Letter from the Chairman

Tony May

Greetings and welcome to summer! We are really excited about all of the activity being done by GRI and our members. We have a lot going on and there is much we are excited to report to you.

In this issue you will see that we are unveiling a new branch of membership within GRI known as "Individual Membership," offered to Italian cuisine and culture enthusiasts who desire to learn more about authentic Italian cuisine and be a part of GRI's collective mission.

We have been featuring activities that our restaurant and corporate members have been partaking in and hosting and we will continue to do so with every GRI Report. This Fall Bruno Serato of Anaheim White House is organizing a great event in California with other Orange County Italian restaurants that you will read more about in this GRI Report. Please let us know of any events or interesting news you may have by writing to us at info@gruppo.com, we're happy to let everyone know!

Italian Cuisine Forever,

Tony May

The Capitanini Family- Preserving Tradition and History in Chicago

It is not so unusual to have three restaurants operating out of one building, but to have three that are all owned and operated by the same family for over 80 years---now that is remarkable! But this is what you have in Chicago ─ in the heart of the Loop ─ with the Capitanini Family and their wonderful trio of restaurants featuring different accents of Northern Italian cuisine: The Italian Village (traditional), La Cantina Enoteca (chophouse & seafood fare) and Vivere (upscale gourmet). It all started with Alfredo Capitanini who emigrated from Tuscany in 1924 and after working in local restaurants, struck out on his own in 1927 with The Italian Village. It is the oldest Italian restaurant in Chicago, and the three together represent the longest unbroken chain of family proprietorship in the city. They are favored by politicians such a Mayor Daly and in years past the likes of Al Capone and songster extraordinaire, Frank Sinatra.

Authentic Italian cuisine has been its hallmark since the very beginning in the late 1920s. Marketing director Pamela Capitanini proudly said, "Just until last year, from spring to fall every morning I would go to my great aunt's in the outskirts of Chicago to bring in our freshly grown vegetables with seeds brought from Italy." Tradition is something The Italian Village takes seriously. "My grandfather Alredo," continues Pamella, "introduced chicken alfredo to the US in 1927. We still use the recipe today." What is more is that ten of their employees have worked for them for over 40 years, and 27 for more than 20 years, which in the restaurant industry, speaks volumes.

Being in the Millenium Park area and right next to the theater district, good, quick and efficient service is demanded in addition to excellent cuisine. The Capitanini family has provided all of this and more. They serve 1,200-1,500 meals per day and have served over 16 million since 1927. Their restaurants annually receive the Wine Spectator Award, the Wine Enthusiast Award and International Dining awards. They are legendary for the expansive wine cellar which features over 1,600 selections.

Important to note is that the Family never forgets its community and is involved in nearly 350 charities a year. Of note, they coordinate with the Ferrari Club of America to showcase collector Ferraris in the Loop area, providing a wonderful Italian buffet with all proceeds going to the Children's Memorial Hospital.

We are delighted to have the Capitanini Family and their trio of superb restaurants in our GRI family. To learn more about this family of restaurants you can visit www.italianvillage-chicago.com.

GRI Unrolls New Individual Membership Program

GRI is pleased to announce the latest innovation to its organization, the Individual Membership Program. GRI is now offering membership to people, whether they be chefs, people in the restaurant industry or just individuals who like to explore and have a passion for authentic Italian products and cuisine.

GRI is planning monthly Individual Member Events. The events will all be held in New York City for the time being until individual membership is increased in other markets. Each event will feature a member restaurant and at least one corporate member. Be sure to check www.gruppo.com for upcoming events and details.

Individual membership will cost $95 and will include: free attendance to GRI Individual Member Events, a one-year subscription to La Cucina Italiana Magazine, subscription to the GRI Report and discounted Vino e Cucina tickets, GRI's flagship event held every fall in New York City. To register for membership, please go to: www.gruppo.com

GRI Announces First Individual Membership Event

On Tuesday, June 30th GRI will host an event at Macelleria Restaurant in NYC to launch our new Individual Member program. The event will focus on the foods and wines of Sardinia and will run from 5:30-7:30.

Macelleria is located at 48 Gansevoort St, NYC 10014

Orange County Italian Food Festival

The OC Italian Festival is the inspiration of well-known GRI Member and prominent Italian restaurant owner Bruno Serato of Anaheim White House. The OC Restaurant Association has come together with Bruno and other select restaurateurs to spearhead and produce the event after much success with Orange County Restaurant week and Happy Hour week.

The Festival will give Italian restaurant food enthusiasts an opportunity to enjoy specialty menus from many participating Italian restaurants in Orange County. This Italian Festival will showcase the county as a fabulous dining destination while highlighting its prowess in Italian cuisine.

Each participating restaurant will donate gift cards to go towards a sweepstakes drawing to be held on August 9th at the conclusion of the 21-day celebration. Partial proceeds of restaurant sales will also be donated to Caterina Boys and Girls Club which serves 100 pasta dinners every night to underprivileged children.

The Festival will take place during the fall. Diners will receive discounts and be offered 2-3 course lunches costing between $15-$25 and 3-4 course dinners costing between $25-$35. To see a list of the 40-60 participating restaurants and their menus, you can go to www.OCItalianFestival.com.

Special Pasta Tasting

Corporate Member Garofalo Pasta Teams Up with Restaurant Member Osteria del Circo and Boffi U.S.A. for a Special Pasta Tasting!

This week Garofalo Pasta and Boffi U.S.A. proudly invited GRI members to By New York, the exquisite SoHo showroom featuring Boffi's luxury kitchens for an evening of food, drink and FUN!

Renowned NYC restaurant Osteria del Circo's Executive Chef, Benedetto Bartolotta prepared three different cuts of succulent Garofalo Pasta with three of his signature sauces.

Where: By New York
142 Greene Street, New York, NY, 5th floor

When: Thursday, June 11, 2009 6:30-9:30 (Pasta Sampling Beginning at 7:30 p.m.)

Let us know of your events so we can inform fellow members of their occurrence by sending an email to: info@gruppo.com.

GRI-Giacomo Bologna Scholarship Trip a Major Hit!

Last month the culinary students that received the GRI-Giacomo Bologna scholarship experienced more than they could have thought possible in Italy. GRI corporate member Marchesi De' Frescobaldi played an excellent host to these culinary professionals in-training.

"The trip was truly fantastic," said Chef Ana Machado. "We were all very impressed with Marchesi De' Frescobaldi's hospitality; all of the people in the various factories, hotels, villas, restaurants, enotecas and markets were extremely friendly and hospitable."

Thanks to Marchesi De' Frescobaldi, all of these students will have lifelong memories of this trip, and lifelong friends that they made on the trip. GRI looks forward to what these young culinary professionals will do in their near and distant futures.

Corporate Member News

Have an answer? As part of the ongoing "Have" campaign, Averna, the storied amaro from Sicily, wants your feedback. Averna will be sending along a quick survey in the coming weeks to GRI members. If you take the few necessary moments to fill it out, you'll be eligible for samples of Averna amaro.

In more Corporate Member news, Marchesi de' Frescobaldi will also be rolling out a special promotion exclusive to GRI members. Frescobaldi will be offering special sales incentives on some of their award-winning wines from Tuscany. Be on the lookout for details from the GRI office shortly.

Send us your recipes!

We would love to report to the rest of the membership what you are up to. Please let us know of your goings on by writing to info@gruppo.com.