Sausage like no other!

Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Markets is known for many unique specialities. Our various departments and items can take you on a trip around the world just by roaming our aisles. If you are looking to take be transported to Italy, take a look at our meat department. Our homemade sausage is full of flavors and aromas that will make your home taste like Italy!

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 for our various sausages have been perfected throughout the years. Our different types have different spices or cheeses that make it different from any sausage you have ever tasted. We have devoted time and resources to perfecting our sausage recipes and you can taste it in the end product.’

The flavors and taste you enjoy from the first bite into our Italian sausage is unmatched and you cannot find anything like it. If you have not tried our sausage yet, what are you waiting for?! The only regret you’ll have after tasting it is the fact that you have not been enjoying it sooner!

From Our Family To Yours

 

Q&A with Angelo Caputo

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

Caprese Pasta Salad

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

Best Summer Fruits

Though we have been pretending it is summer the last few weeks, June 21st marks the official start of summer. Summer brings a lot of fun memories and thoughts for many people. For us, summer means the peak growing season of some of our favorite fruits! Here is a list of some fruits that just taste better on a hot summer day!

1. Watermelon

Watermelon typically require a longer growing season and warm weather to grow. Watermelon is around 90% water which makes it a refreshing and hydrating treat on those warm summer days. Despite popular belief, a watermelon will not grow in your stomach if you eat the seeds.

 

2. Peaches, Apricots, and Nectarines

Soft fruits such as these ones are best in the summer. These are usually at their peak around July. The warmth and sunshine results in juicier fruits. Soft fruits are typically a great source of vitamins and antioxidants. One of our favorite peaches is the percoca peach. Percocas are native to Italy and grown exclusively for us by a California farmer. These red flesh peaches should become available in just a few weeks. Try cutting these up and putting them in your wine for a nice fruity flavor!

3. Cherries

Bing and Rainier cherries are sweet cherries that typically become available around May and reach their peak in late June, early July. we get our cherries from California and Washington. California growing season starts early and then the Washington crop starts coming in. Typically, the plumper, darker cherries are the sweetest and most flavorful!

This list is only the beginning of the fruits and vegetables that are great! Though most of these fruits are available year round, the hot climate allows them to thrive and grow to their sweetest and juiciest forms. Which fruits make your favorites list?

From Our Family To Yours

 

 

Happy Father’s Day!

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

 

A PIZZA My Heart

There are some days when you just do not want to make dinner. Other days you want to save some money and just eat at home. We have a compromise for you! Our new all you can eat Pizza Party is the way to go!

Our all you can eat pizza party is only $6 a person and will be happening daily from 5pm-8pm. This will take place at three of our locations– Addison, Carol Stream, and Naperville. This party will be taking place in our bar areas. The bars will feature a pizza buffet with many options to choose from!

Every party needs some drinks and we have created special drink deals for the pizza party! For the beer lovers, we are featuring a a $3 Miller Lite draft.

For the winos we are offering a $4 glass of Pizza Vino. Pizza vino is a red blend produced in California. It is a blend of Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon to give a fruity yet spiced taste.  

If you’re looking for a cocktail, we have my personal favorite– an Aperol Spritz! An Aperol Spritz is an aperitivo enjoyed by many Italians. It is a mix of Aperol (an Italian bitter), prosecco, and soda garnished with an orange slice. It is a refreshing cocktail that is a great compliment to any meal! Our special has this satisfying cocktail for only $6!

If you want a sparkling wine, get a prosecco bucket! Four 187 ML. bottles of Mionetto Prosecco for only $18! If you don’t think you can get through all four bottles, an individual bottle is $5.

Our all you can eat Pizza Parties are happening for a limited time only. The locations where you can join our parties are:

Addison

510 W. Lake St

Addison, IL 60101

 

Carol Stream

550 E North Ave

Carol Stream, IL 60188

 

Naperville

3115 111th St

Naperville, IL 60564

From Our Family To Yours

 

Grilling Season

As school winds down and the warm weather approaches, we know that it is almost summer! Memorial Day Weekend is usually considered the start of summer. Summer means a lot of things to many people. One thing is that summer is equivalent with grilling season! Being able to sit outside and enjoy some good barbecue with people you love creates some of the best summer memories. We can help you create some barbecue memories because we have all the grilling essentials you need this summer!

