Chicago Italians

We knew the winnner before the votes were counted. At Giordano's restaurant it was unanimous love at first taste. It's pizza was so delicious that we applauded the chef, Efren Boglio. He told us this story:

"My brother Joseph and I both own and cook for Giordano's. We were born in a small northern Italian town near Torino, where our mother was know for her exquisite dishes. Of all her repertoire, though, my family was most fond of her deep-dish, double-crusted pizza, which she made on Easter and stuffed with ricotta cheese.

I loved her pizza so much that when I came to America in 1967 I took a job at a pizza restaurant, pleased to be near my favorite food. but the pizza there was only fair-not nearly as good as Mother's. And, as time passed, I tasted pizzas at other restaurants, I was surprised to find that the very best around didn't approach the worst of those I'd eaten back home in the old country.

So I opened my own pizza restaurant. It was called Roma and was doing all right. But then my brother Joseph came to Chicago, and we decided to close Roma and open a restaurant specializing in Mothers's
pizza-one which would be called by her name, Giordano. We worked for months, trying to develop a superlative Chicago variation of Mother's pizza; then, in February 1974, we opened Giordano's.

Don't get the idea that we're satisfied, though. We're not. We alter our pizzas as time passes, as the necessity arises. Our first pizzas, for example, had just the right amount of garlic for us, but too much for most of our customers; so we cut down some of it. But besides surveying our customers constantly, Joseph and I go once a week, to different pizza restaurants, in order to taste the competition.

The thing about pizza is that like everything good, it has to have an evolution. To stay the same means to go backward. It wasn't my mother or my brother and myself who invented the pizza we serve here. The recipe probably began with our great, great, great, great, great-grandmother. You ask how long it took to develop the recipe. I'd have to say 200 to 300 years. And it's still developing."



Find a Giordano's near you




CHICAGO LOCATIONS

BELMONT
(773) 327-1200
1040 W. BELMONT AVE.


JACKSON
(312) 583-9400
223 W. JACKSON BLVD.


PULASKI
(773) 582-7676
5159 S. PULASKI ST.


LOGAN SQUARE
(773) 862-4200
2855 N. MILWAUKEE AVE.

RANDOLPH
(312) 201-1441
310 W. RANDOLPH ST.

GREEK TOWN
(312) 421-1221
815 W. VAN BUREN ST.


MIDWAY
(773) 585-6100
6314 S. CICERO

RUSH STREET
(312) 951-0747
730 N RUSH ST.

HYDE PARK
(773) 947-0200
5309 S. BLACKSTONE AVE.


MONTROSE
(773) 275-4600
2010 W. MONTROSE

SHERIDAN
(773) 262-1313
6836 N. SHERIDAN RD.

IRVING PARK
(773) 736-5553
5927 W. IRVING PARK RD.




PRUDENTIAL PLAZA
(312) 616-1200
135 E. LAKE


NORTH & NORTHWEST SUBURBS

ALGONQUIN
(847) 854-0076
1505 S. RANDALL RD.


BUFFALO GROVE
(847) 520-1600
270 N. McHENRY RD.


EVANSTON
(847) 475-5000
500 DAVIS ST.


GURNEE
(847) 856-6100
7105 GRAND AVE.

LAKE ZURICH
(847) 726-1500
455 S. RAND RD.

MORTON GROVE
(847) 966-4300
5990 W. DEMPSTER ST.


NILES
(847) 297-7300
8630 GOLF RD.

ROSEMONT
(847) 292-2600
9415 W. HIGGINS RD.

STREAMWOOD
(630) 372-8600
1556 BUTTITTA DR.



WEST SUBURBS

ADDISON
(630) 458-0044
1323 W. LAKE ST.


OAK PARK
(708) 386-2223
1115 W. CHICAGO AVE.


SOUTH ELGIN
(847) 841-8700
320 RANDALL RD.


DOWNERS GROVE
(630) 435-5999
5115 MAIN ST.

OAK BROOK TERRACE
(630) 530-7799
17 W 280 WEST 22ND ST.


ST. CHARLES
(630) 762-1600
3641 MAIN ST.


DOWNTOWN NAPERVILLE
(630) 428-2111
119 S. MAIN

OSWEGO
(630) 551-4411
2870 Route 34

SYCAMORE
(815) 899-2999
1840 DEKALB AVE.


GLEN ELLYN
(630) 790-1717
455 W. ROOSEVELT RD.

