753-aac3-a7e9df18d630

Pizza Night

Get the whole family involved and make your own pizza! We offer all the ingredients you need for a homemade pizza night. You can stop by our prepared foods section for homemade dough, sauce, veggies, toppings, and more! It’s great bonding and just a fun night, especially if you make a Nutella pizza for dessert!

Want pizza, but don’t have time to make it yourself? Grab one of our 16” take and bake pizzas for dinner. With multiple different options as far as toppings, it’s an easy dinner that everyone will love.

Making your own pizza and want some inspiration? Check out these gourmet pizza ideas here

Pasta

Versatile, easy,and delicious– three words we love to hear when it comes to meal time! While pasta seems like a basic dish, you can get creative with it! Our aisles are full of different pasta options- short or long, fresh or frozen, imported or domestic. Once you choose what pasta cut, then you move on to the sauce- our homemade supreme sauce, classic tomato sauce, arrabiata, and so many more. Plus, don’t forget about the mix ins and spices! With so many different combinations to try, pasta dishes will never get boring! 

Seafood

Not only is seafood a good meatless option, there are plenty of health benefits! Fish is filled with omega 3s and different nutrients that your body craves. Our extensive fish department will help you find just what you’re looking for. Fish can be eaten as meals or can be added to different dishes for great flavors– seafood risotto, pasta with clams, or just a simply grilled salmon are all great dishes with lots of flavor!

Fish can be intimidating to cook, but we can make it easy! We offer a variety of pre-marinated seafood options. They are full of flavor and all you have to do is put it in the oven and pick your sides! Pro tip: try one of our pre-marinated salmon choices in the air fryer!

Not in the mood to cook after a long week? Stop into one of our stores and check out the prepared foods section! There are tons of meatless options for yourself or for the whole family!

From Our Family To Yours

When it comes to comfort food, chili is one of the top favorites. The fresh ingredients and mixes of spices make it so unique and filling! If you’re looking for a homemade chili to fill this craving, our La Bella Romana Chili is a must try! National Chili Day is February 24th, so grab a bowl and cuddle up on your couch!

Award winning, our La Bella Romana Chili is made from scratch daily in our kitchen commissary. We use fresh ground beef and ground pork from our meat department and a blend of herbs, spices, and veggies that make it delicious and soothing for the soul.

There are so many ways you can enjoy chili other than just eating it on its own! If you want to change it up and bit and get creative, here are 4 ways to enjoy chili other than by itself

As a salad topper

You can use chili to replace dressing! Take a scoop of chili and put it on top of your salad. It adds a lot of flavor and the meat and beans in the chili even adds protein (it sounds strange, but don’t knock it until you try it)

Chili Nachos

Who doesn’t love nachos? Add some chili, cheese, guacamole, and jalapenos to take it to the next level! Use our homemade tortilla chips for an even better plate of nachos. Our chips are made in-house by hand cutting and frying our homemade tortillas which are made in our Addison store daily! 

In Mac and Cheese

Adding chili to mac and cheese is quick and easy. The pasta and cheese from the mac and cheese adds a delicious cheesy gooey-ness to the already delicious chili

Tex Mex Pizza

You can replace pizza sauce with chili for a tex mex pizza! Grab our homemade dough or plain crust and go crazy. All you have to do is add the chili and cheese. The chili already has ground meat and pork, so you get a little bit of everything in every bite!

We hope you enjoy National Chili Day and our La Bella Romana chili!

From Our Family To Yours

There are a few main highlights to every watch party for Sunday’s Big Game– the game itself, the halftime show, and the food! There is so much excitement leading up to the Big Game– maybe you’re rooting for a team,you’re excited for the performance, you’re getting together with some friends and family, but no matter what part you’re looking forward to, food is involved! 

People go all out with their spreads, eating the classic football watching dishes! If you’re hosting, but have too much to do to think about what food to prep, we have you covered! 

Our Big Game Feast is back and it’s one you don’t want to pass up because it will make feeding your guests so easy! The feast feeds 10-12 people and has all your game day staples, plus everything is homemade! You can trust you’re getting a  good, quality meal, but without the work! 

The Big Game Feast includes a spread of different foods! The feast comes with 3lbs of chicken wings, 2 pizzas, a half pan of pasta, 3lbs of beef, and 12 pieces of our homemade italian sausage. We’ve got your sides– 5 inch french rolls for your sandwiches and sauteed sweet peppers and giardiniera for extra flavor! It also includes 12 mini chocolate football cakes for dessert! This feast is available hot or cold and is only $109.99! 

You can order the feast here

If you’re not looking for a full feast, make sure you stop by for all you need! Pur homemade chips pair perfectly with any of our homemade dips, salsas, or guac which you can find near our cut fruit. Our rotisserie chicken makes for great pulled chicken for any recipe that calls for it… buffalo chicken dip anyone? Our prepared foods section has homemade wings, pizzas, pulled pork, and more if you’re looking for just a dish or side for your watch party!

We hope everyone has a safe and fun weekend!

From Our Family To Yours

If you’ve driven by our Bloomingdale store or you follow us on social media, you’ve likely noticed a difference in our store facade. This was all part of our recent remodel! We re-did the interior and exterior of the store as well as added a few new departments!

The Bloomingdale store has a brand new and modern look! New floor, lights, and more boasts for a modern and pleasant shopping experience!

The remodel includes the addition of new departments! The addition includes a service Coffee Bar, authentic Italian Gelato Case, made from scratch hot food bar featuring a vast variety of entrées and daily specials, freshly made pizza station, and chef manned sushi station. Soon, there will be indoor and outdoor dining areas so you can relax and enjoy a meal or an espresso in the store!

The remodel also allows for expanded departments. A bakery expansion which allows for more of our homemade pastries, cookies, breads, and more!  Our cold prepared foods line will be expanded and offer a larger variety of made from scratch meal options.Our goal is to provide a great food experience with a vast array of specialties and offerings. 

Come check out the changes and stay tuned as the remodel continues and the finishing touches are added!

From Our Family To Yours