Clara enjoying family time
A young Clara outside her family’s tavern in Chicago
Born and bred in Chicago, chef, author, mom, wife, and all-around amazing person Clara Lizio Melchiorre brought love to everything she did. “Cooking is my life, and it’s taken me all these years to finally write down all I’ve learned,” she said. The daughter of the famous “Mama Celeste” Lizio of pizza fame—but never overshadowed by her mom—Clara brought sophistication, personalization, and incredible flavor to every dish she touched. In the 1980s she opened her namesake restaurant, which has become a Chicago-area legend. For many years, the restaurant was her home away from home. Her customers were her family.
Just as this book was being published, the author passed away peacefully at the age of eighty-two. It was her lifelong goal to publish her recipes and techniques. She dreamed of passing her love of cooking to as many people as she could.
Recipes: Cook Like Clara
Everybody Can Cook Italian!
Who doesn’t like Italian food? And this book makes it easy for you to create Italian food at home. Clara redefined the notion of Italian-American cooking. It’s not just about throwing together some garlic and olive oil and covering it in mozzarella. Each of her dishes has a special touch or innovation. Clara never stopped perfecting her recipes. She’s a food traditionalist who adapts to changing tastes and times—she has gluten-free and nut-free versions of several dishes. In Clara’s own words: “This is a very approachable cookbook. I will walk you through the flavors and techniques and tell you what to do and how to do it. For me, procedure is the most important part of any dish.”
Watch Clara Cook
Check out this curated collection of How-to videos starring Clara and her son Rudy Jr., who now runs Clara’s, plus heartwarming stories from the good old days in Chicago.
Meet Clara’s Family
Born and bred in Chicago, chef, author, mom, wife, and all-around amazing person Clara Lizio Melchiorre brought love to everything she did. Clara’s award-winning cooking isn’t her only accomplishment. Her four children, Michelle, Anthony, Rudy, and Mark, were always at the center of her heart; her husband Rudy Sr., the love of her life. Clara spent her life loving her family, her community, and the world. These photos capture her love of family.
Photo: Michelle, Clara, Anthony, Rudy and Mark enjoying a precious family moment.
“Anything made with love is perfect.”
—Clara Lizio Melchiorre