Cypress Edition | February 2023

DINING FEATURE

BY EMILY LINCKE

3 ITEMS TO TRY

Sicilian braised beef short ribs ($45): These ribs are covered in a balsamic chipotle glaze and laid over a bed of sweet pea risotto. (Courtesy Mia Bella Trattoria)

Seafood lasagna ($26): Layers of lasagna noodles, cheese and seafood are topped with lobster cream sauce, clams and jumbo shrimp. (Courtesy Mia Bella Trattoria)

Roasted chicken ($25): Drizzled in arugula pesto and a rosemary-lemon wine reduction, this chicken is served atop grilled vegetables. (Courtesy Mia Bella Trattoria)

Mia Bella Trattoria Vintage Park eatery oers modern twist on classic Italian cuisine A t Mia Bella Trattoria in Vintage Park, patrons can sip a glass of wine while served on a bed of angel hair pasta. In addition to its Italian entrees, soups and salads, the restaurant serves brunch items, such as Italian

because my dad is Italian, and I have it in my veins. … But I walked in, and I fell in love.” From host, Gozzo worked her way up to server and then to employee trainer, event coordinator, assistant manager, general manager and nally owner. In late 2018, Gozzo purchased the restaurant from its previous owner. She said her sta, customers and the leaders at the Mia Bella Restaurant Group motivated her to work her way toward owning the restaurant. “Even though I was far away from my family, most of the time, I never felt alone,” Gozzo said. “The customers who come here, they treated me as family. It made me so happy to see them.”

Gianna Gozzo owns the Vintage Park location of Mia Bella Trattoria. (Emily Lincke/Community Impact)

enjoying modern adaptations of classic Italian cuisine, franchisee Gianna Gozzo said. “I like to call it ‘Italian with a twist’ because none of the dishes that we have are traditional,” Gozzo said. A spin on the classic dish, Mia Bella’s seafood lasagna—which includes layers of lasagna noodles, cheese and seafood topped with lobster cream sauce, clams and jumbo shrimp—is one of the restau- rant’s bestsellers, Gozzo said. Another popular item is the chicken Parmigiana, which is chicken Parmesan but stued with cheese and veggies, topped with tomato basil pesto cream sauce and

ricotta pancakes. Mia Bella also oers a full bar with a wide selec- tion of wine and signature cocktails, including a limoncello martini and a watermelon margarita. Mia Bella opened in 2008 as a franchise of the Mia Bella Restaurants Group. Gozzo was rst introduced to the business when she became an employee in 2014. Originally from Venezuela, Gozzo has a degree in accounting but said she had to start out working entry- level jobs in restaurants because her rst language is Spanish. “I don’t know, something [called to] me,” Gozzo said. “Maybe …

Mia Bella Trattoria 110 Vintage Park Blvd., Ste. A, Houston 281-251-8930 www.miabellarestaurants.com Hours: Mon.-Thu. 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Fri. 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.- 10:30 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m.

L O U E T T A R D

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CYPRESS EDITION • FEBRUARY 2023