Easter in Italy

While you probably won't see the Easter bunny if you're in Italy for Easter, you will find some interesting Italian Easter celebrations. Like all holidays in Italy, Easter, Pasqua in Italian, has its share of rituals and traditions. The Monday following Easter, la Pasquetta is also a holiday throughout Italy.

While Easter mass will be held in every church in Italy, the biggest and most popular mass is held by the Pope at Saint Peter's Basilica. On Good Friday, the Pope celebrates the Via Crucis or Stations of the Cross in Rome near the Colosseum. A huge cross with burning torches lights the sky as the stations of the cross are described in several languages. At the end, the Pope gives a blessing.

Since Easter is the end of the Lent season, food plays a big part in the celebrations. Traditional Easter foods in many places include lamb or goat, artichokes, and special Easter breads that vary from region to region. Pannetone and Colomba (dove shaped) breads are often given as gifts as are large hollow chocolate eggs that usually come with a surprise inside.

 Colomba (Dove Shaped Bread)

Pannetone (Sweet Bread)

Chocolate Easter Eggs in Italy

Top 5 Reasons Marco is a Great Restaurant for Business Lunches

Getting out of the office for lunch is always nice, but where do you go when you want to dine and discuss business? A nice quite place like Marco, might just be the answer. We offer:

1. A quaint, quiet atmosphere where you can actually discuss business without having to speak above your normal level. No loss of voice. No straining to hear.

2. A diverse menu where everything is homemade. From pasta to chicken, crab cakes to quiche, you can be assured your guest will love our food.

3. Locally grown seasonal produce! We believe in sustainability and supporting our local growers. All of our seasonal produce comes directly from the Dirt Farmers.

4. A full selection of fine wines and cocktails at lunch. Specialty drinks don't have to be reserved for the evening and provide a wonderful compliment to our lunch items.

5. Very reasonable prices. None of our lunch entrees are more than $14 and include a non-alcoholic beverage.

Come see for yourself.  Make a lunch reservation by calling 478.405.5660.

New Look for Private Dining Room

Completing the renovations to Marco, we recently updated our private dining room as well. We followed the theme of the main dining room by updating the colors and furniture while adding some beautiful new artwork. However, the best new feature is a large 65" HD television that can be used for presentations and photograph slideshows. Now your photos and slides will show up more clearly and vividly than they did on a projector screen.

As always, our private dining room is available for all occasions and seats up to 25 people. To book your party or event, call the restaurant at 478.405.5660.

New Lunch Menu at Marco in Macon

Marco in Macon is now open for lunch Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. On Monday, December 8, we will unveil a new lunch menu that include fresh pressed panini, homemade pasta, fresh produce from local farms, and delicious soups and salads. All of our food is fresh and made to order but specifically selected to allow you time to get in and out during your lunch break.

To make reservations call 478.405.5660. See you for lunch!

Pasta Night at Marco in Macon and Warner Robins

 

Join your friends at Marco for a delicious family style Pasta Night dinner. Five courses for $20.14. Make reservations by calling 478.405.5660 (Macon) or 478.330.7070 (Warner Robins).

 

Learn more about Marco and make online reservations.

Marco's Masquerade Party!

Halloween is often considered a time for little goblins, bubbly princesses, and rambunctious superheroes. Why not have a date set aside for the "young at heart?" Introducing Marco's Masquerade, a Halloween party for adults at Marco in Warner Robins on October 30.

Masquerade balls in Italy were a feature of the Carnival season in the 15th century, and involved increasingly elaborate pageants and triumphal processions celebrating marriages and other events of late medieval court life. Masquerade balls were extended into costumed public festivities in Italy during the 16th century. They were generally elaborate dances held for members of the upper classes, and were particularly popular in Venice.

We bring this revelry to Marco, complete with complimentary masks if you do not have your own. The party starts when the doors open for dinner and continues late into the evening. Bring your appetite and your revelrous spirit.

Franklin & Rosemary Traveling Boutique at Marco in Macon

What's better than food and wine? How about food, wine, and great clothes? Yes, please! On September 15, Marco in Macon will feature a trunk show by Franklin & Rosemary Boutique. These lovely ladies have a great eye for awesome clothing at very reasonable prices. Plus everything is American made! Franklin & Rosemary will be selling their fashionista items at Marco in Macon from 5:30 - 7:30. Make sure to drop by. While you are shopping you can enjoy free martinis with the purchase of an appetizer or dessert. See you there!

Check out some examples of their great clothing below and visit www.facebook.com/franklinandrosemary for more details.

What is "Real" Pizza?

So when you buy a pizza from a chain restaurant, do you ever wonder if it is really what the Italians dine on or how has it changed since it arrived in the United States?

 

Italians love a fresh tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and various toppings, but there are differences.

 

Authentic Italian pizza is more light and fresh compared to the Americanized version. The crust is generally thinner and crispier. The pizza is topped with fresh tomato sauce, mozzarella, vegetables and meat. However, the favorite is the Pizza Margherita - no additional toppings, just a sprinkle of fresh basil. The red, white, and green colors pay homage to the Italian flag. Finally, a true Italian pizza is only baked in a brick over.

