Get Cookin' With...La Scarola's Joey and Armando

La Scarola is one of the most popular restaurants in town and it’s not just because of its delicious Italian food. Co-owners Joey Mondelli and Armando Vasquez are major people magnets. Everyone wants to visit them at their restaurant at 721 W. Grand Ave. From major celebrities to sports stars to politicians to just local folk, it’s a destination spot for just about everyone you could think of.

When Joey and Armando first envisioned a restaurant, they weren’t thinking big; they were thinking easy—“Over Easy” that is, a restaurant concept that would only serve breakfast and lunch and still allow the two men-about-town some time for themselves. But this wasn’t meant to be, fortunately for us.

The backstory: Armando moved to the United States as a little kid from Mexico. The Preveleanakis family took him in and gave him his first job as a dishwasher and also shared their love of cooking with him. All their lessons stuck. Meanwhile, young Joey was making his way around Chicago, charming guests with his magic tricks as a bartender, beginning at the tender age of 17, at many of the hotspots in town.

In 1980, Mondelli established the iconic Kelly Mondelli’s on Clark Street, which quickly became a celebrity hangout. Following this venture, he opened another restaurant, Joey Mondelli’s, in Warrenville (in the western suburbs), which is where he met Armando. The rest, as they say, is history.

La Scarola became a reality on Feb. 22, 1998, with a simple hand-painted sign that cost $300 and was originally envisioned by Armando on a napkin (the same sign is still there). Joey has been in the restaurant and bar business for 50 years, cooking for Liza Minnelli, Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Robert DeNiro and more. Armando is not far behind at 38 years.

Together, at La Scarola, they have been attracting an A+ clientele from the restaurant’s inception with guests that have included Faye Dunaway, Oliver Stone, Colin Farrell, Morgan Freeman, Robert Zemeckis, Victor Skrebneski, Keanu Reeves, Shia LeBeouf, Tommy Lasorda, Evander Holyfield, Geraldine Chaplin, Bobby Hull, Chris Hemsworth, Emilio and Gloria Estefan, Sidney Poitier, Eminem and so many more.

Going strong at 23 years, the restaurant has many specialties, including Sausage & Peppers, Ricotta Meatballs, Risotto Primavera, Vitello di Franco, Chicken Vesuvio and more. (All of these recipes can be found in Joey and Armando’s book “The Walls of La Scarola.”)

Armando and Joey shared one of their many favorite recipes with us, Pasta Sinatra, in honor of a late friend and treasured customer.

Pasta Sinatra

Serves 4

● 1 lb. penne pasta

● 3 TBSP extra virgin olive oil

● 8 large sea scallops

● 12 West Coast mussels, cleaned

● 4 shrimp

● 2 shallots, thinly sliced

● 1/2 cup button mushrooms, sliced

● 8 asparagus spears, cleaned and cut into 1/2 inch long pieces

● Chopped fresh Italian parsley and basil to taste

● 3 ounces salted butter

● 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

● Salt and pepper to taste

● 1/2 cup vodka

● 2 cups tomato sauce

● 1/3 cup Romano cheese

Bring a pot of water to boil. Add the pasta. Cook until al dente. Drain and set aside.

In a large pan, heat the olive oil. Add the scallops. Cook for 2 minutes on each side. Add shrimp, mussels, shallots, mushrooms, asparagus, parsley and basil. Cook about 5 minutes.

Add butter and cream. Bring to a boil. Season with salt and pepper before adding vodka and tomato sauce. Bring back to a boil. Add penne and Romano cheese. Toss well before serving.