The Grapevine

January 20th is National Cheese Lover’s Day and it seems like a good reason to celebrate! We take our cheese very seriously and offer a large selection to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a snacking cheese or one for your sandwich, imported from Italy or something local, sharp or mild, soft or hard… we have something for whatever you’re looking for!

With a deli and cheese section full of different varieties to choose from, it can be intimidating to choose your favorite.

Here are 3 cheeses that we think you NEED to try.

Parmigiano Reggiano 

Imported from Italy, parmigiano is a hard Italian cheese. This cheese can only be made from cow’s milk who eats a certain percentage of foods. There are many producers of this cheese,  but all factories are regulated to ensure that any parmigiano reggiano cheese meets certain standards and grades. This cheese is great cut in cubes or even freshly grated on pasta!

Homemade Ricotta 

Our homemade ricotta is one of our top favorites! Available in our deli, ricotta is made from re-cooking the milk whey leftover from the production of other cheese. The result is a soft, creamy, and delicious cheese! There is so much you can do with ricotta. Need some ideas? Check out our ricotta blog here!

Homemade Bocconcini

Another top favorite that has our mouth watering just at the thought of it! We take fresh mozzarella curd and hand stretch it and then tie it. A  secret recipe that has been tweaked to perfection, it is a must try. Bocconcini is great in a sandwich, to use in recipes, to put it in a salad, or just eat it straight from the container.

What’s your favorite cheese? Let us know in the comments!

From Our Family To Yours

When the weather is so cold, you might be looking for things to do indoors. You want to stay in and cuddle up in the comfort of your own home rather than brace the frigid temps outside. On those days, you’ll probably turn to comfort food! You want food that brings you a sense of nostalgia or joy. A great thing to do on one of your days inside is to make your ultimate comfort foods and enjoy! It’ll bring you a wonderful sense of warmth during these cool times.

Your comfort food may be pasta, something cheesy, pizza, soup… anything that brings you that sense of happiness! If you’re looking for a recipe to try out, we have some ideas!

Here are 4 comfort food recipes you NEED to try!

Chicken Pot Pie

A warm, flaky crust filled with all the good things that will fill you up.This chicken pot pie recipe is a must try

Recipe Here

Baked Gnocchi

This pasta bake has all the good stuff! Homemade tomato sauce, fluffy gnocchi, and plenty of cheese!

Recipe Here

Chicken Noodle Soup

What screams comfort more than chicken noodle soup? Fresh vegetables and chicken in a delicious broth… the ultimate comfort food!

Recipe Here

Cheesesteak Sandwich

Loaded with thinly sliced beef, caramelized onions, meaty mushrooms, and melted pepper jack cheese, all atop a crusty baguette, this iconic sandwich will take your tastebuds on a delightful journey 

Recipe Here

Let us know your comfort foods down below

From Our Family To Yours

With the weather getting colder, you may be turning to some warm comfort foods! There are many things that can bring you comfort, but for us in the cold weather, soup is a go-to!

January is National Soup Month, so it’s the perfect time to explore recipes and make the perfect winter soup! Soups are simple to make and good for the soul!

Want some shortcuts? Here are 3 for you to use!

Rotisserie Chicken

Many soups call for shredded chicken. A great and quick way to have chicken is to buy our rotisserie chicken! It shreds very easily and it tastes delicious! It’s one less step for you without sacrificing quality

Pastina

If you like a little pasta in your soup, pastina is a great addition! What is pastina? They are mini cuts of pasta and we have a variety of options to choose from! Orzo, ditalini, stelline, and more! All great options for soup!

Use cheese

It’s always tasty to have a little bit of cheese in a soup, especially a melting cheese! For soup that requires a melted cheese on top, gruyere is a great option! It melts easily and is full of flavor. Also adding a little grated parmigiano reggiano is a great way to add flavor and keep your soup the consistency you meant it to be!

