What We’re Thankful For

We know this year has been full of ups and downs. In the blink of an eye, everyday life as we knew it was forced to change, but we adapted. As we reflect upon this past year and prepare to celebrate the meal in which we think of what we give thanks for, our family would like to share what we are grateful for.

Our Loyal Customers

We are incredibly thankful to all those who have supported us over the years. Whether you have been shopping with us since our Harlem and Wrightwood days in 1958, you recently discovered us, or anytime in between… we are incredibly grateful to the support and loyalty our customers and communities we serve have shown us!

Our Dedicated Staff

We want to thank our dedicated staff who have been working selflessly to keep our stores clean and our shelves stocked. We are so proud and thankful for the hard work and dedication, especially during these trying times. Our staff has made our family so proud in the way that everyone has stepped up and helped to serve our local communities! 

We would also like to extend our thanks to their families for the support they have offered to our employees!

Our Family

Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Markets started as a dream. My grandfather, Angelo Caputo, left his home in Italy to come to America in hopes of creating a good life for himself and his family. His hard work, dedication, and sacrifice is the reason we are where we are today. The unending support of my grandmother, Romana Caputo, cannot go unnoticed. She was a helpful and supporting pillar through the hard work and long days.  My parents, Robertino and Antonella, have done more for us than you can imagine. They both began working at very young ages. They take every opportunity to thank my grandparents for their sacrifices and dedication, but will never look for credit or draw attention to all they did for us as a business and a family. They have taught my siblings and I so much. I am also grateful for my siblings. Our parents have raised us to put family first and because of their influence, I am blessed enough to have siblings that I can call my best friends. 

We hope that everyone has a safe and Happy Thanksgiving. We continue to hope and pray for happy and healthy days ahead.

From Our Family To Yours

Fall Charcuterie Board

With the holidays coming up, you may be preparing for small get togethers with loved ones. Friendsgiving, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and more… the holiday season means connecting with your loved ones. You may be charged with the task of bringing a dish or maybe you want to add a little flare to your at home dinner! An antipasto tray or charcuterie board is a go-to when this task comes up! 

We can help you create the perfect seasonal charcuterie board that is sure to wow your group and their taste buds!

Whenever you make a charcuterie board, you have to remember that it is important to balance your colors, textures, flavors, and shapes!

If you’re looking for some advice on what to put on your board, here are some tips!

The Cheeses 

Rustic Red Cheddar

This is a grass fed rustic cheese. It has a bit of a stronger taste and a bit of a crunch to it– it is sweeter and grittier than normal cheddar. The pop of bright orange color makes it really great on a board. For our board, we decided to cube it. 

Manchego

This is a sheep’s milk cheese that comes from Spain. It is 12 month aged cheese that is dry, but creamy at the same time. The dry cheese helps to incorporate the sweeter items on the board.  This manchego is not as salty as normal manchego cheese either! We cut it in even wedges, leaving the rind on in order to make it easier to hold while you eat and add some color. You can eat the rind, but you’ll notice a different texture so we suggest not eating it. 

Castello aged havarti

This ia havarti that has been aged for 12 months and is bold, creamy, and almost caramel flavor with a bit of a crunch. Havarti is typically creamy, but this one has a crystalline texture that adds little crunches to the cheese. This cheese is a great compliment for many dishes and even melts easily! For our board, we cut it in slices.

Marieke Gouda- Honey Clover

This is a raw milk, unpasteurized Gouda. It is sweet and has a kick at the same time as it is made with honey and a sweet clover herb. We started by trimming the rind off and then cut it in slices!

Sartori Chardonnay 

This is an easy and delicious Wisconsin cheese. Sartori creates this line by taking their Bella vitano base– a parmesan. They then dip this wheel of cheese in a vat of Chardonnay wine. The rind is edible and delicious, so make sure to cut in wedges and to enjoy the rind. This cheese has it all– it is gritty, crunchy, and creamy

Lemon blueberry goat cheese

This is a goat cheese that is hand rolled in sweetened blueberries. This cheese is sweet and smooth, it tastes exactly like a blueberry lemonade! It is also seasonal, so it is only available while supplies last. For the board, we cut the cheese in half, then cut the halves again and placed it around the Il Nicciolo which is the center of our board.

