Everybody loves the piquant pizza pinwheels
Early in life, I was introduced to Stromboli, a Disney character perhaps named for an active volcanic island north of Sicily, who enslaved the little puppet Pinocchio. Later I was to enjoy Stromboli as a meal. It was a calzone-shaped pizza dough pocket filled with meats, mustard and mozzarella, baked, then smothered in house-made marinara. If you've ever visited Tony Di Maggio's in South San Jose, you know what I'm talking about.
Further research leads me to Essington, Pennsylvania, where in 1950, Nat Romano named his new-fangled sandwich after an Ingrid Bergman movie . The Romano family insists that Italian bread-encased Stromboli be rolled like a burrito rather than folded, and sliced before serving.
This brings me to Mangiamo in west side Santa Cruz's Safeway shopping center. Here, the Stromboli ($10.95) is served as attractive pinwheels of crisply toasted crust in which is rolled salty Genoa salami, pepperoni, Italian Parma prosciutto, spirited pepperoncini peppers, and provolone cheese. A thick, oregano-rich tomato sauce is presented on the side.
In addition to pizza, calzone and panini, the restaurant features individual and family-size salads, locally grown and organic vegetables, and sauces made fresh daily.
Attractive geometric wood cabinetry holds bottles of wine, also available for take-out, above the copper-colored wine bar.
On Fridays and Saturdays, live music begins at 6 p.m. South county neighbors can now enjoy Mangiamo at its new second location in the Deer Park center.
Mangiamo Pizza and Wine Bar , 845 Almar Avenue, Santa Cruz, 458-1000. Beer and wine. Serving lunch 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and dinner 5-10 p.m. Closed Mondays.
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