One of the most enjoyable aspects of writing the restaurant reviews for Contra Costa Marketplace is the opportunity learn about and visit excellent culinary venues that I never even knew existed. Such is the case of Café Gran Milan, which celebrated its one year anniversary on April 18, 2016. Nestled in an unlikely location in the Central Avenue Center on Jacuzzi Street in Richmond, Café Gran Milan is like an oasis in a largely industrial area. With neighbors such as 101 Auto Body, Jacuzzi Hot Tubs, The Floor Store, and the Painter’s Pot, it is definitely “off the beaten path,” accessible via the frontage road next to I-80 West near Central Avenue in El Cerrito. But it is definitely worth seeking out if you want to treat yourself to a casual, authentic Italian experience unlike any other I’ve experienced in the local area. Café Gran Milan was founded by two brothers from Northern Italy who are well-experienced restaurateurs, Ivo and Rufo Verga. Ivo studied culinary arts for four years at a prestigious Italian school with an emphasis in becoming a pastry chef. In addition to Café Gran Milan, Ivo owns two similar restaurants near Varase, Italy. Rufo, a retired professional football (soccer) player, who represented Italy in the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics, previously owned restaurants and pizzerias in Italy after his sports career ended. He emigrated from Italy to the United States in 2008, and has owned and/or operated several restaurant venues in the Bay Area, including PIQ (Pane Italiano Qualita) Café, Bakery, and Pizzeria, located on Shattuck and Addison Avenues in Berkeley. Ivo came to the US last year when he and Rufo partnered to open Café Gran Milan. They made a bet as to whether they could make their venture a success in the chosen location. Although I’m not sure which of the brothers restaurant review 5327 JACUzzI STREET, IN RICHMONd | 510-985-0679 FINd THEM ON GOOGlE+, TWITTER, ANd FACEBOOk Café Gran Milan: Authentic Italian Fare from Milan and Lombardy RIBEyE PHO By Vickie Lewis SAUSAGE ANd PEPPERONI PIzzA
Contra Costa Marketplace - June 2016
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