Fast Food Friday - Cozza Mia - Varcaturo (Na)

Friday night.  After a long week of work, it’s the perfect night to go out and grab something to eat.  And on this particular Friday, I wanted something quick, I wanted something fast, and  I really wanted to try  Cozza Mia.

Flashback...A little over a year ago, Francesco D'Alena, owner of Nautilus Ristorante in Varcaturo shared with me some ideas and plans that he had for the future.  One of them was to open up a fast food place right next door to his popular bar/pastry shop and restaurant.   A fast food place with a difference, though.  Something different on Via Ripuaria, a street  where  during the summer is jam packed  with sun worshipers on their way to Varcaturo's crowded beach resorts.  This place would be Cozza Mia.   D'Alena wanted to focus on typical Neapolitan fast food specialties with a focus on seafood.  ( Cozza means mussels in Italian) Pizza was also part of the plan. And in April 2012, Cozza Mia finally opened its doors.  

Francesco D'Alena (left)

Casual and stylish with tables outdoors.  Perfect for summer.  Seated at my table, I glanced at the menu wondering where to begin…I could accuminciàmm (begin in Neapolitan) with lupin e auliv,lupins with white olives or o bror e purpo, an octopus broth with chunks of octopus and pepper.

Or o’sfizio… a long list of appetizers including allicella, marinated sardines, a pasta cresciuta, zeppoline with seaweed, and o’ fassul, a bean soup with mussels.

At my table we decided to begin with a montanara, fried pizza with a dollop of tomato sauce on top.

Then we moved on to a plate of è cozze e grate, steamed mussels that are sprinkled with bread crumbs and them a brief moment in their wood burning oven…

Alici fritte, a basket of fried sardines…

O’calamaro, fried rings of squid…

And for dessert, o’ dolce, we chose a slice of a’caprese, chocolate cake with a side of whipped cream…

That was all I could handle…but next time maybe I’ll try a’fresella, bread made with durum wheat which has been softened in water and topped with goodies such as Sorrento tomatoes, white olives, anchovies, celery, white onions and basil.

Or maybe e’ primm, a first course like fresh potato gnocchetti with mussels, tomatoes from Corbara, pecorino cheese and basil…

 Or fish and chips...

Or maybe a pizza…from the classics to the more elaborate…

As long as it’s quick…and as long as it’s fast…

Cozza Mia

Via Ripuaria, 263

Varcaturo (Na) 80014

39 081 839 2006