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A Dyer family that delights countless Region residents every Christmas with The Magical Light Show makes no secret of their Italian heritage.
The Manfre family, who recently appeared on ABC's "The Great Christmas Light Fight," wishes visitors Buon Natale, Italian for Merry Christmas, in incandescent lights. Their synchronized light show features songs like "Dominick the Donkey," an Italian folk song about a donkey who helps out Santa's reindeer when they can't get the sleigh up a hill.
Now the Manfres are getting into the Italian food business.
Kelly Manfre and her husband Danny Manfre launched La Dolce Tiramisu, an online business selling sheet pans of tiramisu to customers across Northwest Indiana.
"Grammatically it's IlDolce but we went with La Dolce," she said. "It's home-made tiramisu. What inspired me is I married into a 100% Italian family. This is a second- or third-generation recipe. My mother-in-law taught me how to make it."
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Her tiramisu proved to be a hit with family, friends and neighbors. So they got the idea to sell it.
They have a lot of followers on social media because of the Magical Light Show. Their numbers jumped after they appeared on national television, competing on the season finale of the long-running reality show on ABC.
"I'm happy and honored to share our family tiramisu with all our fans and followers," Dan Manfre said.
The tiramisu is just like they would make it in Italy, Kelly Manfre said.
"It's 100% authentic. It's not American," she said. "I love the strong coffee taste. It has an espresso taste. I've asked a few people about tiramisu and they never heard of it, but when they try it they think it's the best dessert in the world."
La Dolche sells Tiramisu via its Facebook and Instagram pages. It offers 11-by-9.5-inch sheet pans that are suitable for large family gatherings. It can serve around eight to 10 people.
It's currently just sold in the traditional flavor but the hope is to add fruit flavors, like strawberry and blueberry.
"We expect it to get really popular around Christmas during the Magical Light Show," she said. "Being on ABC probably doubled our foot traffic, which meant more money for our Toys for Tots and Nick's Foundation charities. There's a lot of traffic and interest around then."
A look back at Northwest Indiana businesses that closed in 2023
A look back at Region businesses that closed in 2023
Local News
Alert Top Story Urgent
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
Beer Geeks, one of the Region's first, most beloved and most influential craft beer bars, closed after more than a decade and is being reimagined as a new concept.
Local News
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88-year-old White Castle in Whiting, one of Chicago area's first, coming down to be replaced with new restaurant
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
The landmark 88-year-old castle-shaped White Castle in Whiting is coming down to be replaced with a newer, larger, more modern White Castle restaurant.
Local News
Editor's Pick
Silver Bullet Bar in downtown Crown Point closes
- Joseph S. Pete
A longtime staple in downtown Crown Point poured its last drink.
Local News
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Westforth Sports gun shop in Cal Township closing after 66 years
- Joseph S. Pete
The longtime Westforth Sports gun shop is closing.
Local News
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Lansing plant to close, laying off 274 workers
- Joseph S. Pete
The Silver Line Building Products plant at16801 Exchange Ave. will be shuttered permanently.
Localbusinesses
Highland's Brewfest to pour last beer, eying move to Lowell
- Joseph S. Pete
Brewfest in Highland will close in what's been called "an end of an era."
Local News
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David's Bridal files for bankruptcy, could close all stores
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
David's Bridal filed for bankruptcy and could close all stores if no buyer emerges to save it.
Whiting News
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88-year-old Whiting White Castle will end up on display in museums in Illinois and Indiana
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
The 88-year-old Whiting White Castlewill be remembered with displays at museums in two different states.
Local News
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88-year-old Whiting White Castle serves last sliders to nostalgic crowd
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
For years, the "millionaire's club" met every morning in the corner booth of the historic 88-year-old White Castle at Indianapolis Boulevard and 119th Street in downtown Whiting. The landmark restaurant served its final slider Tuesday.
Local News
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- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
One of Northwest Indiana's most popular and enduring hobby shops is looking for a buyer after the longtime owner died.
Local News
Urgent
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
J&L This N That Consignment Shop, a popular thrift store, closed in downtown Whiting after a run of several years.
Local News
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Calumet Fisheries temporarily closed after failing health inspection
- Joseph S. Pete
A Calumet Region institution, Calumet Fisheries on the far South Side of Chicago, is temporarily closed after failing a city health inspection.
Local News
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Calumet Fisheries suffers fire shortly after reopening after health inspection closure
- Joseph S. Pete
Just days after reopeningafter city health inspectors shut it down, Calumet Fisheries suffered a major fire.
Local News
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Pepe's Mexican Restaurant is no mas in Valparaiso after 43 years
- Joseph S. Pete
Pepe's Mexican Restaurant is no mas in Valparaiso.
Local News
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Former Beer Geeks bar closes after rebranding
- Joseph S. Pete
Beer Geeks in Highland rebranded as B-Side Bar & Lounge and then closed within a few months.
Business
Top Story Urgent
Bed Bath and Beyond to close Valparaiso store and multiple Chicagoland locations, leaving just one Region location left
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
Troubled retailerBed Bath and Beyond will permanently close its Valparaiso location as it shutters more stores nationwide as it looks to restructure and shrink its footprint to save the struggling business.
Local News
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Peoples Bank closes downtown Hammond branch
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
Peoples Bank has shuttered its branch in downtown Hammond.
Business
Editor's Pick
Viking Artisan Ales to close Merrillville taproom
- Joseph S. Pete
Viking Artisan Ales will soon pour its last craft beer at its Merrillville taproom.
Local News
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- Joseph S. Pete
Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom is closing after 15 years at one of Northwest Indiana's most prominent highway interchanges.
Local News
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Walmart closing Homewood store
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
Walmart is closing its big-box store in Homewood.
Local News
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Chicago Auto Show returns with smaller footprint, no Camp Jeep track
- Joseph S. Pete
The Chicago Auto Show, the nation's largest auto show, returns to McCormick Place Saturday, running through Feb. 19.
Local News
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Munster-based Land O'Frost laying off 215 workers in Chicago
- Joseph S. Pete
Munster-based Land O'Frost, the packaged lunchmeat giant, is laying off 215 workers in Chicago and shuttering a plant it acquired two years ago.
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Joseph S. Pete
Business Reporter
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