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International sensation Spoleto – My Italian Kitchen opening first California location at University Center in Irvine this fall

Motto of fresh-casual, gourmet-quality Italian restaurant: ‘Craft Your Culinary Freedom’

IRVINE, Calif. (April 26, 2016) – Spoleto – My Italian Kitchen, an international sensation known for its gourmet-quality cuisine and fresh-casual service, is opening its first California location at University Center in Irvine this fall.

The restaurant’s motto is “Craft Your Culinary Freedom,” reflecting a menu that allows diners to create their own dishes with more than 30 Italian-inspired toppings to choose from.

Guests can craft a pasta dish, flatbread or salad and interact with Spoleto’s chefs to experiment with a variety of fresh, locally sourced ingredients in its open kitchen.

Farm fresh ingredients and protein choices include basil marinated shrimp, house-made giant meatballs, truffle roasted mushrooms, caramelized onions, eggplant, sundried tomatoes and more. Pasta sauce options include Pesto, Bolognese and Alfredo.

Spoleto currently has more than 380 locations in Brazil, Mexico and Costa Rica and three in Florida. The 4,260-square-foot University Center location will be Spoleto’s first U.S. restaurant outside of Florida.

“We are honored that Spoleto – My Italian Kitchen has chosen University Center for its first California location,” said Easther Liu, chief marketing officer, Irvine Company Retail Properties. “Offering seasonal menus based on fresh local products and an endless number of guest-selected food combinations, it is the perfect addition to the new dining options at University Center in Irvine and we’re confident it will quickly become a local favorite.” 

Diners can also select from chef-inspired specialty dishes such as Ravioli Di Brodo featuring four cheese ravioli, herb-roasted chicken, bacon, spinach, fresh kale, carrots, peas, broccoli and red onion; Burrata and Prosciutto Caprese Focaccia flatbread with burrata cheese, prosciutto, cherry tomatoes, red onions, marinara, Italian herb blend and house-made herb oil; and Fig, Prosciutto and Burrata Salad made with local arugula, strawberries, prosciutto, burrata cheese, house-made herb oil and oven-baked bread with fig jam.

Spoleto will serve a selection of wine and local craft beers along with special seasonal menus based on availability of fresh local produce.

“At Spoleto, we’ve created a truly unique experience completely different from other Italian concepts,” said John Velasquez, president of Spoleto USA. “We have been waiting for the right moment to make our entrance to the West Coast and University Center was a great location with a great demographic we couldn’t pass up.”

Spoleto – My Italian Kitchen will be next to Mendocino Farms at 4175 Campus Drive, Irvine.

About Irvine Company Retail Properties
Irvine Company Retail Properties’ portfolio features a distinguished collection of 42 shopping centers, including three celebrated regional centers, Fashion Island, Irvine Spectrum Center and The Market Place, and a diverse mix of neighborhood and community centers. Irvine Company Retail Properties has recently welcomed several exclusive retailers to its unique collection of stores and restaurants, including Hopdoddy Burger Bar, Sushi Roku, TAPS Fish House & Brewery, Mendocino Farms, Nespresso, Nike Women’s, Urban Decay, Del Frisco’s Grille and more. For more information, please visit ShopIrvineCompany.com.