out and about: scuderie italia

How thankful are we to have a place like scuderie, right down the hill from us in pacific beach? For the last 3 or more years it has been a family favorite, to-go delivery staple, and a great pop-in spot for drinks with friends.

My kiddos are obsessed with the make your own pasta, which allows them to customize whatever and how ever they want. Buttered gnocchi, fusilli with guanciale and broccoli in olio sauce, and spaghetti and meatballs are huge hits. As is the margarita pizza, salmon, brussel sprouts, and truffle fries. Some of which aren’t even on the regular menu anymore, but if you know, you know, and can still make a “local” order.

I love the napoli style pizza - honestly next to homemade… it’s the only kind of pizza I actually like - and the sauce is chef’s kiss. Also love, love, love all the mozzarella variations on deck. And the ability to customize pizza toppings to your liking.

For a big family like ours? With so many varied tastes… it’s got something for everyone. Which is why you can find us eating scuderie and any given point in time.

stone ipa

cali t: blackberry syrup, strawberry puree, rose wine, prosecco, seltzer water

Just so y’all know and are prepared. The stone ipa is in a can. And if you are a discerning stone drinker, like my husband, you may also find a distinguishable difference between bottle and can. (Between us, he prefers the bottle).

I mean… if you’ve been around here for a while, you know I am a sucker for anything with blackberry in it. So really, was it any wonder that this was the spritz I go for?

Crisp, clean, and honestly not too blackberry forward, but a great starter while you peruse the menu.

polipo fritto: fried octopus with friend vegetables and arugula served with spicy mayo

So… I don’t know about you, but there are certain dishes I will order to-go; and then there are certain dishes I will only eat in restaurant, because those extra travel minutes can really make a difference. Octopus is one of those. I want it as fresh off the cook, and as tender as possible.

And best you believe, that this octopus is both of those. So, so, so good. So much so, we are trying to figure out how we can deep fry our octopus at home for the future.

However, we were expecting it to be battered and fried, and didn’t have any fried vegetables or spicy mayo in our dish, per the menu. That being said?!? We didn’t miss any of it. Loved not having breading; and would have loved 2 to 3 times more of the octopus exactly the way it was.

stracceitti salati: fried strips of pizza dough, served with arugula & cherry tomatoes

You guys! Amazing. When this was first described as pizza dough fingers? We weren’t sure what to expect.

First of all, it’s huge. Could be a meal in and of itself. Second. It’s totally like pizza fingers, if they were reimagined as a savory, fluffy, crispy on the outside, light on the inside donut.

Like unbelivebly good. And when mixed with the roasted tomatoes, arugula and parm? It kinda creates the perfect bite.

harland hazy ipa

franciacorta rose contadi castoldi

Two favs. The harland hazy. And a sparkling rose. Both pair excellently with any main dish - and can hold up against heartier pasta and pizza dough.

tortelloni brasato: filled with short ribs & sauteed with butter & sage

Um hi. Just so you know. If you get anything, or any one thing, at scuderie. It needs to be this dish. It is brilliant in all its simplicity. No need for any extras. Just pure, clean, amazing flavors that just hit different.

I’m not a crazy pasta fanatic, like some. But this dish? It just hits different.

capricciosa: san marzano tomatoes, flor di latte, prosciutto ctoo, mushroom, artichoke, basil, evoo

Specialized mozzarella? Fancy prosciutto? The best tomatoes on the planet? Can we say it all together? Flavor bomb.

Or as Jamie said when he read the ingredient description? Oh, look. A pizza made with all your favorite things.

nutella pizza: puccia bread with nutella spread and bananas

Let’s just think of this as a nutella loaded sandwich. Nutella underneath, nutella inside, and nutella on the top. It’s a nutella bomb. No bananas for us today - which honestly we were excited to have the strawberries. Talk about a kid favorite? And family as well.

Kinda the perfect ending to a perfect meal, no?