Room 21 - Everyone is raving about Jerry Kleiners new restaurant “Room 21”. Located in an old prohibition warehouse on the city’s south side, this non -Italian restaurant is still worth mentioning. This 6,000 square foot space, serves up basic a American cuisine including steak diane, roasted halibut filet, crab cakes and burgers. Room 21 is located at 2110 South Wabash Ave.. Phone 312-328-1198 for reservations.

Crust - Chef Michael Altenburg’s new organic restaurant serves up flatbread pizza to perfection. These wood-fired pizzas are topped with everything from pepperoni to béchamel sauce. Soups and sandwiches are also served. Crust is located at 2056 West Division St.. Phone 773-235-5511 for reservations.

Via Carducci La Sorella - Giovanni and Jennifer Scalzo plan on opening their two story Italian restaurant later this month. They will be serving traditional Italian cuisine like veal lemone, chicken Vesuvius and papparadelle Bolognese. Via Carducci La Sorella in located at 1928 West Division Street. Phone 773-254-2244 for reservations.

Sapori Napoli - This Lakeview Neapolitan Style Pizzeria serves some great antipasti selection including fried calamari and a caprese salad, plus pizza like the quattro stagioni, which is pizza with artichoke hearts, prosciutto, mushrooms, olives and mozzarella. Sapori Napoli is located at 1406 West Belmont Ave.. Phone 773-935-1212 for reservations.

Coming up on June 29 the Taste of Chicago 2007 begins thru July 8. Located in Grant Park, this marks the 27th year this event has taken place. The Taste feature around 60 restaurants cooking up some of you favorite dishes. For more information see www.tasteofchicago.us for event schedules and participating restaurants. Don’t forget the great 4th of July fireworks show over Lake Michigan.

Here is a couple of my favorite sites for some grilling tips, techniques and some great recipes. One of the best is Smoker-Cooking.com., here you’ll find everything you need for some great barbeques. The other is the The Smoke Ring.com . Both of these sites will keep you busy throughout the whole summer.

Here a few summertime pasta recipes exclusively for you. Just click on Summertime Pasta and you’ll receive four new recipes - Arugula Salad with Tomatoes, Shells and Parmesan Cheese, Cavatelli with Fennel and Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce, Spaghetti with Broccoli, Tomato and Roasted Red Pepper and Three Cheese Macaroni with Pancetta. Let me know how they turn out.

Also I would like to Thank everyone again for making The Italian Grocer a great success. If you need any more Italian specialty items here’s the place to be.

If you have any question on any recipe or any site suggestions or would like to share a recipe please contact me at any time or join our Great Chicago Italian Recipes Forum.

Thanks Again,

Phillip J. Speciale