Pizzeria Prima Strada

This Holiday Season: Buy a Gift, Get a Gift.

2011-12-01T15:47:00.000-08:00

The Pizzeria Prima Strada gift card is the perfect holiday gift! And, we have a little something special for you, too. When you purchase $100 worth of gift cards, we'll give you a free Prima Strada hat or t-shirt! Yep, buy one card for $100 or two for $50 or your favorite combination and you choose a PPS shirt or hat as part of the package. You can include the goodie with the gift card for an extra special gift or keep the treat for yourself (we understand, sometimes it's hard to give). PPS shirts are American Apparel brand and come in multiple sizes and we've got three different styles of hats for you to choose from. Hurry, this promotion is only available while supplies last.

Happy Holidays!

Tuscany Long Table Recap!

2011-11-26T11:53:00.000-08:00

For the last Long Table Dinner of the year, we decided to go big! Tuscany is one of the most recognizable regions of Italy and is well known for its delicious food and luscious wines. This past Wednesday and Thursday we gathered to celebrate, Tuscan-style.
The meal began with a house made Crostino of chicken liver served on toasted bread. The velvety smooth chicken liver was paired with the aromatic white Vermentino by Poggio Morino.
The next course consisted of a hearty vegetable bread soup called Ribollita, which was a perfect companion for the stormy island weather beating at the garage doors. The soup was served with a traditional Tuscan style bread, which is made without using salt. While it is uncertain why the Tuscans did not use salt in their bread, many believe that it is because of a high salt tax. Either way, the end result is a wonderfully crisp crust with a dense, surprisingly sweet interior. This course was paired with a Prima Strada favourite, a classic Chianti by Castiglioni Frescobaldi.

The soup was followed by what was, in my opinion, the best dish of the evening. Pappardelle alla lepre e chanterelle is house made pasta with braised rabbit and chanterelle mushrooms for those of you not fluent in Italian. The tenderness of the rabbit and the meaty quality of our local chanterelles created an unbelievable dish. And not to be overshadowed, the meal was paired with a knockout wine. The Bolgheri DOC from Tenuta Argentiera Donoratico was simply outstanding. After decanting for hours, this wine was one of the smoothest reds I have ever tried.
And finally, the dessert course was a Panforte Senese. Unlike any other cake I have ever had, this can only be described as a pepper cake done Siena style. Full of hazelnuts, candied orange zest and spices, it was both crunchy and chewy with a rich caramel taste. Served with a scoop of gelato, it was the perfect way to end our Tuscan tribute.The Tuscan dinner was our last Long Table of 2011. But have no fear, the Long Table Dinner series will resume on January 25 & 26, 2012! You don't have to wait until January for another special meal at Bridge Street. We are putting the finishing touches on a very special multi-course Italian New Years Eve menu. Details soon.

To stay updated on all of our events, visit http://pizzeriaprimastrada.com/ to subscribe to our newsletter. It takes only a few seconds and guarantees that you will be the first to know about Prima Strada news and events.

The Prima Strada Gang Goes to Italy: Finale

2011-11-10T11:31:00.000-08:00

And so ends our pretend journey with the Prima Strada crew as they gallivanted around Southern Italy. From the wine tastings to the ping pong tables, it has been quite the ride. Luckily for us, they saved the best for last!

A couple of months ago, a lovely man named Peppe came to Victoria and deemed our pizza VPN worthy. For those of you who are not sure what VPN means, it stands for Verace Pizza Napoletana, or "True Pizza of Naples." Similar to the DOC label you find on that beautiful bottle of Chianti, the VPN certification is awarded to those pizzerias who follow the traditional method of pizza making that has been used in Naples for hundreds of years. And just to give you an idea of how strict the regulations are, only a handful of VPN pizzerias exist in Canada. It only made sense that we received our VPN certificate in the motherland of pizza, Naples.

The gang headed to Ristorante Umberto in Napoli for an unforgettable dinner. Seeing as how the restaurant is run by Massimo Di Porzio, the President of the VPN, you can bet his pizzas taste pretty darn good! After the certificate presentation, the guys couldn't resist jumping in the kitchen to show the Italians their skills.

All in all, the trip was a success. I didn't even leave Victoria and I feel like my life got a little more exciting! If you want to see more photos (they only took around 800) please check out our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pizzeriaprimastrada. Grazie!

The Prima Strada Gang Goes to Italy: Making Fior di Latte

2011-11-09T14:31:00.000-08:00

When the Pizzeria Prima Strada gang went to Italy, they learned how to make fior di latte (fresh mozzarella) from an Italian primo! At Prima Strada, we use only fresh mozzarella and fresh buffalo mozzarella on all our pizzas. Ever wanted to know how it's made? Now you can!

Bridge St. Will Be Closed Tomorrow at 7PM

2011-11-09T10:48:00.000-08:00

Thursday November 10th we will be closing our Bridge Street location at 7PM for a private function. We will be open for dinner as usual until 7PM, so please feel free to come for dinner before the private function. Also, we will still be open for take out orders until 9PM. I encourage anyone who is interested in a late dinner to head to Cook Street as they will be open until 10PM.

Thank you all for understanding and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.

Join the List!

2011-11-05T12:33:00.000-07:00

Are you wondering what will be on the menu for the next Long Table Dinner? Join our mailing list! Just go to www.pizzeriaprimastrada.com and sign up on the right hand side of the page. It takes seconds and will give you the latest news about our amazing events, like the Long Tables. The newsletter with the Tuscany Long Table menu has yet to be sent, so sign up now to see what will be featured at our last Long Table of the year. Grazie!

Throwing a Holiday Party? We Can Help!

2011-11-01T09:35:00.000-07:00

It is almost that time of the year when everyone gets together to celebrate the holidays. And whether it is a large corporate office party or a family dinner, Pizzeria Prima Strada on Bridge Street can help!

With a holiday menu available, booking an amazing party is as easy as telling us how many people are coming on what day. Let us take care of the rest. The menu offers two different price options and is available for groups of 8 or more. Also, our Bridge Street location features long family-style dining tables making it comfortable for large groups to sit together.

If you are interested in booking a holiday party with Prima Strada please email Andrew@primastrada.com for availability and menu options. Grazie!

Umbria Candlelight Long Table Dinner Recap

2011-10-28T14:28:00.000-07:00

Wow the last couple days have been fun, am I right? For those of you lucky enough to get a spot at our coveted Long Table Dinner the last two nights I want to start by saying thank you! You were all absolutely wonderful people to have at the dinner and made our romantic ambiance very enjoyable.
The region of the month was Umbria and the food was phenomenal. Also, in cooperation with BC Hydro, we reduced our energy consumption and lit the dining room with only candles!
To kick off the dinner, we started with a Piatto di Salumi. On the plate was house-made bread and butter pickles, oven roasted roma tomatoes, house-made dried fig mostarda, house-made quince paste, spicy cappicollo and lomo from Choux-Choux Charcuterie, with lardo salami and cacciatore from The Whole Beast. A good salumi plate really is a thing of beauty. Paired with this lovely mix of goodies was the wine Est!Est!!Est!!! Di Montefiascone by Falesco. A great wine with a great name!
Next on the menu was what most people considered to be the best dish of the night, the Trota e Funghi. It was an elegant presentation of rainbow trout with chanterelle mushrooms and fingerling potatoes. Served with the trout was a white wine some loyal customers might remember, the Orvieto Classico from Ruffino.

The third course was a Minestra di Farro, which is a house cured ham and spelt stew complete with braising greens. A nice hearty dish for the cold weather outside. It was paired with a wonderful Merlot by Falesco.
And last, but certainly not least, dolci! The dessert of the evening was a Zuccotto which is a sponge cake dome soaked in liqueur and filled with chocolate and hazelnut ice cream. And yes, it is as delicious as it sounds.
Next month will be our last Long Table Dinner of 2011 as we will not be doing one in December. But have no fear, we saved one of the best regions for last. The November Long Table Dinner Series region will be Tuscany! Known for its great wine and amazing food, it will surely be a great meal. Also, because we want to showcase some of the outstanding wines Tuscany has to offer, November's dinner will cost $60 before tax/tip. To book your place for the Tuscany Long Table please email longtable@primastrada.com. Grazie!

The Prima Strada Gang Goes to Italy: Part 3

2011-10-25T10:42:00.000-07:00

After a few days of relaxing and eating gelato, the Italy crew has got to work. First up on their agenda, eating the local pizza. They went to Pizzeria Da Franco in Sorrento to begin.