There are so many things that taste better when they are out on the grill. One of those things is corn. You can either  put the corn on there with the husks and everything or peel the husks, remove the silk, add your seasonings, and let the corn sit on the grill. This gives the corn a delicious and fresh flavor. The grill leaves the corn warmed and with an unmatched and distinct taste. In my opinion, corn on the cob isn’t complete without some butter and salt!

Feeling adventurous? Try grilling your pineapple! You can cut your pineapple into rings or spears, then put them on the grill. Grilling pineapple allows for the natural sweetness to caramelize and gives it a delicious taste that can be used
in so many ways. Some enjoy grilled pineapple with ice cream as a dessert and some even add grilled pineapple to their burgers!

 

Then there is the main event of all barbecues– the meat! Our meat department offers a variety of the freshest products perfect for your barbecue. Our unique items will give your party or dinner a delicious and flavorful twist!

One option is our kabobs. Our chicken and steak kabobs come on skewers with peppers and onions. We also offer some pre-marinated kabobs for a different flavor

.   

Everyone loves a good burger. Our ground round, chuck, or top sirloin burgers are all incredibly juicy. If you’re looking for something a little different to add to your menu, try our stuffed burgers! With three different options, these can satisfy a range of people. For those who like spicy, try our jalapeno cheddar burgers. For those that like cheese, we offer a blue cheese stuffed burger. For the meat lovers, try our bacon cheddar burgers! These will melt in your mouth and make your tastebuds dance with flavor!

Can’t forget the sausage– our homemade sausage! Our sausage is made in house daily. Our recipe has been tweaked and perfected over the years. It is made th old-world way, by hand using lean pork and private seasoning blend. There is nothing quite like our homemade sausage. Hot or mild, links or rope, traditional or barese– we have it and we have dedicated a lot of time and effort to making it perfect.

We hope everyone has a safe Memorial Day Weekend. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who are currently serving or have served our country,as well as their families. We especially remember the fallen soldiers who gave their lives to protect us.

From Our Family To Yours

Always Keep Growing

Now that the weather is warming up, it is time to start tending to the garden. The sunshine is sure to help the plants grow! We have recently gotten some new and excited additions to our garden center! These new plants have special features that will change the gardening game. We even have some plants that can help you to teach younger kids how garden!

One of the new types of flowers we have are impatiens! Impatiens go by many different names including jewelweeds, touch-me-nots, and sapweeds. These bedding plants are unique because of the bright colors and the way they grow, impatiens like shade! Impatiens are some of the few plants that actually thrive in the shade as long as they have enough water! You want to make sure you water your impatiens regularly in order to keep the moisture. These bright colored flowers are a great way to add a little diversity to your garden.

The warmer weather usually means that all the bugs come out, especially the mosquitos. The bugs can put a damper on your outdoor activities, but we’ve got a plant to solve that– citronella! A member of the geranium family, these plants carry the scent of citronella. The leaves of the plant can be crushed and then rubbed on your skin where the citronella scent will help to repel mosquitoes naturally. Some people like to plant these near their patios or near the place they spend time outside for easy access.

We will also have Sunfinity sunflowers! These sunflowers were designed to grow continuously, all season long! A unique feature of these plants is that after they are cut, they will re-grow. They have many stems which lead to many flowers- you can cut a flower to bring inside your home and the flower will grow again. It is a clean cut that will leave no messy pollen for you to clean up once inside. They will grow fast and require little maintenance, all you have to do is prune and deadhead them! This allows for beautiful sunflowers to brighten up your home and your home garden all season long!

If you are looking to spruce up your garden, but also help teach your kids how to grow, checkout Chef Jeff’s Plants! There are a variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs to make your home garden special. The plants for kids include Peter the Pumpkin, Tommy the Tomato, Sherry the Strawberry, and more! Starting Thursday 5/16/19, every child will get a special Caputo’s goody bag with the purchase of a Chef Jeff plant! The goody bags include a special activity book includes details about the plant and how to care for it. The goody bags will also include a few more fun surprises for the kids! These are only available while supplies last, so stop by and get yours soon!

From Our Family To Yours

 

Easy Ways to Show Mom You Care This Mother’s Day

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

Olé

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