Il Nicciolo 

This is cow milk, sheep milk, and goat milk blended together to make soft ripened cheese with minimal rind. The outside is more of a butter line and inside is creamy which gives it an excellent flavor! We opened the box, cut the rind off, and placed it right in the center of our board! We put a special Limoncello jelly next to it because adding this jelly takes the cheese to the next level!

Limoncello jelly

With this jelly, a little goes a long way. Imported from Italy, this limoncello jelly is bursting with flavor. It is a great topping for a simple, creamy cheese! Put some on a cracker and top it with the vibrant limoncello jelly!

 The Meats

We decided to use pre-cut salami and prosciutto because it is an easy time saver without sacrificing quality or taste. We all know that those extra few minutes, especially around the holidays, can be very helpful! 

Bussetto salami nuggets

Classic, dry salami. It is simple, but compliments the unique flavors on the board perfectly.

Prosciutto di Parma

We grabbed the pre-sliced package and cut each piece in half. To put them on the board, we spun them into bite sized, round pieces. Want to try something different, but delicious? Try wrapping a pear slice in the prosciutto! You will get the perfect combination of salty and sweet. 

Genoa Salami

This is another basic salami that adds a different texture and simple taste to the board. This one is inexpensive and you can use the whole package at once.

Fruit

Fruit gives you texture and a natural sweet on your board and breaks up the other flavors on the board. We used seasonal fruits

grapes

gala apples

d’anjou pear

Dry Figs (adds a good texture and natural sweetness)

The Crackers and Fillers

These are generally used a palette cleanser and are a great way to break up your board! Different flavors, textures, and colors help to create a balance and well-rounded board.

Mini tortas

This is a soft cracker with anise and crystallized sugar. It is sweet which complements the different flavors on the board

 Parmesan crisps

Leave them whole and stack them on their side to add a different texture and crunch to the board.

Olina’s Fig and Sunflower Seed crackers

These gluten free crackers are firm and add a good crunch to the board. They are loaded with fruits and seeds to make them a wonderful mix of salty and sweet to compliment most any cheese!

Date and walnut cake

Dates and walnuts pressed together to form a cake. This is great with a sharp white cheddar!

Caramelized pecans 

These are not too sugary because they are caramelized instead of sugared. 

Cocoa almonds

These cocoa dusted chocolate almonds are perfectly sweet and salty with a crunch. They go great with cheese, especially goat cheese

Did you know that we will make the board for you? You pick the cheeses and we will create a masterpiece for you! You can provide your own board or we can get a small one for you. It is the perfect gift or tray to bring to a party!

From Our Family To Yours

Autumn Glory Apples

There is nothing quite like a crunchy, refreshing apple on a cool fall day. Apples and fall just go hand in hand! 

There is one specific apple that comes out of Washington that is specifically created and harvested to help you “Experience Autumn All Year” and embodies the best flavors and scents that fall has to offer… the Autumn Glory apple! 

 Autumn Glory apples have a sweet, firm flesh. In every bite, you will taste hints of cinnamon and notes of caramel making it unlike any apple you have ever tasted before. It is a crispy apple with beautiful yellow and red colors that just look like fall! The flavor profile can be compared to that of apple cider or apple sauce– it is an incredibly unique and delicious apple. 

Autumn Glory apples are harvested in Washington by Domex Superfresh Growers, a family business for over five generations. This apple, along with all Domex fruits, are non-GMO. Domex skillfully and carefully crossed varietals of apples to create the natural flavors, quality, and crispiness you can only find in an Autumn Glory!

Quantities are limited, so we are so excited to be able to offer you this delicious apple! 

Feeling inspired and want to make the Autumn glory into something delicious? Try out this recipe!

Buy Autumn Glory apples here and check out more recipes here!

From Our Family To Yours

Italian Heritage Month Giveaway

The month of October is regarded as Italian National Heritage month. It is the month to show your Italian pride. 

