Italian Bakeries

[frenchieva1]

Can anyone recommend good Italian bakeries around Chicago? I'd love to find one that makes their own panettone, but I'm sure that's a long shot. Otherwise I'm just looking for one that might have some good holiday sweets and breads.
Thanks!

[Giovanna]

You didn't request a location for a bakery. I think that D'Amato's on Grand Ave. absolutely makes some of the best Italian bread in the city, and the one location has the advantage of being directly next door to Bari deli. If the Northwest fringe of the city is more convenient for you, I'd recommend that you also try

Palermo Bakery
3317 N. Harlem Ave.
773-777-5957

They have my personal favorite flat slice [Sicilian style] pizza in the city, great breads and sweets [best cucidada cookies I've had since my grandmother died]. Don't know if they make their own panettone, but they'd be one of the places I'd check first. Also has the advantage of being near

Riviera Italian Imported Foods
3220 N Harlem Ave
Chicago, IL 60634
[phone]

Angelo Caputo's
2560 N Harlem Ave
Chicago, 60707
Telephone: [phone]

to get everything else you could possibly need for your next festa.

More info on all 3 establishments can be found by searching more here and on LTHforum.com.

Abbia un pasto grande di festa!

Giovanna

[nsxtasy]

D'Amato's has the best whole wheat bread in the whole world. In addition to D'Amato's own shop, they also carry it at other stores; for example, Marketplace on Oakton in Skokie carries it, but it's usually sold out by mid-afternoon.

If you're looking for Italian pastries rather than just bread, a new shop, Pasticceria Natalina, is scheduled to open in Andersonville in mid-December. http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/di...

[frenchieva1]

Thank you so much for your suggestions. Pasticceria Natalina sounds fabulous. I can't wait to check it out!

[maurice]

There are many, but the following are centrally located in the city:
- Impallaria on Wallace
- Ferrara on Taylor
- D'Amatos on Grand (x2)