Breezing into Santa Monica May 7th – Chef Sven Mede and interior designer Michael S. Smith will christen a new oceanfront Café and Lounge called Terrazza.
Directly overlooking the ocean, the 180 degree view is the ever-changing backdrop to Smith’s aquamarine and white Café & Lounge. Scattered neatly atop a colorful handmade Spanish ceramic tile floor are tables of green and blue terrazzo with a variety of chairs covered in eclectic fabrics. When the windows are opened, the space feels as ‘al fresco’ as humanly possible while still being inside. The floor is even heated when needed providing a year round beachy experience.
Christian Chaize’s ‘Praia Piquinia’
The crescent shaped room is accented with Christian Chaize’s ‘Praia Piquinia’ photographs, forged blown glass pendant lights and whimsical blue glass sconces from Murano. Smith’s design masterfully allows the ambience to seamlessly shift from a sun-drenched cafe for breakfast and lunch to a seductive sunset lounge at night.
To perfectly complement Smith’s new showpiece, Chef Sven Mede (a protegé of Charlie Trotter, Bradley Ogden and Michael Mina) draws inspiration from the Italian and Spanish coastlines with influences from local California ingredients.
Pacific Red Snapper Crudo
“’Less is More’ is our philosophy when it comes to bringing our coastal flavors to the plate.” Chef Mede explains, “it requires just a few of the best raw ingredients carefully and simply prepared to create an unforgettable experience.”
His favorites? Pacific Red Snapper Crudo with botarga- a delicacy of salted cured fish roe from grey mullet from the Mediterranean or Pacific Prawns ‘a la Plancha’ with Panzanella – a Tuscan salad of bread, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion and olive oil. Drifting away from the traditional, Mede uses pesto as dressing for his take on this delicious salad.
Funghi Pizza Rustica
For the more classic Italian food lover, his Bucatini Pomodore (all pastas are made in-house) made with Italy’s famous San Marzano tomatoes- handpicked at their ripest is considered by many chefs to be the best in the world for sauce.
Or the funghi pizza with roasted chantarelles, burrata and sage with all ingredients purchased locally from the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market.
180 Degree Beach Views
One of Mede’s goals, by bringing in a taste of Italy to Terrazza, is to provide even more variety to the choices of cuisine the collection of restaurants already at Pico and Ocean Way, by the blue sea.
For more exclusive Terrazza info follow @EatByTheBlueSea on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram.