Our Italian heritage is a huge part of our family and our business. Our story started in Italy, specifically, in Mola di Bari where our founder was born. Angelo’s life in Italy shaped him as a person. He did not have the easiest life, but always found ways to persevere. When he came to America in search of a new life in 1950, his life changed and he faced challenges. Though there were many uncertainties, his drive and perseverance never wavered. He was excited for his new journey in America, but couldn’t help but miss his home and his family. The memories of home and his incredible work ethic contributed to his dream which turned into Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Markets.

When Angelo and Romana began their business journey in 1958, he had hoped to bring a little bit of Italy into America. He used his knowledge from working in his family’s grocery store and on his family farm to form Caputo’s. Though we are an international market, our roots are in Italy. 

We pride ourselves in keeping traditions alive. We rely on our Italian heritage in every aspect of our business– from what we cook with, the music we play, the items we carry and import, and so much more. Our market was made with the intentions to bring a little bit of home to you.

We want to know what items you get from Caputo’s reminds you of Italy or your Italian heritage. Maybe it’s something from the deli, produce, bakery, oil! You could win a gift card for sharing!

Show us how Caputo’s brings Italy to you! Post pictures of these items on social media and tag us! Tell us a little about the memories the products evoke.

Each post is an entry and you have until October 31st.  Winners will be randomly drawn and contacted on Monday, November 2. 

3 winners will each win a $50 gift card to Caputo’s!

Use #CaputosItalianHeritage and tag us in your posts!

Instagram: @angelocaputosfreshmarkets

Twitter: @shopcaputos

Facebook: Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Markets

You can read more about Angelo’s story and his journey to America here

From Our Family To Yours

The Story of One Emigrant

We are recounting the story of our founder, Angelo Caputo. He led a life of hard work and sacrifice that made him the incredible man he was and that led to all his accomplishments. As his granddaughter, I have been so lucky to hear his story and learn from him first hand. I’ve been able to travel with him to his hometown and listen to his childhood memories of growing up in difficult times. In 1999, at the request of my mother, he sat down and started writing about his life. His story is one that I believe should be told and I am honored to share it with you. 

Part I: The Beginning

Angelo Caputo was born on January 1st, 1932 in Mola di Bari, Italy into a very hardworking family. Their family operated two small businesses at the time of his birth. One business was a wholesale outlet for farmers and the other was a grocery store. They had small and humble quarters for their home. While his mother worked at the grocery store, he stayed at her side in a little makeshift crib. His mother always said he was a good baby who cried very little, something she appreciated during the long, busy days at the store. By the age of four, he was a typical, busy child and his mother entrusted him to Signorina Maria, a teacher who prepared kids for “asilo” or pre-school. He was with Signorina Maria Monday-Friday and he learned many things including how to recite “poesie” or poems. Saturdays were typically busy at their family grocery store so he would spend the day with family friends that lived nearby and practice what he learned with Signorina Maria. 

By the age of 6, he was ready to start helping out in the family grocery store! He started by watching his mom, then would assist her and help organize the products and clean the store. He would even help with collecting money. There were no cash registers at the time, so the family would put the money in a drawer.

When he started 4th grade, he was ready to transition to helping on the family farm. He would get out of school at 2pm and go home to eat quickly. His only way to get to the farm was on an adult bike, which was difficult for his size, but he made it work. This was his routine every day.

He finished grammar school and, needless to say, World War II had affected their family. His father, despite being older, was called into the army and his family experienced difficult times. The following years brought many hardships for them and many families. Schools closed and bombs were being dropped in nearby towns. Conditions became dangerous and they were forced to closed their grocery store and move to the farm with a few other families for their safety. As a young boy, he didn’t mind not having to go to school and enjoyed the company of the other kids who were sheltered there. Food was scarce, but they considered themselves blessed because on the farm they were able to have fruit and potatoes every day. Although this was little, it was more than others had to eat.

Finally, the war ended, and the schools reopened. But during this time away from school, Angelo had gotten a feel for working full time and knew that working was what he wanted to do, not go to school. His parents were not fond of the idea and made him keep up with his studies. He continued attending school, but became even more adamant that he wanted to quit school and work full time. To deter him, his father would give him the hardest and toughest jobs like unloading railroad cars of fertilizer and heavy bales of hay.  This never bothered him, but made him hungrier for work. 

