Food Network Star to Open Multiple Restaurants in Illinois
Longtime Food Network star Giada De Laurentiis is putting down a footprint in Illinois…actually two of them with "Sorella" and "Sorellina" in Aurora and Joliet. You could be forgiven for thinking that the twenty year TV personality would seek a place in Chicago proper, but her brand will instead find homes in the Fox River Valley and in the Southland.
Sorella (which means “sister” in Italian) will be housed within the new Hollywood Casino that is being built in Aurora at the corner of Farnsworth and Bilter. Construction should be complete in 2026. Sorellina (“little sister”) will be attached to the new Hollywood Casino under construction in Joliet near the I-80 and I-55 exchange. That venue will be finished later this fall.
The sister restaurants won’t be the same, but have similarities that come from their namesake’s inspiration. Sorellina is planned to be the more casual of the two, with Sorella being the more formal, but both will feature De Laurentiis’ signature modern stylings of classic Italian dishes.
Giada already has two restaurants open in Las Vegas, NV. (“Giada” and “Pronto”) and another in Scottsdale, AZ. called “Luna”. All are styled brightly with big windows and open floor plans, but each expresses subtle individuality.
The “Sisters” will both have their own exclusive pizzas and pasta to be paired with some of Giada’s favorite wines. You’ll have to visit both to get the full Giada experience. Especially if you’ve already sampled her establishments in Vegas and Arizona.
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Gallery Credit: Stacker
