Hungry for a taste of Italy? You don't have to go far

Foodies who are looking for new Italian dining experiences will find a couple of tasty options in the Oakdale-Riverbank area. Apparently, the Cowboy Capital and the City of Action are also the center of the universe, or at least within sniffing distance of it, for cooking up pasta, veal, cioppino and such -- who knew?

Le Porccini Gourmet Italian Restaurant is at 3744 Atchison St. (Highway 108-120) in Riverbank, and Bocelli's Ristorante and Pizzeria is at 1505 W. F St. (also Highway 108-120) in Oakdale. Le Porccini sits at the eastern edge of Riverbank, and Bocelli's is on the west end of Oakdale, just a few miles from each other. Keep a close watch for the Le Porccini sign because the small parking lot can be a little tricky to get into from the busy main drag.

Le Porccini is owned by Pedro Alberto, who specializes in northern Italian cuisine. He prepares soups, sauces, ravioli and most other items fresh each day for lunch and dinner. Diners can choose from bruschetta, spaghetti, fettuccine, chicken marsalla, veal piccata, rack of lamb, steak, lobster, salmon and cioppino -- to name a few. Alberto's signature dish is his fresh-baked ravioli, which he fills with everything from cheese to shrimp. He'll even make them to order to satisfy a customer's individual taste.

A small restaurant, Le Porccini provides a cozy yet formal setting, with white tablecloths, long-stemmed wine glasses and candles. The tables and chairs are arranged to maximize the space but provide privacy. For more information, call 863-0389.

Boccelli's is owned by Helen Zaya and Rogeh Youzef. They offer an extensive list of Italian dishes, including appetizers, soups, salads, chicken, seafood, pasta, steaks, veal, ravioli, calzones and pizzas. The menu features items such as steamed clams, mushroom lemon chicken, cioppino, manicotti, cannelloni and angus New York steak. There's also a variety of gourmet pizzas baked in stone ovens, such as chicken pesto, Cajun chicken and Bocelli's combo.

Formerly the Garlic House, the new owners gave the interior a makeover, adding a large mural and dark colors to create a rich, warm ambience. The goal was to create a more intimate dining experience. For more information, call 848-8749.

Remember, if Italian cuisine is what you're looking for, Oakdale and Riverbank have lots to offer. And while Le Porccini and Bocelli's promise food and style that are out of this world, diners don't have to go far to try them out. With the high price of gas, it's nice to know our little universe -- the valley -- has so much to offer.

Elsewhere on the Business Beat:

Streaks Salon at 1421 Standiford Ave. in Modesto is under new ownership.

A mother- (Leslie Muir) and-daughter (Daydre Eastwood) team recently took over the business, Suite A, in Frontier Village West. A full-service salon, Muir, Eastwood and crew provide a full range of hair, skin and nail services. Clients can get styling, weaves, coloring, up-dos, perms, manicures, pedicures, facials, waxings, etc.

Streaks recently added a spray-on tanning unit. Called Versa Spa, it applies the tan and hydrates the skin. The process takes about seven minutes but lasts about seven days. It provides three levels of tanning, so clients can get the look they want: light, medium or well done (without the sun damage).

At Streaks, making sure your color -- hair, nails, skin -- is just right is what it's all about. For more information, call 523-9800.

Have an item for Business Beat? Send it to David W. Hill, The Modesto Bee, P.O. Box 5256, Modesto 95352; or dhill@modbee.com.