This hunger to succeed and desire to work hard fueled him in his future endeavors. 

It was during this time that a beautiful young lady with long, dark braids came into the store where he was working. This beautiful young lady was named Romana and would become his wife.

Part II: The Love Story

In the store where Angelo worked, there was a large scale. One day, a girl with beautiful, long, dark braids came into the store holding a baby. She walked into the store, weighed herself holding the baby on that big scale and left. Angelo watched and waited for this girl to come into the store and wanted to know more about her. Angelo soon found out that this girl’s name was Romana and her older sister had a cantina near Angelo’s family’s store. Romana would watch her nephew, the baby she was holding when Angelo first saw her, during the day and bring the baby to her sister to feed him around the same time every evening. Angelo would see her walk by and wonder about her. One day, he decided he wanted to know more about her. He followed her for a little bit, and when he got close enough, he playfully tugged one of her braids and said “ciao!” to get her attention. She immediately turned around, unamused, and carried on.

Romana and her mother

Romana’s routine continued for about a year. Angelo kept watching her and admiring her beauty until one night he got the courage to talk to her. They would briefly chat, and Angelo took every opportunity to strike up a conversation with her. He learned things like the fact that her dad travelled for his work, that she had two brothers and two sisters, and where her name came from. Those little talks helped them to build a friendship. Angelo would find excuses to run errands and hang out on the corner where her house was just so he could see her and talk to her. One day, Angelo kissed her cheek. After which, Romana jokingly told him “you have to marry me now.” Angelo laughed it off because felt he still had a lot to prove before he could be worthy enough to be her husband. 

Romana, her mother, and her siblings

In the meantime, Angelo was assuming more responsibility on his family farm. His older brother and father had found their way to America, so Angelo was the man of the house. Angelo found himself dreaming of going to America and what it would be like to work there, The Land of Opportunity. It wasn’t possible for him yet, so he worked harder, picking up the extra work that was required. Angelo still took every opportunity to see Romana, like waiting for her when she would run errands. 

The time Angelo and Romana spent together was limited because of how much work needed to be done. He kept working hard, hoping that one day he would have his chance to go to the United States. In June of 1950, Angelo returned to his house after a day at the farm and found a postcard from the American Council informing him of a new opportunity for him. Because his father was working in the US at the time of his birth, he was eligible to enter the military draft and gain his US citizenship. Angelo knew this was an opportunity he could not pass up and that “it was like a blessing from up above.” He found out he could leave Mola in as soon as 24 hours. He could begin the new life he dreamt of in America, but he had a few loose ends in Mola. One was that he was in charge of the farm and there was a full crop of almonds and grain that had to be harvested. The second was his Romana. He decided to stay in Italy for another two weeks so he could finish the crop and teach his younger brothers what to do in his absence. 

On June 20, 1950, Angelo rode his bike to that familiar street corner with a handwritten goodbye note and a carnation. He put it in an open window in Romana’s house. He talked with a couple friends to make sure they would watch over her while he was gone and if they got a chance, to tell her he had to leave for work, but someday, he would return to her. 

On June 21, 1950, Angelo and his father set out for Naples where Angelo would board a ship and begin his journey to America.   

Part III: Life in America

            As Angelo sailed away from his home, he began to think. He thought about what he was leaving behind– his family, his friends, his Romana. He was 18 years old, alone, and heading to the unknown. While this might be scary to some people, Angelo turned this fear into determination– something still true of his character today. He was determined to prove himself, to make a life for himself and his future family. He knew he was getting an opportunity that people dreamed about, that he dreamed about, and he was not going to let this opportunity go past him. He got motion sick his first few days at sea, but kept reminding himself that he “was going to America.” After 12 days at sea, he saw the “beautiful, tall, welcoming sight of the Statue of Liberty.” 

