The Italian Village in Chicago | Vino Con Vista Italy Travel Guides and Events

Chicago’s Italian Village on Monroe

If you love Enzo Ferrari (a former Formula One driver) and his magnificent world of high-performance luxury sport cars, this festival is for you. Attend the 15th annual Ferrari Festival on September 9, 2012.

English: Enzo Ferrari in London (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Ilario Bandini and Enzo Ferrari in Forlì in 1964. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The event will feature plenty of Ferrari gems and it will be held in front of the Italian Village Restaurants on Monroe Street from Dearborn to Clark. The Italian Village is in the Chicago Loop and opened in 1927.

Ferrari Enzo Ferrari (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

MARANELLO, ITALY – JULY 19: A Ferrari FF is displayed in the Ferrari Atelier department during a Ferrari factory tour on July 19, 2011 in Maranello, Italy. Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian manufacture based in Maranello and founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

orange enzo ferrari (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

MARANELLO, ITALY – JULY 19: A genarl view of the Ferrari Nuova Meccanica (New Mechanic) department during a Ferrari factory tour on July 19, 2011 in Maranello, Italy. Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian manufacture based in Maranello and founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

Ferrari Enzo Ferrari (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Enzo Ferrari (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Here’s a video for all Ferrari lovers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fja5d2DCQY&feature=related. Ferrari just built a new Ferrari Museum in Modena Italy. Check out the museum here: http://www.businessinsider.com/take-a-look-inside-the-ferrari-museum-2012-8#the-unique-yellow-roof-for-the-ferrari-museum-ensures-that-the-structure-stands-out-1

Ferrari 308 (Photo credit: dave_7)

There will be an open wine & cappuccino bar and lunch buffet at the Italian Village . The Italian Village is the Oldest “Italian Restaurant in Chicago.” The restaurant has the largest wine cellar in the entire Midwest that holds over 45,000 bottles! They have also won the Wine Spectator‘s “Grand Award” annually since 1984.

Italian Village in Tuscany inside the restaurant

In 1981, Wine Spectator introduced the “Restaurant Awards” program. They review a restaurant’s wine lists on three levels: the Award of Excellence (basic), Best of Award of Excellence (second-tier), and the Grand Award (highest). I am in Amarone Heaven at the Village!

The Founding Father of the Italian Village Restaurant on Monroe in Chicago

Italian Village (Photo credit: michaeltk)

Amarone Heaven at Italian Village

Every year in September, there is an annual Ferrari Festival with over 60 vintage Ferraris. There’s always plenty of food and wine.

WHEN: September 9, 2012

WHERE: Italian Village at 71 W. Monroe in Chicago

Tickets: Event is $30 per person

Proceeds support the New Lurie’s Children’s Memorial Hospital.

The Italian Village has been in the same family for three generations. Alfredo Capitanini, an Italian immigrant, opened The Italian Village in 1927. The menu once read: “ Spaghetti with Meatballs: 40 cents.” Alfredo’s wife, Ada, fed hungry patrons including performers from the Lyric Opera and Mayor Daley.

Chicago Originals Award

The second generation of Capitaninis, Ray, Frank and Ave then created ”the most celebrated wine list in the Midwest.” Here are some of the wines from Umbria.

WInes from Umbria

Mayor Daley at the Italian Village

Wall of Fame at The Italian Village in Chicago

The Capitanini family has served celebrities, politicians, locals, theater enthusiats and cast members from Chicago’s Theater Row.

Signed Billy Elliot Poster at the Italian Village

SIgned Wicked Poster at the Italian Village

Today, Al and Gina, are the third Capitanini Generation running the show. Check out Al Capitanini’s video http://www.italianvillage-chicago.com/video.php

The Village Menu

The Italian Village building in the Chicago Loop at 71 West Monroe houses a trio of restaurants with distinctive menus: acclaimed designer Jordan Mozer conceptualized upscale and contemporary Vivere; the charming retro Tuscan-inspired The Village; and La Cantina Enoteca with the ambiance of a wine cellar. For more information visit: www.italianvillage-chicago.com

During Chicago’s Restuarant Week 2012 you can check out Vivere’s innovative design, the Chef’s contemporary Italian cuisine and the Capitanini family’s immense wine cellar with 45,000 bottles. Vivere is offering a Chicago Restaurant Week 2012 Menu.

Italian Village Chefs at Italian Awards Event

Vivere is the most expensive restaurant in the building with a truly decked out dining room. I like the pumpkin-stuffed pasta and the duck breast with cherry sauce. Have some limoncello cheesecake if it’s on the menu. Vivere won numerous awards: “Best New Restaurant” from Esquire Magazine, DiRona Award from Wine Spectator and Ultimate Distinction by Wine Enthusiast. The Chef incorporates flavors from various regions of Italy. They also earned a Ospitalita Italiana Award for authentic Italian Cuisine.

Ospitalita Italiana Plaque for Italian Village

I love the alfresco dining ambience of the Village. It is located on the second floor. The dining room is covered with a canopy of Italian lights.

The Italian maitre d’ Frank Sgro is legendary! He has spent most of his life at this restaurant. He started in 1959 as a busboy at the Italian Village at the age of 17. A few weeks later, Frank Sgro became the Maitre D’ and has been there for over 50 years! Now that is a dedicated and loyal guy.

“Frank is like part of the family,” Al Capitanini said. “He remembers everybody and what they’ve ordered and where they’ve sat, and he works the room and knows where to seat people, and he does it very graciously.”

The Village Dining Room The Village Bar in Chicago

At the Italy-inspired, columned bar you can order the delightful shrimp appetizer. There are plenty of large portions of authentic Italian cuisine in the dining room. I love the Frutta di Mare and Scampi Casalinga.

Antipasti at Italian Village

I always order the shrimp and mushroom Casalinga for an appetizer with a glass of the Stefano Farina Italian Barbera d’Alba. For dessert, I love the Tiramisu. I can’t help it, I am a creature of habit.