FIRSTS
A Perfect Match The face behind Mizza is Kourtney Searls By Leslie A. Westbrook
Joshua Curry
T
here are many reasons to dine at Mizza, the recently opened artisan pizza/Italian restaurant located at the State Street entrance to charming La Arcada Plaza: long, high-top wooden tables with a State Street view, tasty wood-fired pizzas, delicious homemade pastas and tangy entrees all tended to by the lovely staff. But another stunning reason is warm, welcoming owner Kourtney Searls. (Her husband/co-owner, Brendan, is close at hand at Viva, also in La Arcada). The face of Mizza, who has been long known for Pizza Mizza in La Cumbre Plaza, is now front and center with her trademark blonde corkscrew curls and helpful dining suggestions. Another weapon in the arsenal is Michael De Paolo, of much-loved Emilio’s, who consulted on the menu.
“We designed this with locals in mind,” Kourtney said. “It’s like you are coming to my house and I made you dinner.” So let’s eat! All the food is made from scratch and sourced locally as much as possible. “Live produce” grown locally at Pilgrim Terrace is purchased by donation that helps the elderly around town. Grilled peaches with fresh burrata and prosciutto are served on a wooden board with toasted French bread from Our Daily Bread. The julienne spinach in Belgium endive salad is loaded with Gorgonzola and crunchy pistachios. A dozen pizza choices range from traditional margherita to pancetta and smoked chicken; gluten-free crusts (using Thomas Keller’s recipe) are available. The fragrant and flavorful wild mushroom (shiitake, portobello, button, and truffle) pizza bubbles with fontina cheese atop the excel(continued)
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