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Does Your Grandma Make the Best Pasta? She Can Star at Taylor St. Fest

By Stephanie Lulay | July 28, 2015 7:48am
 Festa Italiana will be staged at Ashland Avenue & Taylor Street in the Little Italy neighborhood Aug. 13-16.
Italian Fest Festa Italiana
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LITTLE ITALY — Think your grandma makes the best Italian meatballs or pasta fagioli?

She might be able to take the stage at this year's Festa Italiana, an all-things-Italian fest in Little Italy next month.

The 11th annual Italian fest will be staged on Taylor Street between Ashland Avenue and Racine Avenue in the Little Italy neighborhood Aug. 13 to Aug. 16. The festival will be open 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Aug. 13; noon to 11 p.m. on Aug. 14 and 15; and noon to 10 p.m. on Aug. 16.

The outdoor festival will feature classic Italian dishes from longtime family-owned restaurants on Taylor Street and new neighborhood spots.

New this year, Italian chef Nonna Maria, star of the Web series "Cooking With Nonna," will be doing live demonstrations at the fest. Through an online contest, one lucky grandmother will be chosen to cook at the fest.

 Festa Italiana will be staged at Ashland Avenue & Taylor Street in the Little Italy neighborhood Aug. 13-16.
Festa Italiana will be staged at Ashland Avenue & Taylor Street in the Little Italy neighborhood Aug. 13-16.
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StarEvents

Lisa Roti, who is helping organize the fest, said that the contest to cook with Rago will give a local "Nonna" her shot in the spotlight. 

"Italian grandmas have their way of cooking certain things, there's a banter ... 'This is the way I did it. My mother did it, my grandmother did it,'" said Roti, who used to live on Taylor Street but now resides in the West Loop. "This contest will give one 'Nonna' her 15 minutes of fame."

Roti said that while the contest was originally targeting grandmas, anyone can enter through via this link. The deadline for nominations is Aug. 7.

As far as music, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, singer Michael Andrew will pay tribute to Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack with a special performance to commemorate what would have been Sinatra's 100th birthday this year.

After 11 a.m. Mass on Sunday, a procession led by an Italian marching band will travel from the Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii, 1224 W. Lexington St., through Little Italy, up Taylor Street to the Rosebud stage at the fest, where centuries-old Italian songs will be performed.

In addition to the Rat Pack tribute, a diverse lineup of live music acts will be featured on the festival's three stages, including:

• The Chicago Jazz Orchestra featuring Paul Marinaro singing the songs of Frank Sinatra

• Kimberly Gordon singing Rosemary Clooney songs

• Italian/Argentine piano whiz Mauro Frosio

• An Italian dance ensemble teaching tarantella, a well-loved Italian folk dance 

Angel Spiccia, John Michael Coppola, Moreno Fruzzetti, Flat Cats and Joe Policastro are also slated to perform.

In addition to live music and great food, festival goers can compete in meatball and cannoli eating contests and purchase Italian-themed art and traditional Christmas ornaments.

Kathy Catrambone, executive director of the University Village Association, said that the fest brings back people who grew up in the neighborhood and newcomers, too.

"The food of course is fantastic and you want to try everything," she said.

While at the fest, attendees can take a trolley tour of Little Italy, the city's oldest Italian neighborhood. The neighborhood served as a gateway for thousands of immigrants at the beginning of the 20th century.

Participants will be asked to give an optional $5 donation upon entering the fest. The donation benefits the University Village Association.

Festa Italiana is sponsored by Peroni Nastro Azurro and is organized by StarEvents.

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