Belleville Eats and Drinks

From the Belleville News Democrat:
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Posted on Sun, Jun. 25, 2006

Gourmet Italiano to Go
Long-time cook starts with fresh ingredients
BY JAIME INGLE
News-Democrat

Mike Belland puts his own twist on marinara sauce, meatballs and pizza
crust.

"I know Italian. I've picked the best of the best recipes I know," said
Mike, 54, who owns Gourmet Italiano to Go in Belleville. It opened in late
May at the former Viviano's to Go on North Belt East.

Mike knows the location well.

Ten years ago, it was a Pizza Hut, and Mike managed the carry-out store.

He makes his own marinara from diced tomatoes and flavors the sauce with
onions and green peppers. He hand rolls each meatball and flavors mushrooms
with a savory au jus sauce. Mike also has a special pizza crust.

"It's crispy when you bite into it, but then it's chewy."

He knows the food business.

"I started waiting tables at 15," said Mike, who later cooked and helped
manage the Adam's Mark and Al Baker's restaurants in St. Louis for more than
20 years. He also worked as a district trainer with Shoney's restaurants.

Mike took time off from the food business to go into sales, but missed
working with food.

When Viviano's decided to sell the building, Mike was ready to go into
business for himself, selling gourmet food at reasonable prices.

He lives in Belleville with his wife Donna, 56. They have eight grown
children in their blended family.

"If we wanted to go into business for ourselves, we knew now was the time to
take the chance," said Mike as he placed a meatball sandwich in the oven to
toast the bread.

Everything is fresh, including sub sandwiches served on homemade bread, the
cheesy alfredo sauce and sliced vegetables.

Chopped frozen veggies won't do.

Mike slices red onions into rings and green peppers and mushrooms into thick
slices.

"Everything is hand-sliced," said Mike as he sliced strips of ham and cheese
for a julienne salad.

Traditional pizza toppings include cheese, pepperoni, sausage, olives,
onions and green peppers.

Mike also offers unusual toppings such as clams, shrimp and slices of cod
for those who like seafood on their pizzas.

A small pizza measures 10 inches across and an extra large pizza is 18
inches.

Most customers order their food as carry-outs, but there are a handful of
tables at the front of the small restaurant space for diners who wish to eat
at the restaurant. Each is decorated with a small Italian chef statue.

Three patio tables with umbrellas also sit outside the front window.

Gourmet Italiano delivers to Belleville and just outside the city limits.

Mike's favorite meal is fettuccine alfredo, though he rarely cooks at home
after a long hot day in the restaurant's kitchen.

"When my wife realized I could cook she told me I should have been doing the
cooking at home."

On the menu (Sizes range from small to family size)

Pasta

Spaghetti with marinara ($4.95-$7.95)

Vegetarian spaghetti ($5.95-$9.95)

Fettuccine alfredo ($5.95-$7.95)

Linguini with clam sauce ($8.95-$13.95)

Pizza ($6.95-$16.95 depending on size and number of toppings)

Sandwiches ($6.95-$9.95)

Meatball sub

Chicken parmesan

Philly Italiano

If you go:

Where: 1913 North Belt East (Illinois 161), Belleville

Hours: 11 a.m.- 8:30 p.m. Mondays-Wednesdays; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Thursdays-
Saturdays and 1-9 p.m. Sundays.

Information: 222-1738

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© 2006 Belleville News-Democrat and wire service sources. All Rights
Reserved.
http://www.belleville.com

According to the Local Flashes of today's paper, there is a new pizza joint opening up on the West End of Belleville (Next to Shenanigan's). It is called Marco's on Main and they open today at 4:00PM. According to their ad, they have Great Pizza, Great Italian Food, Great Desserts, and a Great Atmosphere. Sounds like an excellent combination to me!

Details:
Marco's on Main
6405 West Main
618.688.1022
Opens Today at 4:00PM