Da Franco's pizza is not Sorrento style. It's not Napoli style. It can only be described as Da Franco style, with a mix of fresh and smoked mozzarella on every pie. From the pictures it looks like they asked the right locals! Next on the busy To-Do list is visit a vineyard (talk about tough work!) And while Andrew is all business it appears his wife Vanessa has the right idea.
And what trip would be complete without a visit to Caputo, the company that makes the flour we use to make our authentic pizza in Victoria! They meet up with Directorre Eugenio Caputo for the VIP tour.

They all get a hands on lesson on the milling process and watch the bags fill with flour. These are the exact same bags we use in Pizzeria Prima Strada.

And it looks like Enzo just got hired! Head to toe in Caputo gear, he's ready for duty!There's more work to be done, the gang is heading out for pizza in Napoli next. My mouth is watering already...

The Prima Strada Gang Goes to Italy: Part 2

2011-10-21T14:34:00.000-07:00

As if just the thought of the gang in Southern Italy wasn't enough to make you jealous on this rainy Friday, there's now photographic evidence. Fresh off the plane in Napoli, the crew sat down to enjoy the feeling of jet lag. Some took the flight easier than others (I'm guessing) as there is already a beer on that table.

From Napoli they hopped on a bus headed for their temporary home in Piano di Sorrento. Along the way, Cristen managed to snap a picture of the Italian coastline near the city of Meta. When they arrived, their hosts Anna Maria, Emma, and Maria showed them around and made them a true Italian caffe. The next day they explored the markets and the beautiful city of Sorrento. And after a long day of walking they returned to the Villa Jenny to prepare a pork roast with fresh rosemary from the garden, fennel with honey and walnuts, and some rapini (aka broccoli rabe). And what else is there to do while dinner is in the oven than bring the ping pong table into the living room for a couple games?

There are many more photos to come, so put on your best "I'm not jealous" face and get ready because I'm sure that they are only going to get better from here. Ciao for now.

The Prima Strada Gang Goes to Italy: Part 1

2011-10-19T10:26:00.000-07:00

At this very moment, a group of Pizzeria Prima Strada staff (and some very lucky +1's) are on a plane to Southern Italy. The trip is part reconnaissance, part adventure, and a large part fun!
I'd like to invite you all to join my vicarious trip to Italy as we follow Kathleen, Matt, Geoffrey, Cristen, Vanessa, Ben, Andrew, and the children explore the birthplace of pizza. I will be posting updates about their journey (and pretending that I'm the one holding the camera!) I'm excited, are you?

Best Staff Party Ever!

2011-10-09T12:59:00.000-07:00

I want to start off this post by thanking Cristen and Geoffrey Dallas for throwing such an amazing staff party! Every member of the PPS team had a great time and it was fun to see everyone together outside of work. Thank you again.The party began with a little socializing at Bridge St. The team suited up in some Prima Strada baseball t-shirts and started mingling. Thanks to some Driftwood beers and the guys at Puerto Vallarta Amigos serving up some Mexican fare, the soiree started on the right foot. After having our fill we all hopped on a bus and headed down to Sidney for some five pin laser bowling! All in all, the night was wonderful. Bowling with buddies is the best way to spend an evening! To see more photos of the evening please check out our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pizzeriaprimastrada

Just a Reminder!

2011-10-01T10:13:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to remind everyone that Cook Street will be closed for the next two Mondays. Monday, October 3 we will be closed so that the staff from both locations can get together and have a little fun, and October 10 we will be closed to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Thanks for understanding and enjoy your Thanksgiving!

Sardegna Long Table Recap!

2011-09-30T11:32:00.000-07:00

Although it is hard to believe that it's the last week of September already, this month's Long Table Dining Series has come and gone. If you are unfamiliar with what the Long Table Series is, I'm going to break it down for you.
On the last Wednesday and Thursday of every month at Bridge Street we host a four course meal accompanied with three wine pairings all focused on a particular region of Italy. The tables seat 24 guests and reservations are a must (to reserve email longtable@primastrada.com). The entire thing is reasonably priced at $50/person (not including tax/tip) and is a great way to meet some new adventurous people! Who wouldn't like to enjoy a dinner with guys like Mark and Jean, who were at last night's Long Table.

This month's region of choice was Sardegna, one of Italy's Mediterranean islands. To begin the night, diners were treated to an Insalata Pomodoro with heirloom tomato, shaved percorino, red wine vinaigrette, basil, and red onion. I managed to snap a photo of Andrew bringing one over to the table before it was devoured. This course was paired with a Cannonau di Sardegna from Santa Maria la Bombarde.

Next on the menu was Calamari Ripieni, which is squid stuffed with anchovy, breadcrumbs, pecorino, garlic, and parsley served with salsa verde. For this course the wine was Vermetino di Sardegna from Argiolas.
And just like the rest of Italy, Sardinians love their pasta. The calamari was followed by a hand made Malloreddus, which is a saffron pasta with sausage and tomato sauce. The sausage was gorgeous, with a slight hint of orange flavour coming through. The chefs work hard to get the pasta to the table while guests sip on a Montessu from Argicola Punica.

And what meal would be complete without a little something sweet? To finish off the night, diners indulged in some Torta di Mandorle which is an almond cake with a berry compote.

Are you left feeling like you missed out? Have no fear because the Long Table Dining Series happens every month! Next month's region will be Umbria and will be held on October 26th and 27th at Bridge Street. (Insider tip: Oct. 27th will also be our Conservation Candlelight Dinner with BC Hydro. We will be conserving energy by lighting the room by candles!) It is bound to fill up quickly so once you know are committed to attending email longtable@primastrada.com to reserve your spot! Hope to see you soon!

Why can't every weekend be Rifflandia?

2011-09-26T21:13:00.000-07:00

Those people who made it to the four day festival know exactly what I'm talking about. We proved that there's more to Vancouver Island than giant trees and beautiful beaches. There are also a lot of seriously cool people who love to have a great time! It made me proud to be an Islander and I couldn't be happier that Prima Strada sponsored such an amazing event.

The Prima Strada mobile pizza oven was a part of the action at Royal Athletic Park. We were perfectly sandwiched between WannaWafel and Pig (not bad, right?) and had an unobstructed view of the mainstage! After Kurt, Matt and I got the tent set up, the sun broke through. (I actually heard someone asking for sunscreen!) It was the ultimate weekend for an outdoor festival in Victoria.

Of course, many people took the opportunity to dine al fresco. What could be better than listening to Mother Mother and eating a Margherita?

A couple lucky Facebook and Twitter followers got a free Prima Strada bandana. Check out Bridge Street regular Chris rocking his bandana in the beer garden. Looking good, Chris!

The best part about Rifflandia was that there were so many different venues. Although the usual haunts hosted concerts, this was my first time going to the Phillips Brewery for a concert and it was amazing! I got there just in time to see KO put on an amazing show for the near capacity stage/loading dock set up. And for a day that started off pouring rain, Sunday quickly became my favourite. The sea of afternoon partiers grooved to De La Soul as a final farewell to Rifflandia. The worst part is that I'm already looking forward to Rifflandia 5. Only 364 days and counting! See you all there!

RIFFLANDIA!

2011-09-21T14:54:00.000-07:00

My fellow Rifflandians, if you are giddy about the festival (like me) than no doubt you have already picked up your classy wristband. With Rifflandia kicking off tomorrow night, its time for everyone to put it in high gear!

Until Sunday, September 25, Pizzeria Prima Strada will be giving a free panna cotta (with the purchase of a pizza) to everyone with a Rifflandia Wristband at either of our locations ! The best part? Bridge Street is just a short jaunt away from Royal Athletic Park.

So, if you need a pre-park pump up location or a looking for a post-party wind down, come join us and reap the benefits of that pretty little wristband. Think of it as our way of saying "Thanks for supporting such a cool event, Victoria!"

See you soon, either at one of our restaurants, our Rifflandia tent, or in the middle of the dance floor!

A Busy Week for the Mobile!

2011-09-20T16:16:00.000-07:00

This week, our mobile pizza oven is making the most out of the nice weather. This past Sunday, we went to Marley Farms in Saanichton for the annual Feast of Fields, and it was GREAT! When we first pulled in, the sky was covered by grim, dark clouds. Then, miraculously, the clouds parted and Feasters were treated to a brilliant blue sky.

As soon as the gates opened, we had a line up and it stayed that way until we ran out of pizza! We gave out over a thousand slices of pizza in three hours!

And although we were too busy to visit most of the other tents, luckily nice people like Gary from Driftwood stopped by our tent to bring us goodies! All in all, it was an absolutely fabulous day!

Missed Feast of Fields? Check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTXR_QuvD_A to see what people thought of our delicious pizza.

