Minding Your Business- Cibo Italian Kitchen and Market

“For us, it’s a labor of love. I don’t know how else to say it,” said Antonella Fernandez, co-owner of Cibo Italian Kitchen and Market in Orleans. “It is so sweet and special for us to share this food we love with everybody.”

 Fernandez opened Cibo (pronounced “chee-boh”) in Orleans with her brother and head chef Nick Muce in March 2020, right as the COVID-19 pandemic was starting. While Fernandez had a background in hospitality, Muce had spent much of his career cooking at his aunt and uncle’s popular restaurant LoCicero’s in Orleans. The siblings grew up in a household filled with Italian customs and traditions and above all else, amazing food. 

 “I was born in Italy, and when I was a small child we moved to the United States for a job my dad had,” Fernandez said. “Once my parents retired, they moved back to Italy. We would go back every winter to visit them and would always visit beautiful gastronomias (local specialty markets). I would always say to Nick, ‘We should do this on the Cape!’”

 The concept was simple: grab-and-go food just like your grandmother, or “nonna,” used to make. And it turns out they were on to something! Cibo is a destination experience for locals and summer visitors alike. The market is the type of place you can find anything you might need to curb a craving or feed a family of any size. The siblings’ vision was to create a place where families and travelers who may not have time to prepare a homemade meal can come and enjoy simple and authentic food. When you walk through the doors at Cibo Italian Kitchen and Market, it feels like home. Cibo is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m and is closed on Sundays and Mondays.

 “We really tried to make it authentically an Italian experience,” Fernandez said. “We make almost everything in-house. Nick makes about 100 ciabatta breads every single day.”

 Paninis are big business at Cibo, and there about a dozen different ones on the menu including a Caprese, Milanese, an Italiano and a prosciutto polpette panini which includes homemade meatballs. There are also countless items that are available to-go or can be plated to dine in from the hot box counter. Items offered here include arancini, meatballs, chicken cutlets, various pastas, vegetables and both roasted potatoes and potato fritters. 

One awesome fact to note is that Chef Nick makes many of his marsalas and piccatas gluten free by thickening with cornstarch as opposed to flour. Gluten-free ciabatta is also available! Be sure to check out their website for all of the allergy-friendly selections. The folks at Cibo are happy to walk anyone through the establishment to review these items. 

Many market items at Cibo change daily, and there will always be a selection of soups and salads to choose from, including delicious frozen grab-and-go sauces. There is a gelato, dessert and coffee cafe area with offerings like cannoli, ricotta pie and a flourless chocolate pistachio cake.

Cibo also offers family-sized meal packages which feed four people and give you a choice of one entree with a salad, pasta or potato, a vegetable and fresh homemade bread. The eatery also offers on- and off-site catering for parties, graduations, and any other type of gathering with a variety of options to choose from.

Cibo features two incredible dining experiences on a regular basis including a six-course themed wine pairing dinner (check the website for specific dates) as well as a weekly three-course Wednesday night meal starting at 6 p.m. The Wednesday night dinners have become a popular hit in town, especially with a $40 price point that can’t be beat and live music from Bella Ciao (Frank Poranski and Kami Lyle). 

 “We do this because it’s beautiful to expose people to what authentic Italian food is really like,” Fernandez said. “We had a sweet lady come in a few years ago and she saw that we had caponata (Sicilian eggplant). She said she hadn’t had that since her nonna was alive, which was about 50 years ago. I told her she had to try it and she did. She started crying, and I started crying because for me, to relive this memory with her was just so authentically beautiful.”

Cibo Italian Kitchen and Market

15 Cove Rd., Orleans

774-207-0541

cibocapecod.com