Miscellaneous

📖 Joanna Fantozzi, senior editor at Nation’s Restaurant News, boasts 7+ years in restaurant industry journalism. She joined Informa’s Restaurants and Food Group in October 2018. Her career includes roles at Insider and The Daily Meal, with contributions to The New York Times and Forbes. Joanna holds a BA in English from The College of New Jersey and an MA in journalism from CUNY. She moderates industry events like MUFSO and Restaurants Rise.

🍽️ Bret Thorn, senior editor at Nation’s Restaurant News since 1999, lives in Brooklyn, NY. He studied at Tufts University, Nanjing University, and Le Cordon Bleu. Thorn won the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award and served as IFEC president in 2005. He wrote for The New York Sun (2005-2008) and was inducted into the Disciples d'Escoffier in 2014. Thorn's expertise spans food trends and French and Asian cuisines.

🍴 On September 22, Mexican Sugar, by Texas-based Front Burner Restaurants, opened its fifth location in Addison, Texas, after Dallas and Houston. A 9,000 sq. ft. venue features a tequila display and a 360-degree bar. Unique to Addison is a custom wood-fired oven. The menu includes agave-spirit flights, with happy hour from Monday to Friday, 2-6 p.m. Future locations planned for Austin and Frisco. Mexican Sugar blends Latin American inspiration, crafting dishes from scratch and using fresh ingredients.

🍴 Sheldon “Shelly” Fireman, a renowned New York City restaurateur, passed away at 93. He started his career with The Hip Bagel in 1963 and founded several restaurants like Café Fiorello (1974) and Bond 45. Fireman Hospitality Group operates multiple venues, serving over two million customers annually with sales of $80 million. In 2022, he opened three new restaurants. Shelly, a lover of Italian cuisine, left a legacy of enduring dining concepts.

🍳 Chef Alex Povall, alongside Somerset restaurateurs Jules & Steve Horrell, is launching a dinner series at The Chancery Rosewood’s Serra. Starting on 29 October 2025, it features seasonal produce from Horrell & Horrell's smallholding. The series continues on 26 November 2025 and 26 March 2026. A four-course menu is priced at £95 per person, with an optional £50 wine pairing available. Products from Horrell & Horrell will be sold at GSQ, the hotel's delicatessen.

🎂 On September 12th, Le Cordon Bleu London celebrated its 130th anniversary with an Alumni Chapter event at CORD, Fleet Street. Over 100 global alumni attended, aiming for 130 to mark the milestone. The first Le Cordon Bleu London Alumni Awards were presented, recognizing Woongchul Park & Bomee Ki, Kerth Gumbs, Charlotte O’Kelly, Maciej Pisarek, and Salina Campbell. The gathering highlighted the institute’s global influence, with over 35 schools in 20 countries.

🌴 Sunrooms, historically rich across various cultures and eras, once served as sunlit sanctuaries. The Romans built south-facing courtyards for winter sunlight, and 17th-century European aristocrats popularized orangeries for citrus trees. The Industrial Revolution and post-WWII allowed middle-class access. Today, sunrooms symbolize the human need for light-filled spaces close to nature. Yet, modern society has replaced these with TVs and garages. In Wonewoc, a sunroom epitomizes the craving for simple, soulful spaces.

☀️ European aristocrats in the 17th century popularized orangeries with tall windows for citrus trees, influenced by ancient Roman sun-capturing courtyards. Sunrooms became accessible to the middle class post-WWII due to advancements in steel and glass production during the Industrial Revolution. Yet, modern homes prioritized larger spaces over sun-drenched corners, like solariums and conservatories. In Wonewoc, there's a call to rediscover these light-filled spaces for their coziness and connection to nature.

🍕 In fall 2023, Dave Ligas opened Casano’s Pizza Parlor in Rutherford, N.J., inspired by his late grandmother Marie Casano. No slices are available; pizzas are sold whole, with fresh mozzarella and dough made via a multi-day process. The retro-styled interior has vintage furniture and family photos. Ligas donates $2 per cheesesteak sale in October to breast cancer research. Formerly a delivery driver in Wallington, Ligas transitioned from Tavolino Pizzeria, which closed in 2022.