If you weren't able to catch the mobile at Feast of Fields, have no fear because we will be bringing the oven to the Oak Bay Market tomorrow evening and then setting up shop at Royal Athletic Park for Rifflandia Friday-Sunday. Also, for those with Rifflandia wristbands, you get a free dessert with the purchase of a pizza at our restaurants thanks to Wristband Connect. The Rifflandia Wristband Connect has already begun and will continue until Sunday, September 25, 2011.

With all thats going on this week, theres no excuse to not come out and enjoy some pizza! See you soon!

Winter is Upon Us!

2011-09-15T10:45:00.001-07:00

If the weather outside hasn't alerted you to the fact that winter is lurking around the corner, I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news: our short, but sweet summer has ended. With the drop in temperature also comes some changes to our hours at Cook St. The Bridge St. location's hours will remain the same (Tuesday-Saturday from 11:00am-9:00pm)

Already in effect, the Cook St. location will now have the following hours:

Monday 11:30am-9pm

Tuesday 11:30am-9pm

Wednesday 11:30am-9pm

Thursday 11:30am-10pm

Friday 11:30am-10pm

Saturday 11:30am-10pm

Sunday 11:30am-9pm

Also, the Cook St. location will be closed Monday, October 3 for a Pizzeria Prima Strada staff event, and Monday, October 10 for Thanksgiving.

Acqua Calda at Cook Street!

2011-08-15T13:05:00.000-07:00

Hot water, fire in the oven! Cook Street doors open at 430p today. Thanks for Paul & crew for getting us back in action!

Cook Street Closed August 13 & 14

2011-08-13T18:19:00.000-07:00

Broken water heater has closed Cook Street for dinner tonight & Sunday.

Come Monday, we'll have a new water heater. We'll be open @ 430p.

Apologies ....we know you're as sad as we are.

August Long Table

2011-08-12T11:56:00.000-07:00

We're staying with the warm southern climes & focusing on Sicily for the next Long Table Dinner at Bridge Street.

The cuisine of Sicily while largely influenced by Italy also has Spanish, Greek & Arab flavours. Olives, citrus & grapes are the base for many traditional dishes & our meal! Of course as the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, the ocean will contribute to the table too!

The menu? Orange, fennel, red onion & walnut salad, seared fresh sardines, octopus, mussels, clams & prawns tossed w/ Sicilian pesto & pasta, dessert of cannoli w/ ricotta, citrus & berry filling.

The wines? Primula Catarraro Sicilia IGT - the most widely planted grape in Sicily, Cubia IGT 2007 Sicilian - said to hold the rays of the sun and Branciforti Nero d'Avola IGT - considered the most important red grape of Sicily.

Seating is limited to 24 for each evening. Dinner begins at 7 p.m. & cost per person is $50 plus hst & grat ($63.50).

For more info or to book your seat at the table, call Andrew at 250.590.4388 or email andrew@primastrada.com

This Week's Bridge Street Specials

2011-08-09T12:25:00.000-07:00

You've got the whole week to stop by for the specials at Bridge Street (Tuesday-Saturday 11 am to 9 pm). And they really are special.

Lunch
pizze = bresaola, red onion, pecorino, fior di latte & fresh arugula
zuppa = heirloom tomato gazpacho
pasta = linguini w/clams, soffrito, herbs & white wine

Dinner
pizze = housemade sausage, pesto, tomato & fior di latte
zuppa = heirloom tomato gazpacho
primi = mussles & clams w/soffrito, chilis, herbs & white wine
dolci = fresh berries w/prosecco zabaglione

New vino on the feature board from Lake Breeze ... mussles & clams w/ Seven Poplars Sauv Blanc or Pinot Blanc, pizze and gazpacho w/Meritage (Cab Franc, Merlot, Cab Sauv). Pair award winning wines w/ award winning pizza!

Back to the Future at the Drive-In

2011-07-28T09:56:00.001-07:00

Drive-In movies - pillows and blankets tossed into the car, treats and a really big screen. A memory that can be a reality!

Mark your calendar for Thursday, August 4 for the Drive-In at Mayfair. Back to the Future is playing! We suggest you pick up "treats" from PPS Bridge Street before heading to the Drive-In (just a 5 minute drive).

Tickets can be picked up from the consierge desk @ Mayfair this Saturday. Parking begins at 6 on Thursday.

For more information, visit: http://www.mayfairshoppingcentre.com/

On the Road ...

2011-07-13T22:42:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendar for pizza al fresco.

Wednesday, July 20 - Oak Bay Night Market
In the heart of the village on Oak Bay Avenue - pick up vegetables from local farms, grab a pie from your favorite pizzeria, listen to a bit of music. Market runs from 4-8 pm every third Wednesday through September. Rain or shine.

Sunday, July 24 Tour of Farms at Sea Cider
Where does my food come from? Who grows it? What's it like to be a farmer? Visit Saanich farms and find the answers to these questions. Join us at Sea Cider - tour the orchard & cider house, eat pizza and sip cider.

Sunday, September 18 - Feast of Fields at Marley Farm
Taste the very best of BC from chefs, vintners, brewers, fishers, ranchers and food artisans from across the province - some think of it as a 40 course meal paired with wine & beer! Feast of Fields is a gastronomic journey towards a sustainable, local food system. For more information & tickets, visit http://www.feastoffields.com/

Thursday - Sunday, September 22-25 - Rifflandia Festival
A music festival & more: 4 days, 10 stages & 110 artists. It is inspired. Visit http://2011rifflandia.com for lineups, tickets and more.

Long Table Dinner: Campania

2011-07-08T16:38:00.000-07:00

Haven't made it to a Long Table Dinner? There is room at the table.

Join us on July 27 & 28 at Bridge Street when we focus on the region of Campania. Naples is the capital, Mt. Vesuvius, Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast make it well known. The region is famous for its pizza, pasta, wine and the ingredients that make the dishes: San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella di bufula, lemons, fish and grapes to name a few.

Sticking with tradition, we'll be serving Insalata Caprese, Pizze, Pesce and finish the meal with Lemoncello zabaglione. The wine? Falanghina - said to be worth more than gold in Roman times and Aglianco - often compared to Barolo & Barbaresco and grown in Campania for more than 3000 years!

Seating is limited to 24 each evening and dinner begins at 7 p.m. Cost is $63.50 ($50 per person plus hst & grat) and includes wine with the meal.

For more information or to make your reservation, call Andrew @ 250-590-4388 or andrew@primastrada.com.

Salute!

Best of the City - thanks for the vote!

2011-06-24T15:20:00.001-07:00

Honestly, we thought just making the list was great. To have reached the #1 spot thrills and humbles us. Mille grazie Victoria for voting Pizzeria Prima Strada Best Pizza in town!

Blasted Church has arrived!

2011-06-23T11:50:00.000-07:00

The second featured winery is in play! On Wednesday, the team met with Brent from Blasted Church Vineyards for tasting and talk. This morning, the wine arrived - Mixed Blessings, Hatfield's Fuse and Cabernet Merlot. Don't miss these award winning & tasty wines from BC's beautiful Okanagan Valley.

13th Annual Gorge Canada Day Picnic

2011-06-17T17:53:00.000-07:00

Celebrate Canada Day along the Gorge Waterway at the annual Canada Day Picnic! The fun begins at 8:30 am with a pancake breakfast followed by a parade, kids activities, entertainment and more. We'll be rolling the mobile oven down the road for the event. We'll have the fire burning and pizzas will be served from 12-4!

For more information visit www.gorgetillicum.ca

Join us at the Long Table to Toast Puglia

2011-06-08T16:56:00.001-07:00

A few pictures from the Lazio dinner to remind you you don't want to miss Puglia!

Bordering the Adriatic Sea, Puglia is the long narrow region creating the heel of Italy's "boot." It is a region of farming and viticulture and home to such rising wine stars as Negroamaro and Primitivo (a close cousin to Zinfandel).

The menu? Baked mussels, house made pasta with morels, pancetta, pecorino and tomato sauce & oven braised lamb with local greens. The meal ends with dessert.

The wines? A-mano Fiano Greco, Calatrasi La Piazza Primitivo and Squizano Apollonio.

