A section of the Mission's inner courtyard is transformed into “Little Italy” and devoted to San Juan Capistrano’s sister city, Capestrano, Italy. Celebrate our Italian connection with Italian food and wines and learn about San Giovanni di Capestrano, Junipero Serra’s inspiration for our City’s name.
2010 "Little Italy" Participants at the 14th Annual Vintage
Acqua Panna Water takes its name from the famous Villa Panna in the hills of Tuscany, where the water was first discovered. The Acqua Panna source is located 3,700 feet high in the serene Apennines Mountains of Tuscany. Known for centuries to noblemen, hunters, shepherds and farmers for its remarkable purity and freshness, Acqua Panna Natural Spring Water comes from a pristine source, located on a vast, unspoiled natural reserve. The source, to the north of Florence, is nestled among beech wood and chestnut forests, and lush meadows on the slopes of Mount Gazzaro in the town of Scarperia. Legend has it that Romans built the only road from Northern to Southern Italy through Scarperia. This road went past the Acqua Panna spring, which provided deserved refreshment to weary travelers.
Banfi Wines Castello Banfi is a family-owned vineyard estate and winery in the Brunello region of Tuscany. Together with its sister estates in Piedmont, Vigne Regali and Principessa Gavi, it has become recognized the world over for its dedication to excellence and sparking a renaissance in the art of Italian winemaking. The Mariani family proprietors credit education, dedication and discipline for the success that has accorded honors including: 11 Consecutive Years ~ Italy’s Premier Vineyard Estate at the VinItaly wine fair. The first winery in the world to be internationally recognized for exceptional environmental, ethical and social responsibility as well as an international leader in customer satisfaction. Winery of the Year by both Wine Enthusiast and Wine & Spirits Magazine and Top Ten Wines (Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Poggio all’Oro) by Wine Spectator.
Brio Tuscany Grille At our Monarch Beach location you'll experience fresh ocean breezes, intimate conversation, dancing and fun. With live entertainment held nightly, your experience at Brio Tuscany Grille will be second to none. Come in and you'll experience why Brio Tuscany Grille has been a FAVOURITE choice for so many friends and families. ONCE IS NEVER ENOUGH!!!! The fabulous dishes are a warm welcome in this perfect spot for family gatherings, intimate dinners or business lunches.Many people who come to Brio for the first time find the elegant atmosphere, impeccable food and service a combination that can not be beat.
Casa Torelli Winesrepresents the genuine and traditional heritage of Italian wine making and prides itself on bringing to America wines that depict the culture, passion and emotion of their homeland. Our wineries and wines are defined by their origins based on centuries old wine making practices and procedures, true to their old world characteristics and style. Explore the 6 vast diverse regions of Italian wine makers and culture found in the Casa Torelli wine assortment. You will enjoy Italy's culture, tradition and passion through these wines as they were hand selected by our founder and namesake M. Gabriella Torelli. Casa Torelli was also fortunate to have the opportunity to create a select grouping of wines for one of the most well known and passionate Italians, Mr. Tommy Lasorda.
Dolce Gelato Just steps away from the sand in downtown Laguna Beach, CA, Dolce is serving up tasty scoopings of delicious authentic gelato 7 days a week! 26 flavors including some amazing sorbettos, dairy free fresh fruit creations, all of which is made from scratch every morning here in the store. Come visit us today! You can also find us on Facebook. 247 Broadway in Laguna Beach. Open everyday from noon until 10pm!
Dolce Monachelli At Dolce Monachelli's bakery, we offer specialty gourmet cakes for delivery in the Orange County area or shipping anywhere in the world. Whether you need a gourmet cake for your next birthday party or need a beautiful holiday cheesecake for an upcoming holiday, we can be of service. All of our cakes are decorated with seasonal flowers (Fall flowers are currently being used) to give your cake a beautiful, but tasty treat! With our specialty glazes that make every cake so extremely moist and flavorful, each piece will melt in your mouth!
Frankies Biscotti are made from the original Old World Italian recipe handed down for many generations. It is the authentic wine-dipping cookie originally used at village weddings and made popular by Christopher Columbus. As profiled on the Food Channel, Frankie’s dough is created from the finest, most natural and purest ingredients, some of which are imported from the Mamone family farm in Calabria, Italy. Frankie uses the same spiritual and loving predisposition of the Italian nona (grandma) in his baking, instantly reminding us of a day gone by. As Frankie says, he will put his product up against any Biscotti in the world for authenticity, flavor and quality.
Il Fornaio Step inside Il Fornaio and take a culinary journey through Italy. Early mornings bring rustic, crisp crusted bread hot from the oven accompanied by the scent of fresh brewed espresso. During lunch and dinner hours, pastas and flavorful sauces simmer while meats and vegetables roast over hot coals. Bottles of wine from small, regional wineries are uncorked to complement the dishes, which have been crafted in the custom of Italy's chefs, bakers and homemakers.
