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Casey Patten, the Taylor Gourmet founder who reentered the cheesesteak business with Grazie Grazie, will test out pan pizza with a one-night pop-up next week at the Southwest Waterfront shop. Grazie Grazie (85 District Square SW) will accept pre-orders online for three types of pies on Monday, October 5, for dinnertime pickups Tuesday, October 6.
“My whole life, in one way, shape, or form, I’ve been super passionate about dough and fermentation,” Patten says.
Growing up in Philadelphia, he remembers visiting his Italian grandmother in Jersey every week to cook pizzas in “super old” steel pans. Last year, he traipsed around New York City and New Jersey to hit 31 recommended red sauce and pie joints over three days.
“The Hut” (tomato, mozzarella, provolone, oregano, and pecorino romano) recalls memories of Pizza Hut’s “Book It” program, which rewarded kids with a free pan pizza for meeting monthly reading goals. A “Call CT” comes with pistachio pesto and oven dried tomatoes. A “Hot Nancy” comes with tomato, mozzarella, provolone, pepperoni, candied jalapeno, basil, pecorino, and Romano.
Patten says he has avoided laying off staff at the Italian sandwich shop throughout the pandemic. He’s thanked them for their work with impromptu pizza parties, letting them taste test round pizzas based on a dough that ferments for 72 hours.
In other news...
- James Beard Award-winning chef Kwame Onwuachi will be back on Top Chef — as a judge — for the 18th season, filmed in Portland, Oregon. The former competitor on Bravo’s cooking series left critically acclaimed Kith/Kin on the Wharf this year.
- Small batch scoops shops Sarah’s Handmade Ice Cream will open its second local shop in Bethesda’s Wildwood Shopping Center on Friday, October 9 (10219 Old Georgetown Road), with special promotions and giveaways all weekend.
- Florida-based chain World of Beer will start pouring in Ballston on Thursday, October 5, sliding into the former home of Ted’s Montana Grill (4300 Wilson Boulevard).