Join us at Bridge Street on Wednesday June 29 or Thursday, June 30. Seating is limited to 24 for each evening. Dinner begins at 7 pm. The cost per person is $50 plus hst & grat ($63.50). For more info or to book your seat, call 250-590-4388 or email andrew@primastrada.com

We're Rolling Out the Fire in June

2011-06-04T08:40:00.000-07:00

There's something about eating in the fresh air that makes things taste better. Of course, we can't think of anything better than pizza al fresco. The mobile oven will be on the road in the weeks to come. Mark your calendars for a few dates we're sure you won't want to miss:

Sunday, June 12 - Island Chef's Food Fest
Join 30 chefs, 20 brewers & vintners at historic Fort Rodd Hill from Noon to 4 p.m. With a focus on locally sourced food & sustainability, Food Fest is a fundraising event for the ICC. Proceeds provide interest-free micro-loans for local farms. For more information & tickets, visit http://www.iccbc.ca

Wednesday, June 15 - Oak Bay Village Night Market
In the heart of the village on Oak Bay Avenue - pick up vegetables from local farms, grab a pie from your favorite pizzeria, a treat from Crumsby's Cafe and listen to a bit of music. Oak Bay Market runs from 4-8 pm, every third Wednesday June - September.

Saturday, June 18 - VIC Fest
Vancouver Island Cultural Festival - a 1 day outdoor festival in the heart of downtown Victoria. St. Ann's Academy is the location for an event featuring bands & performers,culinary & local arts and a wine & beer garden in the evening. More details & ticket info visit http://www.vicfest.ca

We've got a few more dates to share for July, August & September - more details soon.

Celebrating Lazio Family Style

2011-06-02T16:39:00.000-07:00

It's a long table full of food, wine, fun and great conversation (between bites). Join us as we continue our journey through Italy. We've been to Emilia-Romagna, Abruzzo and most recently Lazio. Puglia is next. Join us on June 29 or 30, dinner starts at 7pm. To reserve your seat call Andrew @ 250-590-4388 or email andrew@primastrada.com

Mangia Lazio! Long Table Series at Bridge

2011-05-17T11:34:00.000-07:00

Join us for another installment of the Regional Italian Long Table Dinner Series at Bridge Street. The evening begins at 7 pm on Wednesday, May 25.

Lazio is our focus: home to such landmarks as the Roman Colosseum and Vatican City. A region of mountains, plains, rivers and oceans, Lazio is also home to little known valleys and villages. The Valle di Comino and the village of Alvito is the ancestral home of the DeCarolis family and just an hour North of Naples (yes, we are always thinking of pizza).

Alex is gathering together another delicious and regionally inspired menu. Lazio classics of Spaghetti Carbonara and Porchetta (beautifully roasted pork) and fresh asparagus with Pecorino Romano are planned.

The cost is $50 (plus HST & grat) and includes 3 wine selections. We are confident you will enjoy your taste-bud tour through Italy's capital region.

For additional information or to book your reservation, call 250.590.4388 or email andrew@primastrada.com

Salute!

Bamino Pizze for Your Bambino!

2011-04-30T23:30:00.000-07:00

To say thank you for voting Prima Strada the Best Place to Feed a Kid, we thought we'd give you what you love best - pizza!

Receive 1 pizze bambino with the purchase of another pizze May 1-7.

The rules: must bring the kid(s) with you, good at both PPS locations for dine-in only.

We realize there are many great places to grab a bite in Victoria and appreciate you chose us! Mille grazie!

Greater Victora Business Awards Winners!

2011-04-21T12:29:00.000-07:00

We didn't expect to win - being in a ballroom with 350 members of the Victoria business community and an award finalist is actually pretty heady stuff. Perhaps the highlight of the evening was when Sasha Angus handed me the award and shared he'd had 2 pizzas at PPS before coming to the event! Yes, Sasha and his family shared a Funghi and Bambino at Bridge Street before he joined the festivities!

Our congratulations to all of participants in the 2011 Business Awards. Heartfelt thanks to our team for making Pizzeria Prima Strada an award winning company!

Mangia Abruzzo!

2011-04-20T00:29:00.000-07:00

We are gearing up for the second installment of our Italian Long Table Dining Series. These 4 course meals are one part Italian wine club, one part dinner party, one part learning experience served up with a healthy dose of laughter. Our next region of focus will be Abruzzo, the amazing region where the mountains meet the sea and over 1/3 is protected as parkland.

Alex has created a tempting menu that highlights the region. The menu? Fish stew, grilled lamb and fresh pasta aglio e olio. Dessert is in the works and will be a great finish to the meal. Of course there will be the deliciously rustic wines of Abruzzo to be enjoyed throughout the meal.

Please join us at our Bridge Street location on Wednesday, April 27 at 7 p.m. for dinner. Make new friends, enjoy great food and wine and above all, have fun!

The meal will include three (4oz) pours of wine. The number of guests is limited to 20.

For additional information or to book your reservation, call 250.590.4388 or email Andrew.

Salute!

Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards

2011-04-15T11:25:00.001-07:00

The invitation for the Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards arrived with no mention of what category PPS might be a winner in. Matt & Cristen headed to Van on Tuesday curious and impressed. A packed reception with lots of eats and drinks had them ever more curious. Taking seats, they found PPS nominated in the Best Victoria category. Other nominees? Zambri's, Brassiere L'Ecole, Cafe Brio and Ulla! Such a distinguished group.

Prima Strada received Honorable Mention as "B.C.'s best pizza joint." Our congratulations to all the winners.

For more on the awards, visit http://www.vanmag.com/restaurants/Awards

Wednesday night dinner @ Bridge Street

2011-03-27T19:27:00.000-07:00

For the past few months we've been talking about family dinners, long table series and comparing our favourite places in Italy. How do these seemingly different things come together? On Wednesday, we'll be hosting a special dinner at Bridge Street. We anticipate this will be the first of many special "family style" meals, an opportunity to gather with friends to talk and learn more about food, wine and Italy. The first region will focus on Emilia Romagna. (Yes, it's true, we drew the first region from a bucket. We have all different favourites and couldn't agree which region to start with.) The Menu: Bitter Greens with Prosciutto di Parma, Parmigiano Reggiano & warm balsamic vinaigrette Tagliatelle with Ragu Bolognese Chicken Cacciatore Lambrusco Poached Pear The meal will include three (4oz) pours of wine. Cost will be $50 + hst & grat ($63.50). The number of guests is limited to 20. For additional information or to book your reservation, call Andrew at 250.590.4388 or email andrew@primastrada.com.

And the Winners are...

2011-03-02T10:49:00.000-08:00

Celebrazioni! Prima Strada has won over the hearts and taste buds of Vancouver Island eaters at this years EAT Magazine Exceptional Eats Awards!

This is the second year of awards that gives EAT Magazine readers the chance to vote for their favourites - the best places to eat, drink and shop for food in a 32 question survey.

So without further ado, the awards are as follows (drum roll please...)

BEST TAKE-OUT/DELIVERY
The question: A dear friend is in the area for the first time. What local food or local ingredient from our islands do you have on hand to tempt them?
Pizzeria Prima Strada (GOLD)

NEIGHBOURHOOD RESTO
The question: What is your favourite restaurant that's within walking distance in your own neighbourhood?
Pizzeria Prima Strada (SILVER)

PLACE TO FEED A KID
The question: You have kids. You want to eat out with them because this should be a beautiful thing. What restaurant “gets” it?
Pizzeria Prima Strada (GOLD)

Honourable Mentions:

PLACE FOR LUNCH
The question: Pleasure for the taste buds, easy on the wallet, where are you going for lunch these days?
Pizzeria Prima Strada (Honourable Mention)

PLACE FOR SOLO DINING
The question: Table for one? Stool at the bar? What restaurant do you go to when dining alone?
Pizzeria Prima Strada (Honourable Mention)

BEST PLATE OF THE YEAR
The question: The best bite of the year. What restaurant dish made such a lasting impression that you wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to your B.F.F.? Name the dish and the restaurant, please.
Pizzeria Prima Strada (Honourable Mention)
Margherita Pizza - fairburn farm mozzarella di bufala, fresh basil

BEST MOBILE EATERY
The question: Food carts are here. Which one tops your list?
Pizzeria Prima Strada (Honourable Mention)

(huge round of applause!)

We would like to thank everyone who took part and voted for us, and hats off to all of the winners; it's great to see the enthusiasm and respect for the local food and drink scene!

To see all the winners, visit EAT Magazine.

I LOVE MY PIZZAIOLI.

2011-02-16T11:07:00.001-08:00

Pizzaioli, pronounced pizza ee o lee, is the plural of pizzaiola (feminine) and pizzaiolo (masculine).

Exactly how is PPS shirt made?

Step 1 - the design and specifications for screen printing
Step 2 - laying out the image and getting the screen set-up
Step 3 - printing! pulling the ink across the design and onto the t-shirt

The finished product!

Thanks to our favorite former pizzaiolo Lucas Copplestone at LJCArt in Sidney for such great work!

