Pizzavelly Italian Kitchen Launch at Clovelly

After much anticipation of mysterious renovations behind closed doors, Pizzavelly Italian Kitchen welcomed invited guests on the evening of 18 February 2011 to the launch of their restaurant in the beachside suburb of Clovelly.

A red Fiat 500 Bambino outside the shop added a touch of retro nostalgia to the event where guests gathered to taste a range of authentic pizza and Italian dishes.

Fiat 500 Bambino on Clovelly Rd

Behind the striking marble stone façade, you take a trip back in time to Italy in the 1950s. You won’t find chequered tablecloths or a mundane green-white-red colour scheme.

A vibrant red feature wall with a black and white canvas leaps out with a Via Veneto scene in Rome straight from La Dolce Vita.

Feature wall and Via Veneto canvas

Classic Italian melodies of the 50s and 60s are right at home with framed photographs of Vespas, Fiat, Lambretta cars and poster girls of that romantic era.

Vespa, Lambretta, Fiat and 1950s poster girls

Close up of posters

Polished stainless steel fittings and bright lighting add a sense of space and modernity to the retro cool décor with lacquered banquettes and striped cushions.

Cushioned banquettes

Retro Coca Cola fridges

From the retro-styled Coca Cola fridges to the vintage drink glasses, no detail has been spared in this new eatery that brings authentic flavours of Italy to the village-like atmosphere of Clovelly.

Vintage Coke glasses

Pizzavelly Italian Kitchen is the partnership between Francesco Golino and Martin Hartridge whose vision is to bring a casual and welcoming dining experience to Clovelly.

Francesco Golino is the main man behind the kitchen, bringing authentic Italian dishes and flavours of his native towns of Caserta (north of Naples) and Fondi (south of Rome) to the table. He started cooking in his teenage years, learning about food and traditional cooking techniques in Italy before the family emigrated to Sydney in the 1970s. An experienced restaurateur, his previous ventures include Portobello in Kensington, The Italian Connection in Sydney’s George Street and Rossini in Viña del Mar in Chile.

Francesco Golino (L) and Martin Hartridge (R)

Martin Hartridge brings a wealth of commercial experience in various aspects of business. With a hotelier father, his background in the hospitality industry dates back to his formative years when he cooked breakfasts and lunches and assisted the head chef in the kitchen. Add a range of careers spanning general nursing, nutrition, self-employment and ventures in the theatrical business and entertainment industry, Martin is also experienced in theatre restaurants such as Kaos in Ramsgate and Frankenstein’s in Liverpool.

Pizzas on tasting

Nearly 50 guests attended the launch event, with a few spilling on to the footpath as the setting sun bathed Clovelly is a magenta light.

Guests arriving

By special request: an extra hot pepperoni pizza

Pizza out of the oven

Pizzavelly prides itself on genuine Italian flavours and techniques. The pizza dough is made daily on the premises using a combination of ingredients and techniques that have been in Francesco’s family for many years.

It takes just 3 minutes for the pizza to cook in the oven once it has been prepped.

The range of pizzas available for dine-in and takeaway include L’Originale, the original pizza from Napoli that started it all as well as popular choices such as Napoletana with anchovies, Al Pesto with artichokes and roasted capsicums and Greed is Good, the tribute for meat lovers. There are four vegetarian options on the menu including the Pizzavelly Special and the tasty Garlic Pizza which satisfies garlic lovers.

Vegetarian

Garlic Pizza

Pepperoni

Seafood

The Italian Kitchen – Francesco Golino (L) and Martin Hartridge (R)

Pizzavelly’s menu is not limited to just a comprehensive selection pizzas. The Italian Kitchen side of the business has a range of antipasti – including specialities made by Francesco himself, fresh salads with genuine Italian flavours, Nonna’s pasta dishes and secondi piatti with many featuring specialty sauces which he has perfected over the years.

Several pastas were on tasting, including gnocchi, ravioli and his signature Vivaldi sauce.

Penne Arrabbiata

Gnocchi with Vivaldi sauce

Penne Boscaiola

Francesco in the kitchen

Beef and Spinach ravioli with Vivaldi sauce

Penne all’amatriciana (L) and Penne Boscaiola (R)

Pasta tastings with a glass Lambrusco

Pizzavelly’s marble stone façade

Fiat 500 Bambino courtesy of Sydney City Alfa Romeo

Pizzavelly Italian Kitchen opened to the public on Saturday 19 February 2011. The BYO restaurant (no corkage charged) is open daily from 11 am to 10 pm. Pizzavelly also offers a range of Italian pastries and cakes such as three types of cannoli, ricotta cheesecake as well as Francesco’s signature tiramisu in both classic and limoncello flavours, making it ideal to drop in for coffee and sweets for a taste of Italy in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

Pizzavelly Italian Kitchen
347 Clovelly Road
Clovelly NSW 2031
Ph: 9664 3333
pizzavelly.com.au