In the Spring of 2023, I was hired as the temporary Communications Director for Cefalù Seaside Sicilian. I was tasked with generating local buzz about the restaurant’s grand opening without spending money on running advertisements. The goal was to generate earned media on a budget.

As a skilled public relations writer, this was no problem. I executed a press release that was distributed to local journalists working on business, travel, and food beats.

My distribution tactics lead to the story being picked up by Christopher Placek, a reporter for the Daily Herald.

Read the Daily Herald article here.

Cefalù Seaside Sicilian

Contact: GRACE MCKEVITT, Communications Director

847-857-1139

grmckevitt@gmail.com

March 3, 2023 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TRIO OF SIBLINGS BRINGS SICILIAN TRADITIONS, CUISINE AND NIGHTLIFE TO THE NORTHWEST SUBURBS. 

Dreaming of spring breaking in Sicily? Cefalù Seaside Sicilian is the freshest Italian fine dining destination coming to Chicagoland.

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL. [March 3, 2023] - Cefalù Seaside Sicilian will be opening on March 13, at 1180 W Devon Ave in Elk Grove Village, IL, bringing seaside to the suburbs just in time for spring. Named after the beautiful coastal village of Cefalù on the island of Sicily, the restaurant will feature an authentic Sicilian-Mediterranean menu packed with old-world delicacies such as fresh seafood, premium steaks, gourmet pasta, and wood-burning pizzas: all made from scratch.

The family describes their newest business venture as “the passion project of the three kids.” The trifecta of sibling entrepreneurs behind Cefalù - Jodi, Ben and Caroline-  has decades of experience in the service industry. Ben Cirrincione acting as general manager, Caroline Eimerman marketing the brand, and their sister, Jodi Curry, the private dining manager, awaiting inquiries about special events and private parties! 

A Sicilian restaurant concept on their minds and construction well underway, the family journeyed back to Sicily in Sept., 2022. From Taormina to Palermo, Cefalu to Trapani, they explored the exquisite flavors and nightlife the island had to offer, bringing back unique palette inspirations for the Cefalu menu.

“We had swordfish carpaccio at this little place right on the water,” described Ben, “and this item will actually be on the menu.” Ben continued by describing the crudo (raw) fish in Cefalù, “This stuff was so fresh out of the ocean that it melted in your mouth.” Cefalù plans to source its seafood from local seafood houses that receive fresh imports daily. 

Elk Grove residents might recognize this family name from the Mangia Beve Restaurant Group. Cefalù Seaside Sicilian, will open its doors next to two of their other developments, Belvedere Events & Catering and Real Time Sports Bar.

In the main dining room, guests can enjoy live music and the aroma of pizzas rising in the wood-burning oven imported from Italy while they dine at a tree-top table. This unique dining experience seats you under the restaurant’s skylight, centered around a massive ficus tree. 

Guests can lounge in a sleek, modern bar serving an assortment of over 100 Italian wines, hand-crafted cocktails and rotating appetizer flights curated by the chef. Just past the bar lives “The Palm Room,” named after its exotic, beachy ambiance. This casino space is home to slot games, a lively atmosphere and cocktails

Cefalù is excited to host more than just your next meal. Want that private party to feel like an intimate getaway? A cozy wine cellar is fit to serve groups of up to eight. Cefalù also features two larger private dining rooms for celebrations that require a longer invite list. 

Two large strips of patio seating run parallel along the side of the restaurant's exterior, adding 130 seats to the restaurant's total capacity of 358. On a weather-permitting day this spring, the Cefalù family invites you to celebrate an official grand opening that will leave you dreaming of your next Italian getaway. 

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The Mangia Beve Restaurant Group has been serving Chicagoland Italian classics since 1975. Suparossa, a pizza and pasta factory, and Legno, an Italian gastropub, are evidence of the family’s expertise in launching Italian dining concepts. The family hopes to elevate the Mangia Beve brand as they emerge into the fine dining market with Cefalù Seaside Sicilian.