A few months ago, chef Alessandro Pirozzi decided to stop working for others and pour his passion into a restaurant of his own. He’s created a winner with his Cucina Alessa in Newport Beach.
His cooking is in the style of Napoli and much of his influence comes from a family of good cooks. His uncle is a famous chef in Italy.
The place is cute and its friendliness quotient is on a par with the excellent food.
My favorites: carpaccio of filet mignon spotted with fantastic olive oil, capers and shaved parmesan; short rib tor-tellini with walnut sauce and fresh pastas with accompanying authentic sauces. Lasagne Napole-tana melds ricotta cheese, mini meatballs, meat ragu sauce, basil and fresh mozzarella, layering it all with that lovely homemade pasta.
Crispy pizzas, such as the pizza di Parma, are definitive of what we’ve eaten in Italy.
Lunch and dinner are served daily. Breakfast,anyone for a superb frittata or breakfast version panini?,is served on weekends. Cucina Alessa: 6700 W. Coast Highway (west of Superior), Newport Beach, (949) 645-2148.
A Cook and a Book
When culinary master Anne Willan hosts a formal meal inspired by her book “The Country Cooking of France,” it is sure to be a sellout. She is famed as one of the premier cooking instructors in Paris and London and as both instructor and food journalist in America. She has written more than a dozen best-selling cookbooks and how-to culinary volumes. She also is the founder of La Varenne in Burgundy, one of the most respected cooking schools.
The dinner is at the Five Crowns in Corona del Mar on April 21 at 7 p.m. Reservations: (949) 760-0331. The $120 price includes the tax, tip and a signed copy of her current book.
Meat Sale
Zlaket’s is offering discounts of 20% to 25% on fine, hand-cut meats. We’ve always heralded their quality meats and all the helpful and complete cooking tips available at this market. The staff will even cook the meats for you, along with side dishes.
The Zlakets tell me they’ve never seen such deep discounting from suppliers,again the economy speaks,and rather than keep their prices the same, they are passing all these discounts on. Save on T-bones, filets, porterhouses, rib eyes, New Yorks, baseball steaks and more. Zlaket’s: 12921 Main St., Garden Grove, (714) 534-2188.
Macy’s Signature Kitchen
Who would expect to have high-profile chefs like Marcus Samuelsson, Cat Cora and Nancy Silverton all having a hand in the new Signature Kitchen at Macy’s Home Store in South Coast Plaza?
Samuelsson, at the relatively young age of 38, is the near-legendary chef and co-owner of New York’s Aquavit and Riingo (yes, it is spelled correctly). Cora is one of Food TV’s Iron Chefs and Silverton is founder of La Brea Bakery, cofounder of Campanile and co-owner (along with celebrity chef Mario Batali) of L.A.’s Osteria Mozza and Pizzeria Mozza. Each has some signature items on the menu in this restaurant that sits beside the kitchenware department.
Marcus Samuelsson’s Marc Burger of Kobe beef is like the hamburger’s proudest moment. Nancy Silverton has international status for including refined and artisanal breads to sandwiches. Cora does her take on barbecue (dubbed CCQ for Cat Cora’s ‘que) that can be had as part of a sandwich or on a platter with variations on the
theme.
$100 Incentive
Anaheim White House is giving away $100 certificates for the first 100 reservations every 100 days. It’s true. The two upcoming dates on which these certificates will be offered are July 19 and Oct. 27. You’ve got to keep your reservation; no-show, no money. Anaheim White House: 887 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, (714) 772-1381.
Royal Discount
I know of a fabulous way to add dash to your dining, and it will only cost you $10 to $15 at lunch and $20 to $25 at dinner. Royal Khyber in South Coast Plaza Village is offering 11 entrees for a prix-fixe two-course lunch and three-course dinner. The food here is modern Indian and is so good that it’s on a par with those fine restaurants abroad.
Royal Khyber: 1621 W. Sunflower (next to Antonello), Santa Ana, (714) 436-1010.
Bits and Pieces
In the snippets department, Savannah Supper Club in Costa Mesa closed after being sold by Culinary Ventures Inc. The new owners will do some refurbishing and plan to reopen in about 90 days. I will let you know as we learn more.
Morton’s The Steakhouse, of Santa Ana and Anaheim, is offering accountants a chance to win a steak and seafood dinner. Call (714) 621-0101 or (714) 444-4834 by Tuesday for a chance at CPA Appreciation Day.
There have been some changes at the former Arches on the Water (before that, Le Quai) in Newport’s Cannery Village. It’s now called The Dock and Dan Marcheano, the former proprietor, who also owns the Arches Grill & BBQ only steps away from this little waterside restaurant, opted out of operating it and turned it over to the longtime landlord, Dennis Overstreet. It’s a small and cute place that provides food right at the dock.
The Dock is serving lunch and dinner, in addition to Saturday and Sunday brunch. There’s a lunch special of three courses and also an early bird dinner on Tuesdays for $15. You’ll find it at 2816 Lafayette Ave., Newport Beach, (949) 673-3625.