The only personal belongings he had with him was a small handbag, so he got through immigration rather quickly. He was met by his brother-in-law and uncle who were already in the US. He spent a few days in New York before driving to Chicago. As soon as he got to Chicago, he began to think about work, the reason he came to America. His uncle suggested he take some time to go to school and learn the English language before working. This didn’t fly with Angelo and he insisted on working while attending school, and so he did. He got a job in a factory on Armitage and Cicero earning $1.49 an hour. He also attended classes that taught about American history and the English language. As he began learning more, he was able to get himself a place to live and a better paying job. He was making more money and picked up a second job. Then, it was time to report for the draft. 

All while in America, he kept thinking about Romana. He wrote her every day beginning the first day he arrived in America. He dreamt about the day he would get to see her again.

He was called into service and sent to Camp Chaffee Arkansas where he went through his basic training for the army, which he describes as extremely challenging months. They then sent him to Fort Dix, New Jersey where he would await his overseas assignment. With the Korean War going on, he anxiously awaited to find out where his assignment would take him. He soon was assigned to a second Armored Division stationed in Worms, Germany right on the Rhine on an army vessel. Being in Germany meant that he was closer to his hometown in Italy and closer to Romana. He found himself thinking about her often and wondering where she was. He wanted to know if she was still waiting for him. 

Angelo was on good terms with his supervisor and told him about his situation with the love of his life. He was granted a 10 day leave of absence and took the first train he could from Frankfurt. He had a long journey ahead of him- Frankfurt to Munich to Brennero to Bologna to, finally, Mola and Romana. He was picked up by his brother-in-law and the next day went straight to that familiar street corner to see Romana. He was nervous to see her and asked some friends to help set up a meeting. Angelo needed to see her and see for himself if she still remembered him after many long years. He was so nervous knowing that they would soon be in the same room. When he first saw her, she was no longer a young girl, but a grown, beautiful woman. They saw each other and everything stopped, neither of them able to speak.  They spent time catching up with each other– she told him that she was caring for her mother who had fallen ill, and her mother had sadly passed and he told her about his time in America. As they were saying goodbye that evening, Angelo held Romana’s hands, looked into her beautiful eyes, and told her how much he still loved her and that he wanted to marry her. 

Angelo set up a plan to go with his older sister (because his mother and father were already in America) to Romana’s family home and ask her family for permission to marry her. Walking into her family’s home a few days later, Angelo felt a sense of warmth. He asked for her hand in marriage and was given the blessing from the family, but there were still logistics to be set. Romana and her family were a little uneasy about having a wedding so close to their mother’s death, but Angelo’s sister explained his timeline with the army. He then received the official answer that he had been waiting years for… he and Romana were going to get married! 

They spent the rest of his leave together and making plans. They had a dinner with both families where Angelo gave Romana a ring and they went to the cemetery to visit their loved ones that had passed. 

A few months later, Angelo returned to Mola and in September of 1956, they officially became husband and wife. As Angelo saw Romana enter the church, his eyes filled with joyful tears knowing this woman would soon be his wife. They had a small reception and spent the last few days of his leave honeymooning through Italy. 

Romana waited in Mola while Angelo completed his service then she would meet him in America. A few weeks after his term was completed, Romana made the journey to America and was greeted by Angelo in New York. They took the next flight to Chicago and spent the plane ride talked and dreamt about their future and their new life in America together. They both knew there would be a lot of hard work and sacrifices that had to be made, but they would enjoy a beautiful life together. 

Just like they had thought, they had a lot of work ahead of them

Part IV: The Beginning of Caputo’s

Upon their arrival in Chicago, their life became hectic. They were balancing married life, work, and living in a new place. Angelo and Romana moved into the same apartment building as Angelo’s parents, living in the unit right above them. He was always eager to work, so he started working multiple jobs so that he and Romana could begin saving for their future. Angelo, having grown up in a grocery store and on a farm, knew that’s where his passion and knowledge was.

In 1958, he started working in a 25’ by 120’ building at 2560 N Harlem Ave on the corner of Harlem and Wrightwood in Elmwood Park. This small fruit store became Caputo’s New Farm Produce. This store became well known amongst the growing Italian community in Chicago because of Angelo’s roots in Italy and his customer base expanded. 