Buon Anniversario Bridge Street

2011-02-11T14:44:00.001-08:00

Tuesday, February 15 marks the 1st anniversary of PPS Bridge Street. Primo Pizzaiolo Alex How has created a few dinner specials to celebrate the occasion! Come for one of Alex's specials or for your favorite pie and your first glass of prosecco is on us!

Pizze - clams, tesa (Italian bacon), panna, red onion, chilis and garlic for $16

Primi - grilled stuffed squid with tomato and soffritto for $10

Dolci - caramelized lemon tart for $8

Join us in celebrating this special day! As my Nonno would say, "Molto especiale!"

PPS Staff Party

2011-01-20T13:29:00.000-08:00

This past Monday saw the PPS crew at Bridge Street for family dinner, belatedly celebrating the holiday season. What did the crew of your favorite pizzeria eat? Paella and spicy cornbread washed down with Lunar Pale Ale from The Moon Under Water Brewery on Bay Street. The evening's unofficial uniform was plaid, beanies optional. Salute!

The Early Years Awards 2011

2011-01-10T13:42:00.000-08:00

Cast your vote for your favorite park, preschool, cafe, rec center and pizzeria and more. Voting enters you into a weekly draw for fabulous prizes. You might just win a PPS gift card.

http://www.earlyyearsawards.com

The Early Years Awards celebrate the businesses and organizations making a difference in the lives of families with children.

PPS Pizza Punch Card - you need one!

2011-01-05T13:01:00.000-08:00

Vote for Exceptional Eats

2011-01-04T12:28:00.000-08:00

Looking for a great opportunity to celebrate Vancouver and the Gulf Islands and the food and drink you love? Pick up the latest issue of EAT Magazine for more information on the 2nd annual Exceptional Eats Awards or visit their site to vote:

http://www.eatmagazine.ca/magazine/19

Italian New Year's Eve Traditions

2010-12-29T14:06:00.001-08:00

Join us at Bridge Street for a taste of a traditional Italian New Year's Eve dish - Cotechino. Alex is making Cotechino (koteˈkino)- a spiced sausage. Cotechino dates to the early 16th century. Pork symbolizes the richness of life in the coming year!

As with many traditional foods, each region of Italy has slight variations - cotechino can be served with lentils, mashed potatoes, braised cabbage or polenta.

At PPS, we're hooked on polenta. We're serving our cotechino with polenta and a bit of red pepper caponata.

Our favorite Italian New Year's Eve custom? Don't forget to wear your red underwear while toasting with prosecco to ring in the New Year! They say it'll bring you good luck.

Felice Anno Nuovo!

A Treat at Bridge Street

2010-12-28T12:02:00.000-08:00

You're out and about this week - visiting with friends and family, taking advantage of the Boxing Week Sales. Stop by Bridge Street for a free drip coffee, hot tea or hot chocolate, our treat! We're open from 11a to 9p Tuesday-Friday this week.

PPS Crew sports PPS gear

2010-12-22T21:34:00.001-08:00

We figured you might be wondering exactly how the newest PPS tee looks. Carlee, Alex and Greg were willing to help. Carlee sports the newest tee (truck with Black Beauty aflame) while Alex and Greg model the bandanna (works as a kerchief too). Pretty stylish crew!

Prima Strada Gift Combo

2010-12-17T19:29:00.000-08:00

Looking for that special gift for the pizza lover in your life? We suggest the Prima Strada Gift Combo: a PPS t-shirt and your favorite pizza! Dare we say it? It's a smoking deal!

Island Artisans - Wood-burning Ovens!

2010-12-01T09:46:00.000-08:00

Don Genova includes Prima Strada in his discussion with All Points West host Jo-Ann Roberts on the rise in popularity of the wood-burning oven.

Listen online at CBC.ca or read the full article on Don Genova's blog.

For all of you that might like to ogle over some really cool handmade oven concepts and plans here is a great resource site to browse.

Win a trip to Vegas from Zagat

2010-10-29T14:19:00.000-07:00

Take a picture of a Zagat-Rated sticker or plaque, upload it at http://zagatphotos.com/ and be entered to win a trip to the Wynn in Las Vegas!

Of course, we want to help you WIN, so here's a photo suggestion: take a picture of the Zagat sticker on the door of Prima Strada Cook Street or the plaque on the wall at Prima Strada Bridge Street.

Buona Fortuna!

Prima Profile #3

2010-10-08T15:36:00.000-07:00

Pizzeria Prima Strada Primo Pizzaiolo / Executive Chef Matt Veillette has worked across Canada, Europe, New Zealand and Australia. After graduating from the Cordon Bleu in Ottawa, he apprenticed with chefs in Holland, France and Spain. Arriving at PPS via Quebec, Matt was attracted to Vancouver Island because of the long growing season and abundance of local produce available. He also really likes pizza.
Q. How long have you been with Prima Strada?
A. 1 year

Q. Where is your hometown?
A. Ottawa

Q. What's your favorite restaurant/food item in your home town?
A. Anything from my grandmas' house. It's not a restaurant but I crave it all the time.

Q. What's your favorite pizza?
A. Marinara...so simple...so good.

Q. What's your ultimate comfort food?
A. Tortos, at my grandma's house.

Q. Current favorite wine/beer or drink?
A. Driftwood Ale

Q. If you could go to one place for a week all expenses paid, where would you go?
A. Barcelona

Q. Best part of being with Prima Strada?
A. I get to eat the best pizza in town, whenever I want.

photo: Matt starts the fire in Black Beauty at Feast of Fields 2010

Eat Pray Love Pizza

2010-09-06T16:23:00.001-07:00

Watch Julia Robert's character in Eat Pray Love enjoy a margherita pizza at the great Da Michele in Naples, Italy. Then bring your ticket stub from the movie to enjoy your own margherita pizza and glass of wine for just $16 at Pizzeria Prima Strada Bridge Street.

To experience your very own "relationship" with your pizza, bring this coupon or show on phone. Fantastico!

Il Caffe

2010-08-25T16:12:00.000-07:00

After a young maiden led thirsty soldiers to refreshment at a clear spring in the hills beyond ancient Rome, the prized Aqua Virgo (virgin water) was harnessed and pumped through aqueducts to supply the newly erected Pantheon. This supports the claim that the best coffee in Rome-or Italy for that matter- is to be found in the bars of this neighborhood, where the faucets still run with the same precious water.

In Victoria, Prima Strada lays the claim to the best coffee on the island along with Drumroaster (our supplier) in Cowichan Bay. The Drumroaster imports fair-trade coffee directly from small harvest farms in South America and Africa. The aroma and taste is a feast for the senses.

Biciclette in Italia e Victoria

2010-08-25T16:05:00.000-07:00

The Italians seem to be in love with bicycling. Just take one look on a Saturday or Sunday on the Via Cristoforo Columbo loop out of Rome to Ostia and back. Custom bikes from all over Italy pack the road.

But most Italians haven’t been to Victoria where, indeed, biking seems to be even more prevalent. And you’ll never find the Galloping Goose or Lochside trails in Rome.

And guess what? This year, in the world’s marquee bike race, the Tour de France, Victoria’s own Ryder Hesjedal finished in 7^th place. Not only is this an amazing athletic feat in itself, but he placed higher than any Italian.

So when your ride on the Goose is coming to an end and you need that protein for recovery – or even for a cup of coffee before you clip in- take the quick jog off the trail to Pizzeria Prima Strada on Bridge Street. Enjoy the Italian food and ambiance, but drink a toast to Ryder. The Italians will be jealous.

Fringe Fest begins August 26

2010-08-24T13:58:00.000-07:00

Fringe Fest is an 11 day juried international theater festival featuring 40 comedy, drama, dance & spoken word companies from around the world! Haven’t been to the Fringe before? Don’t worry! The hardest part is choosing what you want to see.

One of our favorite events? FringeKids (August 28) - a completely free one-day family festival with live entertainment, music, Fringe Faeries, craft activities, face painting, the life-sized Cardboard Castle for small artists to paint and an inflatable bouncy bunny! Families are encouraged to bring new school supplies to donate to the Single Parent Resource Centre. Mark your calendar!

As a Fringe Friend, you'll receive 15% off @ PPS Bridge Street. Stop by after the show with your Fringe Visa to receive your discount.

Begin Fringing now! http://victoriafringe.wordpress.com/

Prima Profile #2

2010-08-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

Tomoko Inoue is passionate about Southern Italian food, but mostly about pizza. Tomoko has travelled the world, eating pizza. Yep, a woman to be admired and respected! While studying English in Canada, she discovered our call for talent on craigslist. She sent us a note and a You Tube link! We knew who she was immediately when she arrived at Cook Street! Sunday, August 4, a memorable date indeed. After making a few calls, completing a few forms, she officially came to work with PPS!