SOUTH NAPERVILLE
(630) 904-9800
3224 S. ROUTE 59 SUITE 120

WESTCHESTER
(708) 531-1122
10410 W. CERMAK


SOUTH & SOUTHWEST SUBURBS

JOLIET
(815) 254-2700
3058 W. CATON FARM RD.


ORLAND PARK
(708) 349-7500
14325 S. LA GRANGE RD.


WILLOWBROOK
(630) 325-6710
641 PLAINFIELD RD.



MINOOKA
(815) 521-1222
2075 S. RIDGE RD.

MOKENA
(815) 806-8282
11400 LINCOLN HWY.

PLAINFIELD
(815) 609-5900
2344 RT. 59

FLORIDA

BRANDON
(813) 655-2828
11310 CAUSEWAY BLVD.



LAKE BUENA VISTA
(407) 239-8900
12151 S. APOPKA VINELAND RD.


KISSIMMEE
(407) 397-0044
7866 W. IRLO BRONSON HWY.

PORT RICHEY
(727) 868-7600
10042 US HWY. 19


TAMPA
(813) 872-5900
401 N. DALE MABRY





OTHER LOCATIONS

ROCKFORD, IL
(815) 398-5700
333 EXECUTIVE PKWY.



COMING SOON

ALTEMONTE SPRINGS, FL


NORTH AURORA, IL







Today Show "Best Pizza in America"
Tamron Hall, WFLD-TV "Giordano's Deep Dish is by far the Best In Chicago"
"Reader's Choice" Giordano's pizza is a must when in Chicago

"The Ultimate Pizza"

"Silver Platter Award" (Every Year for the Past 10 Years)

Original Ferrara Bakery, Inc. 2210 W. Taylor St. Chicago, IL 60612
Phone: (312) 666-2200 Fax: (312) 666-2008 Email:nella@ferrarabakery.com

Salvatore Ferrara was just 16 years old when he left his home in Nola, Italy in 1900 and emigrated to the United States. He brought with him the art of Italian pastry making and confectionery, skills which would eventually lead him to open the first Italian pastry and candy shop on Taylor Street in Chicago's Little Italy. An instant success, he was recognized throughout the city and suburbs for his fine pastries, wedding cakes and confections.

He soon met and married Serafina Pagano and they labored together to provide Chicago with wonderful desserts and candies. Through hard work and commitment to the use of quality ingredients, they made a lasting name for themselves. Serafina, a dynamic business personality and philanthropist, was loved by all who knew her and was known as "The Angel of Halsted Street". She is still remembered today.




Eager to meet new challenges, Salvatore put Serafina in charge of the bakery and concentrated his efforts on expanding the candy business. With the help of his two brothers-in-law, Salvatore Buffardi and Agnello Pagano, they launched the Ferrara Pan Candy Company, now headquartered in Forest Park, Illinois. Still family owned and operated, the company, which manufactures such favorites as Lemonheads and Atomic Fireballs, distributes worldwide.
The third generation of Ferraras proudly carries on the tradition of providing its customers with a wide variety of delicious desserts of the highest quality. Ferrara's Signature Italian Cannoli Cake has become a tradition for thousands, enjoyed through the generations.

Just as Salvatore did when he began in 1908, we take extreme pride in preparing our products with only the freshest and purest ingredients. We use the finest imported spices and never any artificial flavorings or preservatives. Our products will certainly add that elegant crowning touch that sets your wedding or special event apart from the rest.


We've created thousands of wedding cakes.
Let us create a special cake for you.


Let Ferrara be a part of your special occasion. Our experienced staff can offer excellent advice whether you're planning a small intimate gathering or catering a wedding for thousands.

Using only the purest and freshest ingredients, our master bakers will design the cake of your dreams from a simple round layer cake or sheet cake to an elaborate tiered cake using design elements such as elegant columns, fountains, or stairways. You can choose one of our classic creations or create one of your own from hundreds of combinations using our delicious fresh or preserved fruit fillings, custards and icings.


