Friday, October 24, 2014

Edible Ojai: Osteria Monte Grappa fires up new pizza oven

As published in Edible Ojai magazine’s Edible Notes section, Spring 2014

Osteria Monte Grappa fires up new pizza oven

As part of a recent remodel, Osteria Monte Grappa installed a wood-fired pizza oven imported from Modena, Italy. With temperatures reaching as high as 1,000°, the oven turns out artisanal flatbread pizzas cooked to crispy perfection in just about two minutes flat. Complementing a menu of fresh pastas and rustic Northern Italian–inspired fare featuring local farmers’ market produce and meats, the pizza offerings run the gamut from the familiar pizza Margherita with fresh basil to the creative pizza di Stefano (a nod to the owner) with thin slices of speck (Northern Italian smoked prosciutto) and lightly dressed fresh arugula. In addition to the impressive list of Italian and California wines OMG has offered since opening in 2009, the restaurant’s new liquor license means a full-service bar with top-shelf spirits and fine Italian grappas, sambuca and limoncello. So customers can now belly up to the newly installed custom-built bar and enjoy a craft cocktail while watching the flames flicker inside the oven.

Osteria Monte Grappa
242 E. Ojai Ave.
Ojai
805-640-6767

OMGOjai.com