In the tradition of Italy's trattorias, the sights, sounds and aromas of authentic Italian cuisine are recreated fresh everyday at Il Fornaio Cucina Italiana. Il Fornaio operates 21 full-service restaurants serving creatively prepared, premium-quality Italian cuisine based on authentic regional Italian recipes. The company also operates two "Panificios" (wholesale bakeries) that produce fresh, handmade breads, pastries, and other baked goods for sale in Il Fornaio locations, as well as in high-quality grocery stores, coffee retailers, hotels, and other fine restaurants.
Peroni Beer The Peroni company was established under the founding family name in the town of Vigevano, Italy (1846). The company was moved to Rome by Giovanni Peroni in 1864, six years prior to the establishment of the city as a capital centre in 1870. Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the company became one of the most prominent brewing companies in the newly unified Italian nation. Peroni is a standard pilsner style brew, but it is a little more exciting than the typical mainstream American lager. The reasons lie in the flavors. The appearance is very similar to an American macro lager but the taste is a little different. There are fruity sensations and even some nutty flavors in this pilsner and they continue to reveal themselves as you drink.
Porta Mangiare The Recipes of Porta Mangiare Foods are all derived from Grandmother Giulia (pronounced "Julia") who immigrated to America in the late 1800s. She was part of a wave of southern European Immigrants who came to America over 100 years ago in search of a better way of life. Along with their rich culture and a tenacious desire for a better life, the immigrants brought with them the recipes and techniques that were used for hundreds of years in the villages that they left. As time goes by, more and more we are the last generation that knew first-hand these pioneers and the foods that they made. The goal of Porta Mangiare is to recreate and preserve the authentic recipes so that more people can experience what it must have been like sitting down to a family meal at the end of the 19th century.
Romeo Cucina Restorante Italiano Grill and Bar The Romeo brothers and sisters bring us a rich flavorful tradition of authentic Italian cooking. The interior of this warm personable restaurant reflects the artistry of the cuisine. The chefs will entice you with delicious pastas, brick-oven baked pizza, a large variety of fresh fish and grilled meats, along with daily specials that only Romeo's can create. Feel the magic and energy when you walk into a fantastic atmosphere warmed with the aroma of fresh baked bread. Our goal is to combine ancient skills with a modern touch of creativity and artistry. In a word: Superb! Visit us in Laguna Niguel and Laguna Beach!
Trader Joe's of Laguna Niguel It all started in the 50s..... Would you believe we started out as a small chain of convenience stores? It's true. Way back in 1958. We were called Pronto Markets. In '67, our founder, the original Trader Joe, changed our name (yes, to Trader Joe's) and the way we do business. We made the stores bigger (if you can imagine), decked the walls with cedar planks and donned our crew in cool Hawaiian shirts. Most importantly, we started putting innovative, hard-to-find, great-tasting foods in the "Trader Joe's" name. That cut our costs and saved you money. Still does. At Trader Joe's, we really work to be a part of the neighborhood. That's why we handle all requests for donations and involvement in community events in our stores. Whether it's a silent auction to benefit a local elementary school or a health fair sponsored by a community hospital, your neighborhood Trader Joe's is the place to go. Visit our store in Ocean Ranch soon.
Villa Romano Green FarmsA golf course in the hills above San Clemente is not the likeliest place to find the front lines of the local food movement, and not a place one would expect to find organically farmed Italian vegetables, but that's exactly what Nic Romano is doing. Born the grandson of Southern Italian immigrants, Romano wanted a place to recreate a natural, organic farm where he could grow high-quality vegetables without having to resort to additives, pesticides or similar funny business. He got his chance when John Fornaro and Mark Zane, owners of the Bella Colina Golf Club on Avenida La Pata, agreed to let him use water and unimproved land to grow vegetables and fruit. Saturday mornings find the harvest in full swing and customers headed up to the ornate terrazzi for their baskets of produce. Visitors to VR Green Farms come away with not only baskets of excellent produce, but recipes and the inspiration to cook from scratch, and that's the first step toward culinary independence. Open Saturdays 10am to 2pm.
San Pellegrino Sparkling Water The town of San Pellegrino in the mountains north of Milan was first made famous by quenching the thirst of Leonardo da Vinci. San Pellegrino mineral water has been produced for over 600 years. In 1395, the town borders of San Pellegrino were drawn, marking the start of its water industry. Leonardo da Vinci visited the town in 1509 to sample and examine the town's "miraculous" water, later writing a treatise on the subject. Analysis shows that the water is strikingly similar to the samples taken in 1782, the first year such analysis took place. Widely enjoyed as an accompaniment to meals, San Pellegrino Sparkling Water lives up to its advertising line, "lingering at tables for over 100 years."
Fondazione Italia is a California 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1998 for the purpose of promoting the teaching and learning of the Italian language and culture across the Southwestern United States. The organization receives grants from the government of Italy in support of its mission, and it is governed by a volunteer Board whose members have backgrounds in education, engineering, philanthropy, law and business.
A section of the Mission's inner courtyard is transformed into “Little Italy” and devoted to San Juan Capistrano’s sister city, Capestrano, Italy. Celebrate our Italian connection with Italian food and wines and learn about San Giovanni di Capestrano, Junipero Serra’s inspiration for our City’s name. 