Originally, it was a mostly full-service store meaning the customers would tell the clerk what they wanted and it would be picked for them. The store began to steadily grow, and it slowly transitioned into a self-service store and the customers loved it. The process was very old-fashioned and simple, much of the calculating done by hand on brown paper bags or the box. The register was a $5 National Register, this means that if a customer bought $30 worth of produce, you’d have to push the buttons 6 times. The customers loved the switch to self-service and he drew a bigger clientele. He then bought a $25 register, but all the adding was still being done by hand on those paper bags.  

Angelo remembers “working hard and encouraged the whole family work hard.” Angelo and Romana were blessed with three kids, the youngest being my mother, Antonella. On weekends, Romana would make sandwiches and bring them to the store for the family and the employees to eat for lunch. His kids got involved, doing whatever needed to be done. 

Angelo started his days buying fresh produce. Whether he was driving to local farms, heading to farms in Michigan or Indiana, or going to the South Water Market on the west side of Chicago, he would buy produce that was often picked fresh and sold in the store on the very same day to ensure that his customers were getting the freshest produce for the best prices, a process still alive and well today. 

Working conditions weren’t the best. It was a lot of physical labor in a store with no heat or air conditioning because the store was somewhat like an open market, and we all know the highs and lows of Chicago weather. Nobody complained though, everyone worked hard in whatever condition they were faced with. 

The store remained busy and parking became an issue. Whenever I meet customers of our original location, parking is always a topic of conversation. Parking was very limited, and it was always a challenge. Angelo’s goal has always been to satisfy his customers, so he always kept an eye open to find nearby locations that would work for parking.

It was around this time that my parents met. My mom, Angelo’s daughter, was already working by the age of 9. Then my dad, Robertino, began working for my grandfather. He was young, but he was strong and he was a hard worker. Angelo knew he could handle the work after seeing the way he could unload trucks by hand– the way most everything was done at the time.

The store kept growing and eventually became an Italian Specialty store. It was no longer just produce, but a full grocery store. This included the addition of our private label, La Bella Romana, in 1984. The name of the private label translates into the Beautiful Romana as a way to honor his beloved wife.

After years of only being in Elmwood Park, it was time to expand. There were more and more Italians coming to the Chicago suburbs which meant the demand for an Italian Specialty store was growing and Caputo’s was the place for that. The second store was opened in 1991 in Addison, then Hanover park in 1996 with more to follow.

Later, Angelo was ready to retire (I’ll use the word retire loosely because would he still spend most of his days in the stores) and enjoy life with his beautiful wife. The whole family continued working. Eventually, he entrusted the business to my parents, Robertino and Antonella, who have grown Caputo’s even more. Angelo considers himself “very fortunate to have been blessed with a daughter and a son-in-law who learned firsthand from me and share the passion of taking care of the family business.” 

Part V: Where We Are Today

The business was steadily growing, and Angelo was ready to retire and enjoy life with Romana. The whole family worked and, eventually, the business was entrusted to my parents, Robertino and Antonella…

In the summer of 1999, my grandfather, Angelo, sat down and hand wrote his story at the request of my mother. I consider myself blessed to not only have his story written down, but to still have him with me to continue teaching us and to answer our many questions.

Sadly, in 2004, we lost our matriarch when my grandmother, Romana, lost her battle with cancer. We miss her immensely, but cherish the time we spent with her and the memories we have with her. We do our best to honor her in every way possible including expanding the La Bella Romana products to include more prepared foods. Anyone who knows my grandmother knows that she was the best cook and loved preparing meals for people, so what better way to honor her legacy than to have meals available for our customers that feature her name and picture. 

In 2021, we faced another heartbreak when Angelo passed away at the age of 89. He lived for his family, he was our guiding force and biggest inspiration. Without his hard work, dedication, and endless sacrifices, we would not be where we are today. He was a true legend. He created opportunities for so many and was highly regarded as an inspiration and a teacher. Not a day went by when work was not a main topic of conversation. When he was in town, he would spend his days at the stores and when he wasn’t, he would call to make sure everything was ok. Angelo was truly the most hard working man and the epitome of the American Dream.

