Former Bellecour in Wayzata will reopen as Italian cafe and pizza takeout place

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Chef Daniel del Prado is opening Josefina and the takeout location Pizza Fina in the former Bellecour cafe in Wayzata.

One of the optimum profile restaurant closings of 2020 is leading to a new beginning.

Bellecour, Gavin Kaysen’s shuttered French cafe in Wayzata, will be reborn this spring as Josefina, an Italian restaurant from a crew that includes chef and restaurateur Daniel del Prado.

The menu will be influenced by the delicacies of Rome. “It is Italian, but we are attempting to concentration on the region,” del Prado mentioned. “It really is pork hefty. Amatriciana is from Rome. Cacio e Pepe is from Rome. Rice fritters. We’re executing our interpretation of salt cod fritters. But heavy on pasta, significant on vegetable sides, and pizza.”

Pizza, in truth, will be a target of the linked previous Bellecour bakery, which will make use of a takeout window to distribute spherical Roman pies as the offshoot Pizza Fina.

Del Prado and organization associate Aaron Switz teamed up with chef Steve McMullen, who was the opening chef de cuisine at Burch Steak and Pizza Bar under del Prado, who was govt chef.

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Bellecour in Wayzata will quickly develop into the Italian restaurant Josefina.

McMullen experienced considering the fact that moved to New York, but when the pandemic introduced him dwelling, he reconnected with del Prado.

“I enjoy him,” del Prado explained. “He is excellent.”

This is a chaotic time for del Prado, whose places to eat include Martina and Colita, and the recently opened Argentine-Sicilian pizzeria Rosalia.

The soonest we can hope Josefina to open is sometime this spring.

“It can be the best I can do ideal now,” he explained. “I’m striving to be additional present at the restaurants. I operate each day, and I prevent by all the places to eat each day. I’m tremendous connected to every little thing and make all remaining conclusions.” But, he emphasized, if the pandemic taught him anything, it can be that jogging a restaurant is a workforce exertion. “It’s a whole team of people today,” he mentioned, that will get Roman-fashion pizza into the fingers of Wayzatans.

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Star Tribune file Bellecour in Wayzata will before long become the Italian cafe Josefina.

Of class, the deal with — 739 E. Lake St. — is a storied one particular. In the 1970s, it revolutionized French delicacies in the Twin Metropolitan areas as Chouette. Far more just lately, it was dwelling to Kaysen’s 4-star bistro.

“Ideal away, I termed Gavin and I questioned for his blessing, out of regard,” del Prado reported. “These are large sneakers. I know men and women are going to evaluate it no matter what. I can only do my greatest.”

Sharyn Jackson • 612-673-4853

@SharynJackson