Q. How long have you been with Prima Strada?
A. About 2 years

Q. Where is your hometown?
A. Kanagawa(near Tokyo), Japan

Q. What's your favorite restaurant/food item in your home town?
A. Fresh soba (buckwheat noodle) at Nagoya & Aburi toro at Tama sushi

Q. What is your favorite pie?
A. I want to say my favorite is the perfect crust, not about toppings on Neapolitan pizza! When the cornicione is beautiful with lots of air bubbles charred, I feel so happy.

Q. What's your ultimate comfort food?
A. My mom's tempura or a cinnamon bagel

Q. Current favorite wine/beer or drink?
A. I ostensibly quit drinking 18months ago... but the beautiful summer makes me enjoy patio sippers:> like rose wines (Averill Creek, Prospect winery etc..), homemade sangria, frozen plum sake..

Q. If you could go one place for a week all expenses paid, where would you go?
A. Bora-Bora Island, Tahiti. I would fly in the business class, of course. I'd like to stay in an overwater bungalow, just relax getting massage at spa everyday...

Q. Best part about being with Prima Strada?
A. Making Neapolitan pizza in Canada, this is a great part in my life. I was supposed to work only for a while, but am still being here:> Which is because people are very kind to me. And I can experience a lot of things as making dough, working for the mobile oven, using ingredients which I haven't seen in Japan. Thanks team PPS!

photo - Tomoko at work at PPS Bridge Street, credit - Deddeda Stemler

The only thing missing...is YOU!

2010-08-12T14:50:00.000-07:00

Although it feels like summer has just arrived, it will be gone before you know it. Now is the time to start thinking about seasonal parties at Pizzeria Prima Strada Bridge Street. Be it a smaller reservation for you and your office mates or a no holds barred, dual pizza oven bonanza, we are looking forward to celebrating the (coming sooner than you think) season with you. Call Andrew today to book your event at 250-590-4388 or email at andrew@primastrada.com

Free B 2010 - Movies Under the Stars

2010-08-11T16:06:00.000-07:00

If you haven't yet expereinced movies under the stars, it's not too late. Celebrating its 10th Anniversary, the Victoria Film Festival has a great line up of fliks and has added Centennial Square as a second venue (the first is Cameron Bandshell @ Beacon Hill Park).

Gamera the Invincible, Pink Panther, The Thin Man - what are you waiting for? We suggest you stop by Pizzeria Prima Strada Bridge or Cook Streets for your dinner on your way to the movie. We'll even lend you a picnic cloth.

For more info, visit

http://www.freebfilmfest.com/

Buon Due Anniversario Prima Strada

2010-08-03T12:17:00.000-07:00

Wednesday August 4th marks the 2nd anniversary of PPS Cook Street. Channel your inner Italian & Canadian and say, "Due Eh" for two.

Stop by Cook Street on Wednesday, wish us Buon Due Anniversario and we'll toast together with a prosecco cocktail. Bravo!

Prima Profile

2010-07-29T15:17:00.000-07:00

We've got a great team and they are a big part of what makes Pizzeria Prima Strada special.Over the coming months, we'll ask a few questions of our crew and share the answers with you. Do you have a question you want to be sure we get the answer to? Send your questions to info@primastrada.com

Ms. July is Morgan Rich. To come? Ms. August, Mr. September ... you get the idea.

Q. How long have you been with Prima Strada?
A. 2 years

Q. Where is your hometown?
A. Calgary

Q. What's your favorite restaurant/ food item in your home town?
A. Vegetable Korma at Moti Mahal. I dream about it.

Q. What is your favorite pie?
A. Margherita with olives and extra buf mozz. It never gets old.

Q.What's your ultimate comfort food?
A. My nana's gingersnaps. And toast n jam.

Q. Current favorite wine?
A. Lake Breeze 2004 Pinot Gris. Probably because I have a full glass in front of me as I answer these questions. Deeeelicious.

Q. If you could go one place for a week all expenses paid, where would you go?
A. Oh geez, so tough. Um, at this exact moment I would go somewhere really hot where I could drink wine and eat bread and cheese all day long. (hmm, sounds like Italy)

Q. Best part about being with Prima Strada?
A. The people. The people I work with and the people I serve.

photo: Morgan enjoys a slice of her favorite pie with her favorite guy, husband Royce. photo by deddeda stemler.

Tour of Farms 2010 - Sunday, July 25

2010-07-23T10:00:00.000-07:00

Where does my food come from? What’s it like to be a farmer? All important questions that deserve consideration. You can get the answers – and have some summer fun - at the Tour of Farms this Sunday.

Go for a drive in the country. Enjoy the fresh air. Have a picnic. Walk through a blueberry patch. Chat with a farmer. Savour a fresh raspberry. Sample local ciders and pizza too.

We're rolling Black Beauty to one of our favorite spots - Sea Cider. We'll take in the view, sip some cider and make pizza using ingredients from local farms.

For more information, visit the Farm Fresh site:

http://www.islandfarmfresh.com/touroffarms.htm

Barbera Fact File

2010-07-21T10:39:00.000-07:00

Why you should try it: soft on tannin & full of spicy dark cherry flavors, it has a shameless yum factor and - with naturally vibrant acidity - is fabulous with food (especially pizza)

Must try matches - pepperoni pizza (we suggest Luc's Pepperoni Pizza found only at Pizzeria Prima Strada of course).

Pedigree: Barbera rivals Sangiovese for most planted red in Italy; once known as "the people's wine" in the Piedmont region, Barbera d'Asti and Barbera d'Alba account for much of the red wine consumed there.

PPS offers Batasolio Sovrana Barbera d'Alba by the glass, 1/2 ltr and bottle.

2010-07-06T08:05:00.000-07:00

Though we weren't voted number 1 (yet) we are very proud to be named Victoria's second best pizza! Thanks to everyone who voted for us. Now we have a clear goal, next year will be the year of the Prima Strada.
Drop by either location to see what's new, what's delicious and what's up and coming. With the warm weather here, our Bridge Street patio is beckoning. Stay tuned for a new "team profile" segment in next month's newsletter. Not a subscriber? Go to www.pizzeriaprimastrada.com to subscribe.

Necessity is the mother of all invention

2010-06-24T18:34:00.000-07:00

What is one to do while trying to get a table at Pizzeria Prima Strada on Cook Street (other than gaze longingly)? The answer is simple: head over to Pizzeria Prima Strada on Bridge Street! Now open for dinner, we are serving delicious food in a room that's nearly twice the size as our Cook Street location- we've even got a licensed patio! It's less than an hour's walk from Prima Cook to Prima Bridge (perfect time to build up an appetite) and only 10 minutes by car! While we have some key features in common(wood burning oven, fabulous staff, lovely wine offerings) there are some added features the new room: fresh pasta, roasted meat dishes and daily soups to name a few. Large party reservations are welcome. Please call for availability!

View Larger Map

PPS featured on Get Fresh with the locals

2010-06-14T15:38:00.000-07:00

Get Fresh you ask? Indeed. Get Fresh with the locals connects eaters with the growers, producers, suppliers and supporters of fresh, local food + drink on Vancouver Island. With a focus on farm fresh food and animal products grown and raised locally and sustainably, Get Fresh also features local businesses supporting local agriculture and the rural lifestyle by using these products. Think Pizzeria Prima Strada, Driftwood, Sea Cider, Fairburn Farms (to name a few of our favs). Along with a growing blog & facebook fan page, a guide is also in the works!

Check it out: http://www.getfreshguide.com/blog/

Communal Dining - trend or tradition?

2010-06-03T12:20:00.001-07:00

My first memorable experience of communal dining occurred years ago in Florence. Hungry, my sister and I happened upon Ristorante Il Latini. We were ushered into the busy restaurant, sat between Italians (locals)and Germans (fellow travellers) and had a great evening sharing food, wine and conversation with our dining companions. I can think of many other restaurants - in Italy, New York, Vancouver, San Francisco - where communal dining as been the standard or an option for years. We offer a communal table at Cook Street and all of the tables at Bridge are meant to be shared. Trend or tradition? Is there a better tradition than joining others to share a meal? Nope.

http://insidevancouver.ca/2010/04/07/communal-dining-catches-on-in-vancouver/

Best Pizza in Vancouver? No, it's in Victoria.