 

 

 

Legend of the Pizza Margherita

A popular contemporary legend holds that the archetypal pizza, Pizza Margherita, was invented in 1889, when the Royal Palace of Capodimonte commissioned the Neapolitan pizzaiolo (pizza maker) Raffaele Esposito to create a pizza in honor of the visiting Queen Margherita. Of the three different pizzas he created, the Queen strongly preferred a pie swathed in the colors of the Italian flag: red (tomato), green (basil), and white (mozzarella). Supposedly, this kind of pizza was then named after the Queen as "Pizza Margherita", although recent research casts doubt on this legend.

Food for the "Developing Palate"

Bring on the children! Marco Warner Robins now offers a kid-friendly menu! Designed for the developing palate, the new kids’ menu offers some of our favorites that are sure to appeal to young diners. As a parent, you can be assured that each dish is still prepared according to our promise to only serve fresh, authentically Italian food.

Marco Warner Robins’s new Family Friendly menu
Rigatoni                                                 $7
   with house-made Marco pomodoro sauce

Linguine                                          $8

  with a creamy parmesan sauce

Pizza “Margherita” or Pepperoni       $8

   artisan pizza with fresh mozzarella

Chicken Tenderloins “Milanese”     $ 9

   our take on this children’s favorite, with fries

“In Italy,” explains Nazzario, “it is very common for parents to dine with their children. We want parents to enjoy that same tradition at our restaurant.”
 

Keeping It Lite This Summer

Well when most people talk about Italian food the first thought that comes into ones mind is lasagna, pizza and other delicious, but rather heavy foods. However, these are not what Italians would choose during the summer, something lite and fresh is preferred.

Some of the favorites from the Marco Chefs are:

• La Panzanella: This is crumbled stale bread that is soaked in a mixture of red onion, basil, olive oil, vinegar and salt
• La pasta con i pomodori crudi: This is al dente pasta with cherry tomatoes cut in half, fresh basil, parmigiano, salt and pepper all mixed with olive oil
• Carpaccio di Vitello: This is the highest quality raw veal, sliced very thin, sprinkled with arugula and parmesan cheese, the season with olive oil, lemon, salt and pepper
• Caprese salad: This is a mix of three of the most iconic ingredients of Italian cuisine: tomatoes, mozzarella and fresh basil. Add some olive oil and you'll have the perfect summer dish. (This is my favorite)

All in all, it is easy to see how Italian summer cuisine tends to be quick to prepare and fresh: fresh because many of its staples are cold dishes, but also because seasonal fruit and vegetables dominate the list of ingredients. It is also a type of cuisine where the creativity of the chef is very much protagonist, so just get some fresh ingredients, seek for inspiration and....buon appetite!

Are You Eating Spaghetti Right?

Never mind shifting economic conditions and world peace. Forget about global warming. Let's get down to the real issues. Like the right way to eat spaghetti. I mean, do you use a spoon or don't you? By using a spoon, I'm referring to the use of a large spoon in combination with a fork as a means of transferring spaghetti from plate to mouth.
"Correct" being a subjective term, let me assume for the sake of argument; if you don't want to be seen as an ill-mannered, amateurish child at an authentic Italian table, the "correct" way is using the fork, the fork and nothing but the fork.
Seriously, though one of the reasons the whole "spoon" thing came to be is that once upon a time, for reasons nobody knows, Americans served spaghetti exclusively on plates. In Italy, spaghetti is generally served in a "piatto fondo", a deep bowl like a shallow soup-dish with a rim. The flat surface of a plate does not lend itself well to chasing and capturing spaghetti, hence the introduction of the spoon. But if you use a bowl, the natural curvature of the bowl does what the spoon would do. So NO spoon is necessary. TA-DAH!

GOT TOMATOES?

A delicious tomato sauce that you make from scratch is homey and delicious, not to mention surprisingly easy! A good tomato sauce is the foundation for many wonderful dishes.

Marco Pomodoro Sauce
Ingredients:
1 medium onion (diced)
2 cloves of garlic
2 bay leaves
4 tablespoons olive oil
8 fresh basil leaves (roughly chopped)
4 cups fresh diced tomatoes

• when fresh tomatoes are out of season, it's perfectly fine to use canned tomatoes (2 8oz cans)

pinch of salt and pepper

Instructions:
In a saute pan put 4 tablespoons of olive oil, along with the whole cloves of garlic, diced onion and the 2 bay leaves. Cook in the oil on medium heat until the onions are transparent. Add the 4 cups of fresh tomatoes or the 2 8oz cans of diced tomatoes (which ever you prefer), and the chopped basil. Let simmer for 25-30 minutes on low. Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove the 2 cloves of garlic and the 2 bay leaves. Serve over your favorite pasta or with a crostino.

