PUGLIA – The heel of the boot…

 “Stretching out eastward towards Greece and Byzantium, Puglia, the heel of the boot that is Italy, looks more like wind-swept northern Africa or sun toasted Greece than any part of the rest of Italy. Nearly 500 miles of coastland wrap around a geological treasure trove of variation, from the craggy and hilly Gargano peninsula to the Murge, the high grassy plain that dominates the center of this region of wheat and olive farming, then south to the flat half moon of the gulf of Taranto.”

 – Mario Batali   http://mariobatali.com/exploreItalyDtl.cfm?rid=14

Please join us for a special experience of wines from the region of Puglia.

Pizzeria Wine Director Amanda Courtney will conduct an hour and half wine tasting/class that will explore the beautiful wines from this exotic region in Southern Italy.

PUGLIA: ITALY’S WINE CELLAR

$49 per person plus tax and service

Saturday, March 20^th from 3:00-4:30-PM

Saturday, March 27^th from 3:00-4:30-PM

Sunday, March 28th from 3:30-5:00 pm

Jack Warner Room, Pizzeria Mozza

Space is limited and will be booked on a first come, first serve basis.

Please call our confirmation line to book:  323.866.5300

Light antipasti will be served.  Inquiries for dinner reservations welcome!

A very busy Menchie’s has just opened on Montana at Lincoln in Santa Monica.  The self-serve palace of frozen yogurt appeared to be holding its own against TCBY across the street and Pinkberry only a few blocks up.

This just came in from Mozza:

Pizzeria Mozza is thrilled to present new Wine Director/Sommelier, Amanda Courtney as she continues with our unique wine education program.

Please join us either Saturday or Sunday for a special experience of wines from the Alto-Adige…

Amanda will conduct an hour and half wine tasting/class on both days that will present delicious libations with traditional food pairings from this lovely region in Northern Italy.

Space is limited and will be booked on a first come, first serve basis.

$49 per person

Saturday or Sunday, February 27^th & 28^th

3:30-5:00 pm

Jack Warner Room, Pizzeria Mozza

Please call our confirmation line to book:  323.866.5300

Light antipasti will be served.  Inquiries for dinner reservations welcome!

Scuola di Pizza Class Schedule

Thursday, March 4^th & Thursday, March 25^th Pizza Classes.

Thursday March 11^th Chocolate Workshop.

RESERVATIONS CAN BE MADE BY CALLING:  323.297.1130

IMPORTANT *

Spumoni Cafe and Pizzeria, an offshoot of Spumoni in Santa Monica, appears poised to open in Brentwood at 11714 San Vicente (Thank God, I was beginning to tire of the 28,000 other Italian restaurants in Brentwood.)  An employee told Toddrickallen that it will be open either Friday (2/19) or Monday at the latest.  Obviously they’ve had a few setbacks as evidenced by the chalkboard, but if the popularity of Spumoni in Santa Monica is any indicator, they should have a fighting chance.

Eater LA has confirmed that Veggie Grill is moving into the Sizzler space on Wilshire at 20th in Santa Monica in October.  Good news for Westside vegans.  How do you compare Veggie Grill’s southwest chicken sandwich with Native Food’s chicken sandwich?  (Hint:  They’re related…)

A reliable tipster sent me information that Fig & Olive Kitchen and Tasting Bar  http://www.figandolive.com/, the sunny New York chain with a strong emphasis on regional Mediterranean olive oils, is attempting to take the vacant space next to Lululemon on the corner of San Vicente and Montana ave. in Brentwood (CA).  There will be a public hearing on February 3rd to decide it’s fate.  The problem?  Brentwood residents seem to feel that there are too many restaurants on San Vicente already and parking can be a nightmare. (They should be grateful it’s not another run-of-the-mill Italian joint.)  Apparently the chain was offered the penthouse restaurant at the Hotel Angeleno, but they declined hoping for the San Vicente space instead.  I say good luck Fig & Olive!

It looks like Fatburger is out, Chipotle is in on the Promenade between Wilshire and Arizona.  And an employee at Veggie Grill in El Segundo told me that they hope to have an outpost in Santa Monica “very soon”.  We’ll be waiting…