Go Italiano in Chicago

Why travel all the way to Italy when we have a taste of it right in our own backyard? The Mozzarella Store opened at 822 N. Michigan Avenue after Hershey's Chocolae World Store closed in the same space in 2017.

Two floors of Italian cheese is now offered in a cafe setting and served by Naple natives. The staff makes fresh made mozzarella and burrata daily to please hungry guests. Organic milk makes this delicious menu standout thanks to Amando Vanacore, who has a 10 year history of creating cheeses.

Try the pizza before you leave from the custom built in oven that can cook up to 20 pizzas at one time. For dessert, grab a Brioche Con Gelato, similar to an ice cream sandwich.

A caffe manager will give you an espresso to wash it down afterwards and look for lots of garnishes to accompany your after dinner beverage nearby. Italian wines and beers are also served as well. This welcome addition to the Magnificent Mile is the real deal!

Visit MozzarellaStores.com for more information on the menu.

Another italian option with a huge retail aspect to the in house restaurant is none other than Eataly Chicago at 43 East Ohio Street. There are two floors of market items offered for shoppers then afterwards they can relax by dining at the restaurant.

The Pizzata! is a series this summer focusing on an Italian-style pizza party. The pizza is accompanied by wine or beer and is located on the second floor in the La Pizza & La Pasta area.

Special guests for the party include Choose Chicago's David Whitaker on July 11 and Emma Pope from Second City on Aug. 5. There is more information on the schedule and a link to book a table at Eataly.com.

For every featured pizza sold during the party, five dollars is donated to the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Now that's a cause we can sink our teeth into!