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EAT THIS: THE OZZY’S MAMA PIZZA AT OZZY’S PIZZERIA
With so many places to get pizza in Santa Cruz County – more than 60 pizza-centric businesses, by my count – it can be difficult to stand out in the crowd. But when Tim Silva opened Ozzy’s Pizzeria in Watsonville in May, he brought a distinct culinary perspective to Neapolitan pies, with unusual – but expertly crafted – pizzas inspired by his family and life experiences.
On a list that includes combinations like filet mignon, roasted mushrooms and cream (Zoe, $28), and Castelvetrano olives, roasted mushrooms and marinated artichoke hearts (Shannon’s Veggie, $24), my eye was drawn to a pizza called Ozzy’s Mama ($23), named after his daughter, mother to the restaurant’s namesake, Silva’s 1-year-old grandson, Ozzy.
The pie is topped with Italian sausage and Parmesan, and finished with dollops of cool, oozing stracciatella cheese, spoonfuls of spicy-sweet habanero jelly and wisps of orange zest, which adds a romantic edge to the satisfying marriage of sweet jelly, mild cheese and salty sausage.
With a 35-year career at Pizza My Heart under his belt, Silva told me pizza is more than a career: “It’s a passion. It’s not a job.” Read more about his first solo project here.
BEST OF THE WEEK AHEAD
Below, find a curated list of the best food and drink events in Santa Cruz County for the coming week. At the top, I share my picks of unmissable local happenings.
NEWS OF THE WEEK
ICYMI – here are the food news stories from Lookout that you might have missed, plus important news from beyond our borders picked by yours truly.
- Italian deli and market Bottega del Lago coming to former Live Oak Little Caesars location (Lookout)
- Historic Los Gatos Meats brings signature sandwiches to Capitola Village (Lookout)
- Bay Area startup launches automated kitchen for use in food trucks (CBS News)
- Monterey’s Lantern Room has cruise ship-level ocean views and a seasonal menu to match (Eater SF)
