Latest Pete's to Open in June with New Chef, Calamari

The opening of the latest location of Pete's New Haven-Style Apizza will happen sometime in June, with chef Alisa Rivkin at the helm. The chef comes from a varied background. She ran her own company as a chef for athletes in New York, and worked in a number of restaurants, whether they be wine bars, fine dining or pastry chef gigs. She returned to her hometown of D.C. a couple years ago for family reasons, and has a background cooking Mediterranean cuisine.

"Everyone at Pete's is having a good time, and after meeting with the owners, I knew they put a premium on that aspect of the job, creating a good environment for the staff," she said. "I can't say enough good things about this place."

All Pete's locations share a menu, but Rivkin will still have some opportunities to be creative in the kitchen. The Silver Spring location of Pete's, opening at 962 Wayne Ave., has some additional kitchen equipment compared to the other locations which could allow them more flexibility, she said. For example, one of the owner's calamari recipes is expected to show up on the menu. Each location's c
hef also contributes a cured meat to the restaurant's antipasti platter.

Beyond that, Rivkin will get the chance to brush up on her pizza-making skills. Her favorite pizza on the menu? "I'm not going to lie; it's the East Rock," she said, naming the restaurant's five cheese white pizza. "Especially when they add spinach." Rivkin is also hoping to partner with local schools to help get kids cooking. "It'd be great to use my nutrition background," she said.
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Construction at Pete's [Photo: Facebook]