BiteClub: More pizza coming to downtown Santa Rosa

Persona Pizza coming to Arrigoni’s space: Downtown Santa Rosa is getting a culinary shake-up as Persona Wood Fired Pizza gets ready to take over the former Arrigoni’s Deli.

In what’s quickly becoming a trend in fast-casual dining, the pizzeria offers 12-inch, top-your-own pizzas that are cooked in a wood-fired oven in about 90 seconds. Created by a top pizzaiolo (someone trained in the art of making pizza, notably Neopolitan-style) and a CIA-trained chef, Persona is based in Santa Barbara with plans to open more than 20 franchised stores in the Bay Area over the next several years.

And while we have nothing against good old pepperoni and mushroom, Persona will also offer up more gourmet toppings including prosciutto, sopressata, pine nuts, arugula, burrito and blue cheese as well as the more conventional ones.

A basic pizza will run about $8, but can quickly reach double digits with added toppings. Also in the lineup: A burrata and gelato bar. Yum.

What’s notable is that Pieology, a similar DIY pizzeria, recently opened in Santa Rosa’s Safeway Shopping Center on Mendocino Ave. And yes, it is the third pizzeria in downtown Santa Rosa. But really, can you ever have enough pizza?

Expect a March opening.

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Adios Jeff and Susan! Former Zin Restaurant owners Jeff and Susan Mall are heading south of the border. The couple will be taking over food and beverage operations at Rancho Pescadero in Baja, Mexico.

Que? Yup, it’s true. The Malls have been involved in consulting with the resort since 2010, and will bring their dedicated farm-to-table philosophy to the property, located south of Todos Santos.

But don’t get your hankies out just yet, though. The couple plan to split their time between Mexico and Sonoma County and return north during the hot summer months.

No strangers to Mexico and its culinary traditions, Jeff spent many summers in Baja as a kid, staying in towns like Mulegé, La Paz, Loreto, and a much-sleepier-than-it-is-now Cabo San Lucas.

Susan grew up in San Diego and her summers were spent in Ensenada, a seaport town about an hour south of the border. Her early culinary memories include warm bolillos, turkey tortas and carne asada in Tijuana.

Jeff and Susan’s new menus at the resort’s restaurant, The Garden, will celebrate the bounty of Baja and traditional Mexican flavors, made light and bright with locally grown ingredients. Menu items will include Posole de Pescado y Mariscos, Crispy Sopes with Smoked Marlin Salpicon, and Local Goat Cheese and Mushroom Chile Rellenos with Salsa Colorado.

In addition, the couple will offer cooking classes and local food tours, and plan to institute a robust guest chef program, hosting top international talent for culinary weekends and events several times a year.

Sonoma County’s loss is certainly Rancho Pescadero’s gain. We will miss the couple’s great enthusiasm for local products, incredible warmth and generosity, and rich culinary talents greatly.

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Innovations in Fermentation Workshop and Dinner: That collective “Eeeeeeeeeee!” sound you may be hearing from food-obsessed friends may have something to do with the Feb. 21 fermentation celebration at Healdsburg SHED.

The day’s workshop and multi-course dinner features a stunning lineup of chefs and producers, including Ali Bouzari of Pilot R&D, Kyle Connaughton of the recently-announced Single Thread Farm Restaurant, Brian Hunt of Moonlight Brewing, Nick Balla and Coutney Burns of Bar Tartine, the co-founders of Berkeley’s Cultured Pickle and Dan Felder, head chef of development at Momofuku.

They’ll be talking beer, cheese, miso, kimchee and more; later serving up a multi-course communal meal with dishes like “Ice-Filtered Duck Broth with Kohlrabi and Miner’s Lettuce From Between the Vine Rows.” You know, just something simple they whipped together. How much would you be willing to pay for this day of fermentation and food celebrity? How does $125 for the kit and caboodle grab you? See you there.

Tickets available online at healdsburgshed.com/events/fermentation-day. 3-10p.m., Feb. 21, 25 North St., Healdsburg.

Still hungry? Check out Heather’s food and dining blog at BiteClubEats.com.