Paella en el Patio

We just can't seem to keep Antonio Laudisio from doing what he loves, and does best: Cooking for you! Try as we may to keep him out of the kitchen (ok, admittedly we would love to have him in the kitchen every shift, but that just doesn't fly with a 70 year old) we still can't keep him from cooking all over town!

Have you been to the farmers markets lately? You'll usually see Antonio tossing a pie, or cooking a polenta in the oven. He's even been know to put the customers to work!
No lie, this was overheard at a recent farmers market:

Customer: Do you have any mushrooms for the pizza?
Antonio: No. Go get me some! Go to Hazel Dell and tell them it's for me!

Did the customer oblige? Of course he did, and got his pizza with fresh Hazel Dell mushrooms!

Have you seen Antonio cooking outside in the 29th Street mall for 29th St. Live? The first month or so was cursed with less than ideal weather. Did that stop Antonio? I'm pretty sure I saw him dancing around in the rain in between pizza orders a few weeks ago!


So what's he doing for fun now? Bringing a bit of Spain to our little corner of Italy here on the mall. Antonio is cooking his Paella right in front of the restaurant, for all to see (and smell!). This past friday was a huge success, with the majority of guests in attendance trying the Paella Valencia in $5 Happy Hour portions. Of course, a number of guests were thinking about dinner, and asked about ordering full dinner plates of Paella, which we of course provided them. There was a bit of a mad rush serving, since by the time it was ready there were dozens of mouths watering in anticipation, but our servers did a great job and everyone was fed happily!

We're taking a week to regroup (and let Antonio visit with family for the week) and will be back on the patio with the Paella pan on Friday, July 17th.

Oh yeah, Antonio has a brand new HUGE Paella pan. It's sitting in the entranceway of the restaurant. He really, really wants to use it, but it's about twice as big as the one he normally uses, so that means we need twice as many hungry mouths to feed! So come to Happy Hour and support Antonio in his quest to break out the giant Paella pan!

By the way, Happy Hour is everyday from 3 to 7:30. That's right. 7:30. Because we know that no one really gets out of work by 5!

A Word From Antonio Laudisio

Welcome

My grandfather cooked on the ocean liners coming from Italy in the early 1900's. He moved his family to New York and opened the first family bakery in Brooklyn. Out of this, the family pizzeria/restaurant tradition emerged, first in Florida and then in Colorado. We opened the first Laudisio on the corner of 28th and Iris twenty years ago and then moved to the 29th Street Shopping District in 2006. Through our Italian culture, we respond to the community awareness of real food. We change our menu seasonally to best utilize and reflect the beauty of the Boulder County gardens, waters and farms. We invite you to experience the joy of the Italian table.

Cibo Vino Amici: Food, Wine, Friends. What else is there?

No matter what your taste in dining experience we can accommodate you. Why? Laudisio has been designed with four dining experiences in mind. Check them out and take your pick!

the modern Italian table

Smooth, upscale and contemporary, the Laudisio Dining Room is the ideal place for a great daytime business lunch or an intimate, sophisticated evening meal. Our chefs create new, bolder tastes for today’s palate, with innovative and exciting daily lunch and dinner features...and the award winning Laudisio cellar offers a wide variety of wines to accompany any choice from the menu.

the casual Italian table

Inside Laudisio, the cozy and comfortable Bistro Wine Bar sets the new standard for casual and intimate wining and dining. It features a fascinating selection of wines by the bottle or glass, along with a variety of cocktails and beers, and a delicious menu of appetizers, assorted small plates, and authentic wood-fired pizzas.

The Laudisio Bistro Wine Bar has become Boulder’s favorite place for date night, a before or after theater stop, or a delightful shopping break.

the al fresco Italian table

At Laudisio, you can have all the joy of the Italian Table, out in the fresh air (al fresco) with the Rockies as a backdrop! Enjoy the mountain views as you choose whatever suits your mood from the extensive menu. Lunch, dinner, or anytime, having a wood-fired pizza, a crisp salad or a special pasta with a glass of wine surrounded by the beauty of Boulder is in a setting that is not to be missed.

the personalized Italian table

An event in the Laudisio private party room will be one that’s remembered. The professional staff at Laudisio takes care of everything: planning the menu, room decorations, even the music and flowers. Whether it’s a meeting, rehearsal dinner, birthday, anniversary, engagement or graduation party, the Laudisio personalized Italian table raises the bar on private dining.

A Brief Word on Wine...

There are various and subtle differences among the thousands of wines grown within the twenty regions of Italy. The extensive Laudisio cellar enables you to experience the myriad tastes these regions have to offer. Our selections are chosen for their clear, beautiful representations of grape varietals and producer individuality. As well as being broad and rich, our 18-year Wine Spectator Award winning list brings you good, great and stunning wines at a comfortable price.

Full Laudisio Wine List