2010-05-14T14:09:00.000-07:00

In the May issue of Vancouver Magazine, Neal McLennan searches for a good pizza in Vancouver. "I asked a number of Vancouver chefs where to get a good pie and mostly they just shrugged. I'm pretty sure Rob Feenie understood the question, but still he answered, "Prima Strada in Victoria."' Need we say more? Indeed, thanks Rob Feenie.

http://www.vanmag.com/Restaurants/Best_Pizza_in_Vancouver

Sunshine & Gelato

2010-05-13T11:41:00.000-07:00

With the temp expected to reach 15 today, its certain to be a beach afternoon when school lets out today. We'll also be stopping in for gelato - green apple and blood orange sorbetto are back. Come by for a treat, the gelato cases at both both Cook & Bridge Street are full!

Averill Creek and Prima Strada You Tube video

2010-05-12T16:06:00.000-07:00

A nice video shot on location at Averill Creek featuring the Prima Strada mobile setup. Don't mind the spelling mistakes- What a location!

PPS closed for Festa della Mamma

2010-05-07T10:36:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's true. We'll be closed on Mother's Day! We're treating the PPS team to a day of fun - playing bocce in the park and having lasagne for dinner. We know your disappointed but we also know you understand. Mille grazie.

We'll be back in action on Monday - planning expanded hours for Bridge Street (yes, dinner @ Bridge in June!), planning more mobile oven events to help fill your belly with PPS pies and still being sure to have fun!

Summer 2010 Mobile Schedule

2010-05-05T11:43:00.000-07:00

Hello Pizza fans! Here is a schedule of this summer's public events that feature our mobile oven. Want more information? Email Andrew@primastrada.

May 22, 23:

Victoria Highland Games

May 29:

Selkirk Waterfront Festival

May30:

ICC Defending Our Backyard

Every Thursday (June to September)

Sidney Summer Market

June 11-13:

Navy Centennial International Fleet Review

June 25-27:

Victoria International Jazz festival

This is just a taste of where you can find delicious pizza on the go! Of course you can always visit either of our locations in Victoria to get your fix!

Prima Strada Hits The Road

2010-05-01T10:32:00.000-07:00

In our house, Geoffrey reads all his news on-line every morning while I still like the paper edition. This morning we were both thrilled to see PPS featured in the Business Section of the Times Colonist. You'll have to get own your paper copy (I'm saving mine), but here's the on-line link:

http://www.timescolonist.com/business/PrimaStrada+hits+road/2975204/story.html

Shouts from all around our house this morning! Thanks TC!

PS - Thinking of hitting the road today? Andrew just confirmed Black Beauty has arrived at Averill Creek Vineyard for today's Open House. Beautiful spot and a perfect destination for a drive.

Poodle Skirts, T-birds and Drive-Ins!

2010-04-28T13:06:00.000-07:00

Zoe & I are headed to VOS's production of Grease on Friday night at the McPherson Playhouse. The production runs April 30 to May 9. I know your favorite Grease tune is playing in your head - what is it? "Your The One That I Want", "Hopelessly Devoted To You", "Summer Nights"?

PPS on Shaw's The Daily

2010-04-28T13:03:00.000-07:00

If you missed it, here's Karen Elgersma's report on Pizzeria Prima Strada for your viewing pleasure.

Averil Creek Spring Open House

2010-04-28T13:01:00.000-07:00

This Saturday will be a lovely day of wine, art and great food. Hope to see everyone there! Averill Creek is poised to be the premier winery on Vancouver Island, specializing in estate grown Pinots (Noir & Gris/Grigio). Come show your support for Vancouver Island viticulture and wood fired pizza. I'll be working hard so be sure to say hi!

Black Beauty @ Margaret Jenkins today

2010-04-24T08:18:00.000-07:00

Black Beauty is rolling to Ecole Margaret Jenkins School as I type. If you are in the neighborhood (corner of Fairfield & Foul Bay), stop by to see us between 9-2. We've got coffee, Kathleen baked muffins & cookies, juice and most importantly, Geoffrey, Matt & Colin will be making pizza!

Today's fundraiser is for a new play structure. As proud parents of EMJS students, Sheralynn, Geoffrey and I looked know they didn't expect Black Beauty but for us, seemed pretty simple way to support our kids' school and have fun! It helps we've got a great team that knows today will be a good time. Along with our staff, Sysco & PSC helped with a few product donations and PPS will donate a portion of today's profits toward the purchase of the new structure!

Come see the season opener for Black Beauty & support a great local school. Mangia! - Cristen

Bring Your Own Cup to Bridge Street

2010-04-21T19:47:00.000-07:00

Today is Earth Day. We thought we'd offer up a little something to show our appreciation (to both Mother Earth & our fans). Beginning today, bring in your own cup and we'll enter you into a weekly draw for a $25 PPS gift card.

One ticket per cup you bring in throughout the day. Yes, that means if you visit in the morn for an Americano, again in the afternoon for Silk Road tea and bring a cup with you, you'll get 2 tickets!

Fine Print:
Drawing for $25 Gift Card every Friday.
Winning ticket will be posted at noon on Friday & must be claimed in person.
One ticket per cup or bag you bring in throughout the day. Offer good at PPS Bridge Street location only.
PPS Gift Card good at Cook & Bridge Street locations.
Promotion ends May 31, 2010.

Averill Creek Open House

2010-04-21T13:19:00.000-07:00

May 01 (next Saturday)Averill Creek Winery will be hosting an open house from 11:00 to 4:00 at the winery. The winery has sweeping views of the Cowichan Valley and of course, delicious wine to sip. Meet owner Andy and his lovely wife Wendy, taste some award winning wine, tour the estate and of course, enjoy a bite or two of wood fired pizza. With a little help from the weather, we may have a perfect day on our hands. This event is open to the public so make sure to be there!

Summer events

2010-04-20T16:08:00.001-07:00

As the weather turns warm, Black Beauty is excited to make appearances all about town. Here is a short list of events for the month of May:

May 01 - Averil Creek Winery opening day

May 22-23- Victoria Highland Games

May 29 - Selkirk Waterfront Festival

May 30- Defending Our Backyard

Be sure to book these days off on your calendar. More exciting events coming soon!

Want to book your own event with Black Beauty? Call the Events Hotline @ 250-590-4388 or email andrew@primastrada.com.

Primo Pastries

2010-04-20T09:13:00.000-07:00

I am a pastry maniac. Those delicious combinations of butter, flour and salt fall somewhere very near fly fishing, wine and my fiancee on my list of importance's. At bridge Street we recently signed on a baker. Needless to say, I am in serious trouble. I tried one of these pesto croissants today and almost fell over with delight. Flakey, buttery, just salty enough with just a hint of lemon.......Are you hungry yet? Come check out our delicious morning snacks. Open at 9am.
Just a couple of snaps to whet the palate. More delicious things on the way.

2010 Best of the City Vote

2010-04-15T10:25:00.000-07:00

Let's recognize the best of Greater Victoria! Black Press will publish its Best of the City special edition in June. We're pretty sure we know your answer for Best Pizza and Best Family Restaurant but we sure would appreciate you telling Black Press! Go to the link below to share all your favorite spots!

http://raven.bcnewsgroup.com/portals/vicnews/pages/best_of_the_city/entry_form.php

Ok, we'll admit this might be a bit shameless - when we voted for our favorite places, we couldn't help but notice the voter info area allowed for a city, state and zip code. For those PPS fans outside the Greater Victoria area, we believe this too means you can vote for your favorite Victoria spots!

PPS in Van's Westender.com

2010-04-08T14:08:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we miss the good things people say about Pizzeria Prima Strada. Morgan served a couple visiting from Vancouver at Cook Street earlier this week. They said they came from Vancouver to eat our pizza after reading Andrew Morrison's ON THE PLATE: on the hunt for authentic Italian pizza in Westender.com. It is small group of pizza lovers dedicated enough to travel to eat good pizza! Nice to know we are not alone :) We say, "Bravo e mille grazie!"

To read Andrew's fine words, go to:

http://www.westender.com/articles/entry/on-the-hunt-for-authentic-italian-pizza/

Easter Weekend Hours

2010-04-01T16:44:00.000-07:00

It'll be business as usual at Cook Street for the holiday weekend. Open Friday & Saturday from 1130 a to 10 p and Sunday & Monday from 1130 a to 9 p.

PPS Bridge Street will be closed Good Friday & Easter Monday. On Tuesday, April 6 its 9a to 6p.

Buona Pasqua!

