The envelopes, please. The following winners represent the best of the area`s Italian dining scene as selected by Tribune restaurant critic Phil Vettel:
Sensational tiramisu: Bice is best. Other notables include Tucci Milan, New Rosebud Cafe, Trattoria L`Angolo di Roma and Lou Ferrigno`s in Elmwood Park.
Best Italian sommelier: Kelli Rick at Carlucci in Rosemont. Knowledgable, pleasant and very approachable, she makes a personable, nonthreatening guide into the sometimes daunting world of Italian wines. For after-dinner drinking, she does a terrific presentation of Carlucci`s fine selection of grappas.
Great decor: Opulent Vivere; stylishly rustic Carlucci (Rosemont) and Tuscany; and urban-slick Avanzare.
Pasta king: There`s a lot of great pasta in town, but the next mediocre pasta dish I get from Avanzare will be the first.
Best Italian wine list: Spiaggia.
Best free entertainment: If anything beats the aria-singing waitstaff at Primavera in the Fairmont Hotel, it`s Tony Spavone, who serenades diners at his Tony Spavone`s restaurant in Bloomingdale.
Best Italian accent by a non-Italian: These days he`s operating Kinzie Street, but when Roger Greenfield ran the front room at Brio in Highland Park, he could mille grazie with the best of them.
Best new pizza topping: Potato pizza, available at Trattoria Convito.
Where to display that new, killer outfit: Strut your stuff at Bice, Carlucci
(Halsted Street) or Trattoria Convito-if you can handle seeing others who are dressed as well, or better.
Favorite pizza (entree): Pizzeria Uno still gives us that (number) 1 thrill, though Lou Malnati`s comes awfully close. Both can have their off days, however. For consistency, day in and day out, Edwardo`s is best.
Most out-of-the-way spot to get that Little Italy atmosphere: Taylor Street Cafe in-no kidding-Lake Zurich.
Goofiest name for an Italian restaurant: Luigi`s of Hong Kong (honest) in-again-Lake Zurich. Maybe it`s the water.
