Phone: (847) 529-2174
E mail: convitocafe@hotmail.com

Address: 1515 Sheridan Road, Wilmette, IL 60091
Telephone: (847) 251-3654
Website: www.convitoitaliano.com

"THE LITTLE SHOP THAT COULD" & STILL DOES

CONVITO ITALIANO AT 25

1980 - 2005 and still counting

FRONT ROW: from the left Ryan Moore, Wanda Bottino (in reproduced photo), Al Cirillo, Lynda Jo Shlaes, Eileen Miller, Paolo Volpara (in reproduced photo), Nancy Brussat Barocci, Candace Barocci Warner, Leslee Reis (in reproduced photo), Tom Konor, Reysa Samuels, Janet Alms, Fitch Bullard, Vange Andruss (in reproduced photo), Elizabeth McShane Beberdick. BACK ROW: from the left Glenn Reid, Seth Allen, Paul Alms, Sharon Evans, Carol Rosofsky, Colleen Houlahan, Jorge Navarro, Violet Caldarelli, Edmund Beberdick, Audrey Miller. > View Large Picture

(Wilmette, IL). It’s been a quarter century (1980) since Convito Italiano, a small gourmet shop specializing exclusively in Italian food and wine, first opened its doors in suburban Wilmette, IL. Inspired by passion and immersion in everything Italian, founder Nancy Brussat Barocci, two Italian mentors -- Paolo Volpara and Wanda Bottino -- and General Manager Colleen Houlahan, launched the enterprise with lots of moxie.

They were pioneers in a culinary wilderness; this was a time when most people’s idea of “take-away” food was either a bucket of deep-fried chicken or a pepperoni pizza brought home in a cardboard box. The great Italian explosion had yet to make its way to the Midwest. In these dark ages of gastronomic exploration, “prepared foods” were either mayonnaise-soaked potato salad or wilted coleslaw picked up at the local supermarket; the mention of “Extra Virgin” olive oil brought looks of confusion or shocked dismay at its affront on decency; and “Italian wine” conjured up images of basket-weave Chianti languishing in dusty corners of big Chicago liquor stores.

Barocci’s first tiny shop in Wilmette introduced a galaxy of authentic, imported Italian food: specialty cheeses and meats in the deli, choice Italian grocery products on the shelves, and freshly prepared homemade salads and pasta sauces for take-out with names like Rigatoni Noci, Boscaiola and Puttanesca.

The small but exquisitely curated wine department introduced Italy’s best known and often undiscovered wines. When the world-class (and undervalued) wines of Antinori, Gaja and Mastroberardino first made their appearance at Convito in 1980 there was great excitement. Customers already familiar with fine Italian wine through their travels abroad joined a nascent group of fledgling gourmets as Convito’s first customers. Many of the great Italian winemakers followed, conducting wine tastings and wine dinners, thrilled that their wines were finally being given proper recognition. Convito became the first wine shop in America to be awarded the coveted Vinarious and Vide Awards for excellence in selection and customer education.

Convito’s grocery shelves were also a source for exhilaration. A distinctive and wide-ranging selection of regional Extra Virgin Olive Oils, Balsamic Vinegars, and then-exotic curiosities such as sun-dried tomatoes and polenta were introduced. Through tastings and education, customers began sampling, appreciating and falling in love with the wonderful smells and tastes of Italy.

The most popular part of the store was the deli, which in addition to premium Italian cheeses and meats, featured a selection of freshly prepared salads. These pasta, grain and vegetable dishes were mixed with a vast array of little known ingredients like pesto and balsamic vinaigrettes which proved wildly popular with Convito customers. With no kitchen, save a small four-burner cooktop behind the deli case, Convito’s cooks toiled to simply keep up with demand. Add to that 16 unique sauces developed in Italy by Barocci Brussat and cooking partner Wanda Bottino, the shop was cooking around the clock. It soon became clear that Convito had hit upon something that the community was hungry (and thirsty!) for.

By 1982, Convito outgrew its 1,500 square foot shop, moved to a space four times larger in nearby Plaza del Lago and morphed into eight shops in one. First came high quality imported and domestic groceries, then imported and domestic cheeses and meats, next fresh pasta and sauces, followed by fresh baked goods and then both hot and cold prepared foods ready for take-out. The wine department became four times larger as more of Italy’s wines were introduced.The seventh and eight additions included a restaurant adjacent to the store, which later expanded to include an outdoor café.

To mark its 25th anniversary, Convito is embarking on a ten-day celebration. “The Little Shop That Could – Convito’s 25 year Italian Journey” will run from Thursday, September 15 through Sunday, September 25. This culinary odyssey will feature cheese samplings, Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Balsamic vinegar comparisons and pasta sauce tastings. A variety of promotions will take place continuously over the ten day festival which culminates in a party, Thursday evening September 22 for good customers, revered former and current employees and the press.

Throughout the store, signage, oversized visuals, press clips and photos will trace Convito’s history. A highlight of the celebration is the unveiling of a grand scale portrait of 25 significant people who either started with Convito or joined in as Convito grew and expanded over the last 25 years.

“This is a celebration not only of what Convito has become over the last quarter century, but of the people who helped to make it such a success,” comments Nancy Brussat Barocci. We simply want to recognize with great affection our wonderful staff, our loyal customers and those longtime suppliers who have not only helped create and support Convito, but in the process have defined us as well.”

25 SIGNIFICANT PEOPLE WHO HELPED US GROW