Our favorite place to eat Italian food is Vincitorio’s in Tempe. Wow! Mario Vincitorio is no out-of-the-can Italian. He is the real deal. Mario comes to us right from Italy. The food is pure Italian.

WHEN IN ROME, do as the Romans do. In fact, do as many Italians do: Eat antipasti.

Alessia’s Ristorante Italiano (5251 E. Brown Road, Mesa [480] 396-2888). Unassuming from the outside, this authentic Italian gem offers a cozy, romantic setting on the inside, and it recently expanded into the former insurance suite next door to create a new entrance, bar and waiting area. Owners Jonathan and Shari Carr prepare every dish from scratch, making the food the true star here. $$

Enjoy a relaxed day at the Queen Creek Olive Mill with live jazz music, Italian sausages, Sicilian slaw and wine and beer tastings, with proceeds going to breast cancer research.

Wait: At 7:30 p.m. on a Tuesday, there's room for two at a booth.

For 10 years, the Queen Creek Olive Mill has been known for freshpressed extra virgin olive oil, but this year the owner hopes to entice people with another specialty — an Italianinspired restaurant.

For 10 years, the Queen Creek Olive Mill has been known for freshpressed extra virgin olive oil, but this year the owner hopes to entice people with another specialty — an Italianinspired restaurant.

If anyone’s going to open another Italian restaurant in this town, it had better be something special. But the people behind Fiamma — Italian for "flame" — aren’t worried about getting burned.

For all intents and purposes, downtown Scottsdale is shuttered and desolate on a recent Wednesday night — except on Stetson Drive, where drivers circle warily looking for a spot before finally surrendering their cars to the valets.

September 23, 2004

The things I do for this job. The boss told me I had to get out of our palatial, windowless office near the printing press and go to Thursday’s Chicago Cubs-San Francisco Giants Cactus League opener at HoHoKam Stadium.

Throwing a party is challenge enough for most people. Throwing a party on the patio just ups that challenge.

Although she barely missed being cast on The Next Food Network Star Season Six, Jamie Santoro, executive chef of That Italian Place said the auditions alone were a wonderful experience.

Although she barely missed being cast on The Next Food Network Star Season Six, Jamie Santoro, executive chef of That Italian Place said the auditions alone were a wonderful experience.

CHICAGO — Former President George H.W. Bush famously disliked broccoli. His son, the outgoing president, is a Texas meat-eater. President-elect Barack Obama loves chili and shuns beets.