La Bella Romana Soups

We know that a soup can take a lot of work and time to make. Don’t feel like cooking, but want a warm, homemade soup? We can help! We have a full line of soups– vegan, vegetarian, broth, cream, hearty, and nostalgic– we have it all! Some of our recipes are original recipes going back over 20 years. You can get the same soup your mom or nonna would make with flavors that will transport you right back to their kitchen. 

Our soups are made in-house. We use all natural ingredients, no preservatives, and no additives so you can feel good about what you’re eating! We use real cream, fresh vegetables, our homemade sausage, and meat prepared by our meat department. 

Here are just a few of some soups we offer:

• Chili (awarding winning and will make your taste buds do a happy dance)
• Cream of Chicken
• Minestrone
• Vegan Butternut Squash
• Chicken and Dumpling
• Clam Chowder
• Cream of Broccoli
• Lentil
• Beef Barley

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and so much more! Check out all of our offerings in store in our prepared foods section!

From Our Family To Yours

The New Year is right around the corner. One thing you may know is that some Italians can be superstitious and like to stay true to their traditions. Many traditions involve some type of food and the New Year’s Eve traditions are no exception! Italians like to enjoy hearty foods that will symbolize good fortune and prosperity in the New Year!

Lentils

Lentils have many symbols for this holiday meal. They are round like coins. Lentils are eaten for the hope of prosperity and good luck. This tradition can be linked back to the early days of Rome. In our family, my mother picked up the tradition from her mother and the matriarch of Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Markets, Romana Caputo. Nonna Romana would make lentil soup to be eaten after the clock strikes midnight as a sign of good luck and prosperity for the New Year.

Many people also eat sausage with their lentils. This is said to symbolize abundance. When sausage and lentils are eaten together, it means that the New Year will be even better than the last!

We offer dry lentils for you to make yourself or pick up one of our homemade lentil soups from our prepared foods section!

Grapes

Another way to ring in the New Year is by eating grapes! At midnight you eat 12 grapes, one for each month. When you eat each grape, you are supposed to make a wish for that month!

Don’t forget the panettone, nuts, and fruit!

Buona Fortuna e Buon Anno a tutti!

From Our Family To Yours

Christmas is almost here! It’s time for those final preparations which includes planning your meals, but sometimes, per tradition, you already know what your meal will consist of! An important tradition in our family and many Italian-American families is the Feast of the Seven Fishes.

The Feast of the Seven Fishes gained popularity in America; however, is not known as the same thing in Italy. Each region of Italy has different meals that they prepare for La Vigilia, or Christmas Eve, so the traditional meals tend to vary region by region. Although the meals are different, they mainly consume light, meatless dishes. As with many Italian traditions, they are rooted in faith. Many people speculate that the Feast of the Seven Fishes gets its name because seven is a motif in the bible– the sacraments, days of creation, and more! The Christmas Eve meal includes varieties of different types of fish all prepared in different ways. There is no limit to how many varieties of fish you can eat- each family has their own routine. 

Here are 3 of our favorites that we can’t wait to enjoy during the feast:

Shrimp

Fried, in pasta, or with cocktail sauce- shrimp is a delicious seafood that is easy to incorporate into many dishes and that is widely loved (even by those picky eaters).

Octopus Salad

Our homemade octopus salad goes through a specific process. We first tenderize the octopus, then marinate it with our signature blend of spices, oils, vinegars, and vegetables. It is a perfect course during your feast!

Lobster Tails

Lobster is a light fish that has a bit of a sweeter taste. With a little bit of warm butter drizzled over the fish, you can’t even tell it’s a fish which makes it another great option for the picky eaters!

Stop by and visit our seafood department for a wide variety of fresh fish! See some of our offerings here

From Our Family To Yours

It’s time to start thinking about meal prep for what may be the biggest holiday of the year. Sharing a meal on Christmas Eve and Christmas is sure to help you make some happy memories. At Caputo’s, we want you to have a hassle free holiday, so we will do the work for you! Our Homemade Holiday Feast is perfect for the holiday season and will allow you to spend quality time with the family! This homemade feast features a main entree, multiple side dishes, condiments, and dessert! 