Culinary Enthusiasts

Whether you're an accomplished chef or attempting to make your very first meal. The Chefs at Marco Ristornate Italiano will give you some serious inspiration to tweek your culinary creations. Marco Warner Robins holds cooking classes 3 Saturdays per month. The cost is $125 per class or $300 for three classes. Call 478-330-7070 or 478-718-3300 to reserve your spot.

"Movie Night Mondays" @ Marco Warner Robins

Dinner and a movie are, arguably, the foundation for a lot of relationships. This is probably because they offer the perfect mix of chatter and delicious food, plus a relaxing shared activity of watching the movie, followed by more chatter, while sipping on a few drinks and dissecting the movie afterwards. So whether it is a first date, a night out with your significant other or my favorite "Girls Night" enjoy your evening all in one spot at Marco Warner Robins for "Movie Night Mondays."

Private Events = Special Events

Did you know that Marco’s Macon location and Warner Robins location both have private dining options. Marco is an excellent location to host a company meeting, a wedding rehearsal dinner or reception, a special family event, or a party for friends. We provide excellent food and service that will impress your guests and let you take home the title of "Best Party Planner". Check out the photos and information below and then call 478-405-5660 to book your special event.

Private Dining in Warner Robins

• Four private dining options - two dining rooms, lounge, and wine room
• Two dining rooms can accommodate 20 to 60 guests
• Private lounge includes large screen television and cozy fireplace.
• Wine Room available to host 8 - 12 people for intimate dinners featuring exclusive Wine Room menus.
• Optional projector and screen in two dining rooms
• Chefs Table adjacent to the kitchen is available for an interactive dining experience with our executive chef.
• Option for entire venue rental for large parties.

Private Dining in Macon

• Seating for 30 people in our private dining room.
• Option for entire venue rental for large parties.
• Custom menus can be created.
• Optional projector and screen



Private Dining Room- Warner Robins

Chef's Table - Warner Robins

Wine Room Warner Robins

Private Dining Room - Macon

We have a table waiting for you!

The grand opening of Marco Warner Robins is just around the corner. Take a look at these final pre-opening photos. We will open our doors on September 3 and we have a table waiting for you. Call or go online to make reservations to experience this excellent fine dining in Warner Robins.

Pasta & Riso Night Special: What is Arancini?

On August 1, 2, and 3, Marco Ristorante Italiano is featuring a delicious five course dinner special featuring delicious selections of pasta and risotto. Pasta & Riso Nights will include several unique dishes prepared by our culinary team led by Chef Gianluca. One item on the menu is an Italian dish called Arancino (plural: Arancini). Here is a little background on this native Italian specialty.

Arancini or arancine are fried rice balls coated with breadcrumbs, said to have originated in Sicily in the 10th century. Arancini are usually filled with ragù (meat sauce), tomato sauce, mozzarella, and/or peas. There are a number of local variants that differ in fillings and shape. The name derives from the food's shape and color, which is reminiscent of an orange (the Italian word for orange is arancia, and arancina means "little orange").

The main type of arancino sold in Sicilian cafes are arancini con ragù, which typically consist of meat in a tomato sauce, rice, and mozzarella. The arancini dish at Marco will feature a duo, one filled with Bolognese ragu and the other with mozzarella and peas. Both will be served with Marco's homemade pomodoro sauce.

Other courses during the Pasta & Riso nights include a ravioli duo, a risotto duo, a cold duo, and frittella di riso with pistachio mouse for dessert. See the complete menu below. Make reservations for Pasta & Riso Nights by calling 478.405.5660.

Great Fun at the Museum of Aviation's Taste of Local Cuisine

Several members of the Marco team had a great time serving veal & sage ravioli and profiteroles at the Museum of Aviation's Taste of Local Cuisine on July 13. The annual event benefits the Museum's Foundation and is a great way to mix & mingle with the friendly people of Warner Robins. The main question asked: "When are you going to open?" Very soon loyal fans. We anticipate mid-August. We'll keep you posted. In the meantime, we're glad we could give you a taste of things to come.

 

 

Marco Takes on the Hamburger.

Chef Gianluca has taken the traditional hamburger and given it an Italian twist. The combination of fresh flavors and Italian ingredients, might make you question ever going back to a "typical" burger. The Marco Italian Burger features one hundred percent Angus ground beef topped with pancetta, fontina cheese, peppers and onions prepared "agrodolce" - sweet and sour. This delicious concoction is served between Marco’s homemade baked foccacia bread drizzled with olive oil and accompanied with hand-cut Italian fries topped with fresh grated Parmesan cheese. This summer treat is available for a limited time only for lunch and dinner starting July 1.

And the walls go up!

Progress at Marco's Warner Robin's location is coming along! The drywall is up and now you can really tell how spectacular the restaurant is going to be. With three separate private dining rooms, an intimate main dining room, and the semi-circle Chef's Table, the ambiance at Marco's in Warner Robins will definitely compliment the exquisite food served here.




One very proud owner