Sweet Table Favorites
Exquisite morsels perfectly sized for your Sweet Table: Eclairs
Assorted Fruit Tartlets
Bowties
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Chocolate Mousse
Cannoli
Butter Cookies
Creme Puffs
Italian Cookies
Pecan Brownies
Cheesecake Bites
Chocolate Covered Almonds


A wide variety of delicious pastries, to name a few:
Full Size Pastries
Cannoli
Napoleon
Baba au Rhum
Pasticiotto
Eclair
Sfogliatella
Cassata al Forno
Funghi
Tiramisu
Cheesecake
Creme Puff
Monachine
Profiterole
Creme Horns



European Pastry Miniatures
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Pineapple Tartlets
Raspberry Tartlets
Petits Fours
Zuppette (Lemon Creme)
Napoleons (Bavarian Creme)
Monachine (cannoli filled)
Eclairs (vanilla custard)
Baba au Rhum
Baba au Rhum with custard
Cannoli
Cassata al Forno
Creme Puffs (pineapple-whip)
Chocolate Cannoli
Sfogliatella
Choux, custard filled
Choux, custard filled-frosted
Choux, cannoli filled
Choux, cannoli filled-frosted
White Jordan Almonds
Marzipan





Cookies
Italian Fancy Butter Cookies
Chocolate Chip
Butter with Peanuts
Cherry Top Sandwich
Chocolate Star
Sprinkles
Clover
Assorted Dots
Pecan Butter
Vanilla Horseshoes
Chocolate Horseshoe
Pink Hearts
Brown Sugar Chips
Powdered Crescents
Chocolate Dip Almond Bars
Chocolate Shells
Vanilla Shells

Italian Specialty Cookies
Cashew Bars
Amaretti Classico
Pignolati
Bow Ties
Pineapple Slices
Apricot Farfalla
Raspberry Farfalla
Cucidadi (fig filled)
Tetu
Gigolene
Quaresimale
Tarallo
Frosted Tarallo
Coconut Macaroons



Biscotti
Anise
Anise Almond
Chocolate Almond
Vanilla Almond Raisin
Chocolate Cherry Almond




Are you Drooling yet?? If not you are Morte

Original Ferrara Bakery, Inc. 2210 W. Taylor St. Chicago, IL 60612
Phone: (312) 666-2200 Fax: (312) 666-2008 Email:nella@ferrarabakery.com

1. The "living room" was called the "front room."
2. You don't pronounce the "s" at the end of Illinois. You become irate at people who do.
3. You measure distance in minutes (especially "from the city"). And you swear everything is pretty much 1/2 hour away.
4. You have no problem spelling or pronouncing "Des Plaines."
5. You go to visit friends or family down south and laugh when they complain about the traffic.
6. You understand that no person from Chicago can be a Cub fan AND a White Sox fan.
7. It's "kitty corner" not "katty corner".
8. You know the difference between"The Loop"and "Downtown."
9. You eat your pizza in squares, not triangles, and you never refer to it as "pie"
10. You own celery salt.
11. You understand that the primary is the official local election.
12. You know what a garache-key is!
13. Stores don't have sacks, they have bags.
14. You end your sentences with an unnecessary preposition. Example: "Where's my coat at?" or "Can I go with?"
15. Your idea of a great tenderloin is when the meat is twice as big as the bun, "everything" is on it and a slice of dill pickle is on the side.
16. You carry jumper cables in your car.
17. You drink "pop."
18. You understand that I-290, I-90, I-94, and I-294 are all different roads.
19. You know the names of the interstates: Stevenson, Kennedy, Eisenhower, Dan Ryan, and the Eden's.
20. But you call the interstates "expressways."
21. You refer to anything South of I-80 as "Southern or Central Illinois."
22. You refer to Lake Michigan as "The Lake."
23. You refer to Chicago as "The City."
24. "The Super Bowl" refers to one specific game in January, 1986.
25. You have two favorite football teams: The Bears, and anyone who beats the Packers.
26. You buy "The Trib" and not the Tribune.
27. You know that despite being on the lake, there is no such place as the Waterfront.
28. You think 45 degrees is great weather to wash your car.
29. You picnic or ride your bike in the "fore st preserve."
30. You cried when Bozo was canceled on WGN.
31. You know what goes on a Chicago-style hot dog.
32. You know what Chicago Style Pizza REALLY is.
33. You know why they call Chicago "The Windy City."
34. You understand what "lake-effect" means.
35. You know the difference between Amtrak and Metra, and know at which station they end up.
37. You have ridden the "L."
38. You think your next-door neighbor is a cousin to Tony Soprano.
39. You can distinguish between the following area codes: 847, 630, 773, 708, 312, & 815.
40. You have at some time in your life used your furniture or a friend's body to guard your parking spot in winter.
41. You respond to the question "Where are you from?" with a "side." Example: "West Side," "South Side" or "North Side."
42. You know the phone number for Empire Carpet!