We offer a full feast that will make your holidays much easier! Our homemade feast feeds 10-12 people and is made with all natural foods, no preservatives, and the nostalgia that comes with home cooking. For the main entree, there is a choice between an oven roasted turkey or an oven baked ham. Both items are holiday classics so you can’t go wrong with either one of them! Plus, the ham comes with our very own signature apricot pineapple glaze! 

You will get sides–vegetables, potatoes, a salad, and bread. There are different options to pick from in each category to make your dinner perfect. To go along with your meal are condiments! You will get two cans of either jelly or cranberry sauce! 

Can’t forget dessert! The feast comes with a fresh 8” La Bella Romana apple or pumpkin pie! 

The feast is available hot for Christmas Eve or you can request it cold and warm it up to enjoy on Christmas Day! 

Maybe you’re looking for a part of your meal, an antipasto tray, a dessert… we can help you make your holiday perfect!

More info on our Homemade Holiday Feast here

From Our Family To Yours

With the holidays coming up, we take a moment to reflect on all of our blessings and think of what we can do to give back. 

Earlier this year, we lost our founder, Angelo Caputo. Anyone who has known Angelo and Romana Caputo can attest to the fact that they were the most generous people. In an effort to honor their name, we have created the Angelo and Romana Caputo Foundation. Angelo and Romana’s true pride and passion was family. They loved their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Nothing made them happier than seeing their family together. In addition, they had a unique ability to make people feel at home. Whether staying for a week or an hour, you were made to feel like part of the family and a treasured guest as soon as you walked into the Caputo household. 

With this in mind, we have partnered with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana (RMHC-CNI) who exists so families with hospitalized children can get better together.Their goal of keeping families together during an incredibly difficult and unimaginable time is on brand for the Caputo Family. No family should have to be separated from their children, especially in a time of crisis. Ronald McDonald House allows parents who are far from home to stay close to their hospitalized child and benefit from the comforts of home without incurring hotel and food costs.

We are confident that our missions align and are inspired by the hard work of all those involved in the RMHC-CNI! To help support the Ronald McDonald House we’ve got a few different programs in-store.

Toy Drive

One way to get involved is by donating to our holiday toy drive! Every kid that enters the house starts by going to the toy room and picking out a brand new toy! We will be collecting toys in each of our locations and dropping them off to the local chapters. You can get involved by dropping off new, unwrapped toys or gift cards! We will have the toy drive run through the end of the year! 

Pop Tab Program

Sometimes the little things can make a big difference! Another way to get involved is to collect your pop tabs and donate them! These pop tabs are the aluminum tabs you pull open soda, soups, and other cans with! Collect them in your house and drop them off at our stores. Look for the little RMHC-CNI or give them to the service desk. These tabs will be collected, given back to Ronald McDonald House, and where it is donated for scrap metal!

We look forward to our continued partnership in support of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana. Keep an eye out for more opportunities to get involved! 

From Our Family To Yours

We are so excited to announce that we are expanding our partnership with another local, family owned business! Fruitful Yield has opened up in our Addison store. This is the third “store within a store” concept for our families. The partnership came naturally as we are both family businesses looking to nourish our customers. We both have a passion for looking out for the well being of our customers by providing the healthiest and highest quality products. We are thrilled to continue our partnership!

Our ribbon cutting is scheduled for 9am on Friday, 11/19. We have partnered with Fruitful Yield and will be raffling off a cooking basket full of Caputo’s and Fruitful Yield products! Check out our social media pages for how you can enter.

More on the opening:

Chicagoland’s favorite local family-owned retailers have teamed up once again! Wellness and supplement shop Fruitful Yield and grocer Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Market have partnered together to create a third extension of their store-within-a-store partnership. 

