Italian New Year's Eve Traditions

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

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

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

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!

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

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