Driftwood Dinner Menu

2010-03-31T09:48:00.000-07:00

Driftwood Brewery Tour and Brewmasters Dinner
Start the evening with a tour and antipasti at the brewery -Driftwood is just down the street from PPS - then arrive at Bridge Street for:
Antipasti (served at the brewery)
Salami, grilled picked vegetables, roasted garlic and spicy nuts

Prosciutto wrapped tuna and celery root ravioli in White Bark Ale broth with clams and mussels

Scamorza (smoked mozzarella) and Farmhand Ale sausage pizza

Metchosin lamb braised in Crooked Coast Amber Ale served over parsley polenta with bitter greens

Artisan Cheese + Honeycomb paired with Naughty Hildegarde's Extra Special Bitter
Blackstone Porter Chocolate Cake with vanilla gelato

Tickets are $70 (including taxes + gratuity) and limited to
40 so book early! Please check our blog closer to the date
for slight menu changes due to availability.

Date: Saturday, April 10 at 6pm

For more information or to purchase tickets, please
contact: andrew@primastrada.com or call 250.590.4388.

PPS on Shaw's The Daily today!

2010-03-24T09:17:00.000-07:00

Shaw subscribers can tune into The Daily on channel 11 to see Karen Elgersma's visit to Pizzeria Prima Strada. Karen and her camerman visited both the Bridge and Cook Street locations this past Friday. Tune in to see the Prima Team in action!

What does it look like?

2010-03-22T10:39:00.000-07:00

What does a private event at Pizzeria Prima Strada look like? The words creative, warm, urban and FABULOUS come to mind. Enjoy these couple pics from a recent Bridge Street event. Contact Andrew@primastrada.com today to book your own event.

Driftwood Tour & Brewmaster's Dinner

2010-03-18T20:05:00.000-07:00

Join us for this special event! Start the evening with a tour and antipasti at the brewery - Driftwood is just down the street from PPS - then arrive at Bridge Street for a delicious 5 course dinner paired with Driftwood brews.

Tickets are $70 (including tax + gratuity) There are only 40 tickets available so book soon!

Contact Andrew to book your tickets or for more information: andrew@primastrada.com or 250.590.4388

Bridge Street excitement!

2010-03-17T11:23:00.000-07:00

Hello faithful blog followers,

This past weekend, we kicked the first of many fabulous events at Bridge Street with a wonderful wedding reception. Our guests were treated to lovely food, great service and a chic and intimate venue to share their special day. It was a total success! This week we've got our grand opening on Saturday for everyone to check out the new digs! On April 10th we have a beer makers dinner featuring our Rock Bay neighbors, Driftwood Brewery! Drop by our location at Cook street for details and tickets!

Celebrate our Grand Opening!

2010-03-15T10:53:00.001-07:00

Today's Specials at Bridge Street

2010-03-02T12:58:00.000-08:00

For your viewing pleasure - a few photos from the past few days at Bridge Street.

EAT Magazine's Exception Eats Awards

2010-02-28T19:43:00.000-08:00

Oh how sweet it is. The last day of the 2010 Winter Olympics hosted in Beautiful British Columbia and PPS wins Gold in the 1st Annual EAT Magazine EE Awards! And the winning category for Prima Strada? Best Island restaurant to take the kids to and still enjoy fabulous food and no hairy eyeballs? No, no at Pizzeira Prima Strada we serve only (to quote a customer last week) "delectable" meat balls along with great pizza pies!

Our humble thanks for the votes and hats off to all the winners! Indeed, we are thankful to be part of a community of food lovers.

To see all the award winners, go to: http://www.eatmagazine.ca/page/awardwinners

2010-02-24T11:06:00.001-08:00

2010 is now well underway. For those of you lucky enough to be living on Southern Vancouver Island it is an exciting time to see cherry blossoms, crocus, and Pizzeria Prima Strada's new location.

We have got a few tricks up our sleeve this spring including, but not limited to a Brewmasters Dinner with Driftwood Brewery (April, tickets available soon), ICC's Defending Our Backyard festival (May 10, tickets available now) and Averill Creek Vineyards Opening Day (May 01, more information to follow). This is just the tip of the iceberg. Stay tuned for more delicious events featuring western Canada's only authentic Neapolitan, wood fired pizzeria.

Want to create your own memorable event? Contact Andrew at andrew@primastrada.com or 250-590-4388 today!

Your Monday Mid-Morning Break at PPS Bridge Street

2010-02-18T15:55:00.001-08:00

We said we'd be expanding our hours soon and Monday is the day! We'll be open at 9 a.m. - in plenty of time for your mid morning break.

Come over for a free cuppa - be it coffee or tea - on us! Matt's been working on some tasty treats and we're excited to hear what you think. So, set the alarm in your calendar. That's Monday, February 22. We'll open at 9 a.m. The free cuppa offer is good all day long!

PS - Have we mentioned we've got espresso drinks, drip coffee and Silk Road teas?

Prima Strada receives the 2010 Early Years Award

2010-02-18T11:32:00.000-08:00

Pizzeria Prima Strada Cook Street was honored with the Early Years Award for Best Restaurant yesterday. I rolled into the breakfast celebration unprepared to hear our name called! Of course, we are thrilled and appreciate the recognition! What an amazing list of nominees. To check out the other winners, go to:

http://www.successby6victoria.ca/ey_awards.php

The 2010 Early Years Awards honour businesses and organizations that help make a difference in the lives of families with young children. Whether it be a safer park, a child friendly office or simply a more tolerant attitude supporting families in our community through good business has many rewards.

Bridge Street Open February 15th!

2010-02-14T13:39:00.001-08:00

We're there! Pizzeria Prima Strada opens on Bridge Street Monday! Just one more sleep!

We'll be open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. In addition to our great pizzas and salads, we'll also be serving up panini, zuppa and pasta! Check out the menu on our updated web site: http://pizzeriaprimastrada.com/bridgestreet.php

We're working on a few tasty treats to go with your morning coffee - expect expanded hours soon!

PS - Felice Festa San Valentino!

Early years award

2010-02-10T11:30:00.000-08:00

Thanks for everyone's votes with the Early Years Award! We were recognized as a finalist and it's all because of you! So give yourself a pat on the back and keep your fingers crossed. We find out if we won on February 17th.

http://www.successby6victoria.ca/ey_awards.php

We're almost there!

2010-02-01T14:58:00.000-08:00

The oven as been lit, the wood has arrived and the sign is up. We are literally days away from opening the doors to our new location. At Bridge Street you will be treated to a warm urban environment with lots and lots of amazing reclaimed wood. Family style tables will accommodate up to 16 people-perfect for you and your lunch pals. Hungry on your way home from work? Call in for a take-out pizza to grab on your way home.

It's an exciting time for us and we are eager to share our new space with you. By joining our monthly newsletter, you will receive updates, promotions and chances to win free stuff.

We are looking forward to taking care of you! Information regarding our new location and the
newsletter is available on our website www.pizzeriaprimastrada.com

A nice look at the family tables with the wood lot behind.

Be the envy of the Victoria scene!

2010-01-26T11:27:00.000-08:00

It's time to get creative and start thinking about your spring and summer events with Pizzeria Prima Strada! We are ready to create events you and your guests will be talking about all year!

At Bridge Street we've got a chic and urban space for celebrations - weddings, birthdays and small meetings -to name a few ideas. Best of all, you and your guests will have Pizzeria Prima Strada all to yourselves (imagine the envy)!

Interested in having Prima Strada come to you? Our mobile wood-fired oven is the answer!

Check back soon for even more photos from the new (and nearly finished room)!

To begin planning your event, please contact Andrew: 250-590-4388 or andrew@primastrada.com .

We look to forward to seeing you at the hottest party of the year: yours!

Bridge street sneak peek part 2!

2010-01-19T13:35:00.000-08:00

We've got some more photos for you to check out. Notice the oven has arrived and the counters have been poured. The room is in the final stages of development and we will soon be in there sprinkling Prima Strada magic all over. It's also time to start planning your 2010 private events for both Bridge street and with our mobile catering oven. Please email info@primastrada.com or andrew@primastrada.com for information and bookings.

Polished concrete countertops

Black Beauty with the new oven waiting to be placed.

Beautiful family style tables made from reclaimed wood.

A closer look at the open kitchen area.

Early years award

2010-01-18T10:57:00.000-08:00

There's yet another opportunity to vote for your favorite restaurant! The early years award is given to a favorite Victoria establishment that is perfect for you and the kids. Since our opening, we have strived to offer a relaxed family-friendly environment to enjoy delicious pizza and gelato. So far, we feel that we've been doing a pretty good job. If you agree then please vote for us at www.successby6victoria.ca. We would be honored to receive your vote. Here's the direct link to the voting page:

http://www.successby6victoria.ca/ey_awards.php

Thank you very much for your support!