An express version of Fruitful Yield can be found in Angelo Caputo’s wellness department at its Chicagoland Addison location. Fruitful Yield in Angelo Caputo’s plans to focus specifically on natural health, beauty and supplements. The goal of the stores teaming together is to provide shoppers with a one-stop-shop for all of their health, wellness and grocery needs.

Addison is the third Angelo Caputo’s store with a Fruitful Yield in it–in addition to the Carol Stream and Naperville locations. The two companies are enthusiastic about the partnership.

According to Fruitful Yield President Joe Fulco, “We at Fruitful Yield are extremely excited to be expanding our partnership with Angelo Caputo’s with the opening of our third Fruitful Yield store within Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Markets in Addison. Our two family-owned brands take great pride in meeting our customers’ unique needs. Whether it be with their food selection or our health and wellness section, together we work hard to create a memorable shopping experience for all of our customers.” 

“We are excited to further our partnership with Fruitful Yield by welcoming them into our Addison store.” added Robertino Presta, CEO of Angelo Caputo’s. “Having another local, family-owned company committed to health and well-being is a great match for us, and we look forward to growing our partnership.” 

Fans of the two businesses can come to the grand opening the weekend of Nov. 19. The ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for Friday 9:00 am. The health store plans to hand out healthy goodie bags and raffle gift baskets to lucky winners throughout the weekend. Popular health brands will be on site with their own giveaways. Masks and social distancing are a must for the event. 

Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Market operates eight stores in the Chicagoland area. Bloomingdale, Ill.-based Fruitful Yield has 15 stores in the area

RSVP to the Ribbon Cutting here

From Our Family To Yours

Holiday season is quickly approaching! The season starts off with a food lover’s favorite holiday– Thanksgiving! The prep for this day is long and tedious, it means the host will likely spend all day in the kitchen. There is another way though, you can order our homemade Thanksgiving Feast! Our team will be in the kitchen on Thanksgiving morning so that you don’t have to!

We want you to enjoy all the aspects of Thanksgiving, so we will do the cooking for you! We offer a full feast that will make your guests full and make your Thanksgiving easier! Our homemade feast feeds 10-12 people. Our feast is made the same way you would at home! We use all natural foods, no preservatives, and the special touch that only comes with homemade food. The feast includes all the fixings for a homemade dinner!

Your meal comes with a 14-16lb turkey, three sides, and a dozen dinner rolls. There are a variety of sides to choose from, but three categories– a vegetable, a potato, and stuffing! You can choose from our variety of options in each category. You can also upgrade your stuffing and try out our Italian sausage stuffing!

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You will get cranberry sauce or cranberry jelly and gravy to go with your turkey.

No meal is complete without dessert and Thanksgiving calls for pie! You will get a fresh baked 8-inch La Bella Romana pie, your choice of apple or pumpkin!

All items come hot, fully cooked, and ready to serve. We are in the kitchen on Thanksgiving morning so that you don’t have to be.

You can get all of this for only $169.99! We also offer just the turkey without the full meal for only $89.99!

 From Our Family To Yours

An important food group in Italy, dessert! Delicious gelato, simple cookies, or sweet pastries, dessert is a part of the meal that everyone looks forward to!

One beloved dessert is tiramisu!

Tiramisu is a dessert which consists of cocoa powder, coffee soaked lady fingers or sponge cake, and a mascarpone filling. It is simple, sweet, and encapsulates some of the best Italian tastes and aromas.

We have homemade tiramisu in a variety of different ways. A full cake, an individual slice, or a tiramisu parfait which is like a deconstructed tiramisu! 

You can’t honor Italy without making a decadent tray of tiramisu. With the accent of chocolate and coffee, this famous dessert can be enjoyed with or without the preceding plate of pasta. Besides being a creamy, rich follow-up, this sweet treat can be presented at any occasion to impress your guests!

From Our Family To Yours