Friday was the last day of lunch service for Bruno's Little Italy, 310 Main St., Little Rock. Co-owner Gio Bruno explains that, "Because we do everything from scratch, the amount of extra prep and the amount of payroll to accomplish that (as well as having line cooks, servers and hosts each day)," they've never been able to make a profit in their yearlong experiment with lunch. Lack of available daytime parking has also been a factor, he suggests: "At night we have free valet parking, but in the daytime, if there is the slightest bit of [inclement] weather, we lose all our walk-in business." They've returned to dinner-only hours, 5-10 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. The phone number is (501) 372-7866. And speaking of Italian food, the Arkansas Italian Food and Culture Festival, 4-9 p.m. April 20 and 9 a.m.-9 p.m. April 21 at North Little Rock's North Shore Riverfront Park, will feature Italian cooking competitions, wine tastings and music; a grape-stomping competition; bocce and Baggo … [Read more...] about Restaurant Transitions: Lunch ends at Bruno’s; Arkansas Italian Food Festival this weekend; Cantina Cinco de Mayo coming to downtown
Italian
Nebraska’s search for recruits includes Italian import, kick-blocking defensive back
LINCOLN — Eric Garror said he blocked six field goals during his senior season at McGill-Toolen Catholic in Mobile, Alabama. He returned four punts for touchdowns, grabbed five interceptions and, on a dead sprint, ran down a breakaway ball carrier and punched the ball out of his grasp. Usually, when players in Alabama do all that, they have major college recruiters all over them. The 5-foot-9, 173-pound Garror believes his size and preferred position — cornerback — kept him under the radar of most FBS programs. He doesn’t have a recruiting rating, either. So, as of this week, he was considering offers from FCS schools Richmond and Arkansas Pine-Bluff. Tennessee-Chattanooga was in the mix, too. Then Nebraska coach Scott Frost walked into Garror’s school Wednesday morning. He brought defensive coordinator Erik Chinander with him. They were there to check in on a top 2019 defensive tackle, but also to speak directly to Garror. He didn’t get a … [Read more...] about Nebraska’s search for recruits includes Italian import, kick-blocking defensive back
Something Italian in downtown Des Moines is back
Downtown Des Moines lunch and catering restaurant Something Italian, 400 Walnut St. on the skywalk level, has reopened.The popular spot was shut down for seven weeks after skywalk access to the eatery was closed while the parking garage at Fifth Avenue and Walnut Street was torn down.Owner Louie Baratta tried keeping the restaurant open during the construction but a lack of business forced him to take a hiatus, he said.The skywalk was reopened giving downtown patrons a way to get there without having to go outside.Something Italian is open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. … [Read more...] about Something Italian in downtown Des Moines is back
Italian lawmakers pass anti-terror military mission to Niger
ROME — Italian lawmakers have approved sending a military mission to Niger to combat human trafficking and terrorism. The vote in the Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday was likely lawmakers' last session before a March 4 election. Premier Paolo Gentiloni has said some of Italy's troops now in Iraq will be transferred to the African nation, a major migrant trafficking route. His center-left government is focusing on Africa in a strategy to combat trafficking of migrants to Libya and then onwards toward European shores via perilous journeys in smugglers' unseaworthy boats. Hundreds of thousands of trafficked migrants, many of them fleeing poverty in Africa, have arrived in Italy after rescue at sea in recent years. Populist politicians in their election campaigns are citing growing public impatience with swelling migrant and refugee populations. … [Read more...] about Italian lawmakers pass anti-terror military mission to Niger
Review: Italian-American food at Come Back Inn is indulgent, rich and cheesy
I appreciate when a restaurant has a firm grasp on its identity. Come Back Inn, the long-standing eatery at the corner of Swan and Breckenridge streets, is such an establishment.The homey, neighborhood vibe coupled with dishes that are unabashedly covered in bubbling layers of cheese, speaks to the restaurant’s distinction as an Italian-American pub. Dim lighting, photos of Louisville from days-gone-by, and quirky touches like a small disco ball hanging between the bar area and dining room marry well with the style of food being served.Dishes are indulgent, bathed in rich sauces and a heavy hand is used when it comes to the application of cheese. These generous habits are hallmarks of Italian-American cuisine and – for the most part – Come Back Inn employs them well.Yet even indulgence has a line and Come Back Inn does cross too far into the creamy abyss at times. One thing is for certain, however, nothing coming out of Come Back Inn’s kitchen lacks flavor … [Read more...] about Review: Italian-American food at Come Back Inn is indulgent, rich and cheesy