Piccolo Pete's vs Caniglia's Venice Inn
Piccolo Pete's vs Caniglia's Venice InnWOWT Blog Listing
Piccolo Pete's vs Caniglia's Venice Inn
Topic Author: Brian Mastre
Posted: 10:49 AM Oct 22, 2010
Save Email Print
Recent Blog Topics

Font Size:

This week the Travel Channel aired its latest Food Wars episode pitting two Omaha historic steak joints against each other -- Piccolo Pete's versus Caniglia's Venice Inn.

Tony Piccolo started his steakhouse in 1933.  Eli Caniglia opened his in 1957.  Both places are still in the family.  In fact, the competing owners are cousins.

I'm sure that didn't hurt when the program was looking for a television battle.

The show gave a pleasant sense of history at the restaurants and encouraged trash talking between the two.

Both restaurants went through at least a dozen prime steaks each while the photographers tried to get the perfect beauty shots.  The steaks aren't cheap -- $15 a pound -- but the national publicity for both places is worth it.

In the end, the two judges split their votes and the show's host crowned Caniglia's Venice Inn as champion in the steak category.

After the show aired, many people asked about the Caniglia pronunciation.  The host left out the 'g' sound.

Chuck Caniglia told me that's the way it's pronounced in the old country and when he was growing up.  His brother Jerry told me that most people know the place with the 'g' used and will now wonder why the change. 

Even in victory -- they have something to argue over.  Isn't that what brothers are supposed to do?

Channel 6 News Features
Political Headlines
The feed from Political Headlines is currently unavailable. It should be back shortly.