Today, we are still that same family owned and operated business, operating with a foundation of hard work and family. It is our goal to carry on his incredible legacy. He would always watch with pride as our family opened more stores and grew his name. We know he is still doing the same in Heaven, now with the love of his life by his side again. As we grew, we expanded our product lines. We offer our customers a diverse assortment of international, traditional, healthy, and organic foods of the highest quality– the same goal he had when he came to America many years ago.

I am one of 5 children, all of us are involved in the family business. My siblings and I know we have big shoes to fill and strive to make our parents and grandparents proud. We are lucky to have incredible influences who made endless sacrifices for our family. 

Our story is continuing, but we thank God and our loyal customers for taking this journey with us.

 What better way to close this glimpse into his than with a quote from that handwritten story: 

“Now, that little girl in braids has become my wife and a nonna. That guy that preferred work over school is very proud of what he accomplished in life. Believe me, I would do it over again and again, making very few changes. What is important is that we are very blessed to be healthy and to be more in love with each other than ever. We love to travel, but our favorite thing to do is enjoy time with our grandchildren. 

I am so proud of what we have accomplished so far and can’t wait to see what the future holds.

       -Angelo Caputo

Ps. If I knew grandchildren were so much fun, I would have had them first!”

How About Them Apples?!

Fall is on the air which means it’s a whole new season for fresh produce! There are certain items that we look forward to when the weather changes. One of those is apples!! 

While apples are available year round, there is something about fall and apples that go hand in hand. Large, juicy apples fresh from the farm are a fall staple for us. 

And let’s not forget all the different ways you can consume apples. You have apple pie, cider, caramel apples, and more!

With so many different varieties of apples, there are some for every taste. Apples are versatile, so they can be enjoyed at all times of the day! A snack or a side, breakfast or lunch, dinner or dessert… apples can be used!

Here are a variety of different recipes that all allow you to incorporate apples!

Scalloped Sweet Potatoes and Apples

Sweet potatoes and apples work together in a seasonal side dish that complements a meal perfectly! Get the recipe here

Cider Glazed Apple Bundt Cake

T’is the season and this is the perfect dish! It has a little bit of everything that fall offers. Get the recipe here

Apple Quesadilla

This super easy and different dessert is a family favorite! Easy to prepare and full of flavor, these quesadillas are a great use of fresh apples! Get the recipe here

Let us know how you’re enjoying the fall apple crop and what you’re making! For even more ideas, head to The Recipe Rack and search apples in the search tool!

From Our Family To Yours

National Coffee Day

National Coffee Day is September 29 and it’s one day we are so excited to celebrate! If you’re like us, there is nothing we look forward to more than our morning cappuccino or afternoon espresso. 

National Coffee Day has us thinking about our favorite, different ways to enjoy coffee. A warm cup of coffee on a chilly morning, an iced coffee on a hot morning, and so much more! Here are some unique ways to enjoy coffee!

Angelo’s Favorite– an espressino 

An espressino is much like a mini cappuccino. It is equal parts espresso and milk with a little bit of foam on top. This drink is Angelo’ go-to. You will see him in our stores everyday sipping on an espressino (or three). This is great for a midday pick-me-up.

With cookies

Coffee and cookies is like a match made in heaven. Dunk your cookies in coffee or just have something a little sweet to munch on as you enjoy your coffee. Our La Bella Romana almond cookies or butter cookies are a great compliment to any cup of coffee. 

As an affogato 

What’s an affogato? It’s like heaven in a cup! An affogato is a coffee based dessert. It is a scoop of ice cream topped with a shot of espresso. The two mix together and create a delicious taste that you wish would never end. You can choose whichever flavor of ice cream you like, but our personal favorites are caffe or nocciola!

Coffee Rubbed Steak

Who says you can’t have coffee in your dinner too? A simple coffee rub draws out the beef’s natural flavors and adds a distinguishing complexity. It is simple to do and tastes delicious! Check out this easy recipe from The Recipe Rack here

We hope you’re as excited as we are for National Coffee Day! To celebrate, we’ve put together a little gift package for you to enjoy yourself or give to someone you know who loves coffee! The package includes a Caputo’s coffee mug, a bag of Caffe Angelo handcrafted, whole bean coffee, and two of our homemade biscotti! These will be available starting 9/29 and are only while supplies last. Plus, they are only $12.99! So stop by and get yours!

