Win a trip to Vegas from Zagat

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

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

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

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

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

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

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