Chef captivated by Italy
By the age of 12, Alejandro Perez was helping out at his parent's restaurant in Saltillo in northern Mexico.
When he was in junior high he came to the United States, mainly to learn the language. He later graduated from Wheeling High School and continued to work in area restaurants. Perez yearned to learn all the different cuisines.
He went back to Mexico for a while and worked at a French restaurant before coming back here to work at Deerfield's Bakery, Bob Chin's Crab House, Wildfire and most recently Follia, an upscale Italian eatery in Chicago.
Perez's desire to learn continued and he earned his culinary degree last year at Le Cordon Bleu in Chicago.
Italian food is what Perez, 30, enjoys preparing most. A trip to Tuscany confirmed his desire to open his own Italian restaurant.
He recently made this a reality when he opened Il Tartufo Bianco, which means the white truffle. The new eatery is at 201 S. Main St. in downtown Wauconda.
"It's a fine dining Italian restaurant. It's a romantic place," he said. White table cloths and red roses on the tables set the tone at the upscale eatery, said Perez, who is known as Chef Alex.
"I use the best ingredients when making my pasta," Perez said. Favorite appetizers include mozzarella di buffalo, fresh from Naples, Italy. It goes for $13.95. The porchetta alla romana for $7.95 is another favorite.
The fresh fillet of tilapia encrusted with potato and served with spinach and a creamy sauce is one of Perez's signature dishes, for which he has earned a first-place award. It sells for $25.95. His leg of lamb, going for $32.95, has earned him top honors in a culinary competition designed to show skill and knowledge.
Perez is waiting a couple weeks until he obtains his liquor license before holding a grand opening. "We've had a good response so far," said Perez, who lives in Pingree Grove with his wife Vicky and three children.
The restaurant launch has been a learning experience. Over the years, the toughest part about living in the United States has been learning the language and the culture.
Perez also speaks fluent Italian. He was in Italy last year taking a training course to prepare him for his business venture.
His restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch and 5 p.m. to 10 or 11 p.m. for dinner. For more information, call (847) 469-8684.
Free expo: The Lake Zurich Area Chamber of Commerce holds its community and business expo Saturday. About 120 exhibitors are expected at the event that takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lake Zurich High School, 300 Church St.
A variety of family-oriented events are planned, including a Miss Illinois appearance and a live reptile show. Children from area schools will also perform. Free massage, raffles and a trolley to transport visitors from the lower level parking area to the field house and Tonelli gym are also included. The expo is free.