From Our Family To Yours

Fruitful Yield in Naperville

We have exciting news! We have teamed up with another local, family owned business.

We are thrilled to announce that Fruitful Yield has opened up within our Naperville store. This is the second “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. 

Here is a bit more info about what you can expect and the grand opening:

Two of Chicagoland’s favorite local retailers have joined forces once again! Health and supplement shop Fruitful Yield and grocer Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Market have partnered together to create a second store-within-a-store.

An express version of Fruitful Yield can be found in Angelo Caputo’s wellness department at its Chicagoland Naperville 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. 

Naperville is the second Angelo Caputo’s location with a Fruitful Yield so far–in addition to the one found in Carol Stream. The two companies are enthusiastic about the partnership.

According to Fruitful Yield President Joe Fulco, “Fruitful Yield is extremely excited to be expanding our partnership with Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Market with the opening of our second Fruitful Yield Store within Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Market in Naperville. Being two family-owned brands that care greatly about the health and wellbeing of their customers is what makes our partnership work. We are honored to be here. We look forward to working with our customers and helping them find healthy products for their unique needs.”

“We felt that the partnership was natural,” added Robertino Presta, CEO of Angelo Caputo’s. “Two local, family businesses that specialize in promoting healthy products and a healthy lifestyle. We couldn’t be any happier.” 

Fans of the two businesses can come to the grand opening the weekend of Sept. 18. 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 like NOW Foods and Emerald Labs will be on site with their own offerings. Masks and social distancing are a must for the event.

Be sure to also visit Fruitful Yield at Angelo Caputo’s of Carol Stream that same weekend for their one-year anniversary celebration! The Carol Stream location will have its own goodies and raffle. 

Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Market operates seven stores in the Chicagoland area. Bloomingdale, Ill.-based Fruitful Yield has 14 stores in the area.

From Our Family To Yours

Wine Making

September comes with a lot of symbolism. It might mean the start of fall, back to school, football season, and more! To us, September is synonymous with Wine Grapes!

Keeping traditions alive is an important passion of our family and homemade wine has been a tradition for ages. You may remember helping your Nonno crush grapes or putting the cork in the bottle. Making wine is a yearly event that requires patience and hard work. Every wine maker has their own process!

We bring in a wide variety of wine grapes and juice every year for this custom. 

Our grapes come from a grower in California who we have been doing business with for over 30 years. The grower has a specific process when it comes to picking grapes– he chooses to leave the grapes on the vine to allow the sugar to continue to develop in the fruit. The sugar in the fruit is vital to the alcohol content that will be found in your homemade wine.

Some of the grape varieties include merlot, pinot noir, zinfandel, chardonnay, and more!

We offer juice from California or Italy, but juice has not arrived quite yet!

We have tons of supplies for your wine making process. From corks to bottles to pressers, we have the crucial tools you need to get your wine making process underway.  These supplies are available year round.

We sell wine grapes out of our warehouse located in Carol Stream and out of our Elmwood Park store.

First of the season wine grapes have been delivered. Juice is expected within the next two weeks! All grapes and juice are while supplies last!

You can check out our webpage for more info here

From Our Family To Yours

A look at our famous, homemade sausage

At Caputo’s, we take pride in producing the highest quality and best tasting products. In order to do this, we take a lot of steps to ensure that everything is being done properly and with the best ingredients. One example of this is how we make our sausage.

Our sausage is made in-house daily. The process starts with our old-world tradition of using hand-trimmed lean pork. We mix the pork with our private blend of spices and seasonings, developed specifically for our sausage. 

Our recipes and sausage making process have been tested, tweaked, and perfected throughout the years. We believe in transparency, so you can trust that what you’re eating is authentic!

We went behind the scenes with our boss and Angelo Caputo’s son-in-law, Robertino Presta, to show exactly how our sausage is made every single day.

From Our Family To Yours