Rosemarino d'Italia Open for Business

New Mount Vernon Avenue restaurant awaiting ABC license.

Rosemarino d’Italia, a new restaurant on Mount Vernon Avenue, is open for business while it awaits its ABC license. Manager George Prudente opened the doors at 1905 Mount Vernon Ave. a few nights last week for a soft opening. Prudente oversaw some of the operations at La Strada, which closed at the site on Dec. 31, 2012. Family health issues and business shortfalls prompted the decision to close the Italian restaurant, according to Courtney Scott, daughter of owner Stephen Scott. • See: La Strada to Close • See: Some La Strada Staff to Join Rosemarino d'Italia  Rosmeri Espinoza, who has worked at Pines of Florence on King Street for the past decade, filed an application with the city to take ownership of the business in January. • See: New…

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Some La Strada Staff to Join Rosemarino D’Italia

Rosmeri Espinoza busy obtaining permits for new Mount Vernon Avenue restaurant.

Details of Rosemarino D’Italia—the new restaurant slated to move into the space at 1905 Mount Vernon Ave. previously occupied by La Strada—remain scarce as Rosmeri Espinoza continues to obtain the necessary permits to open the eatery. “We have a lot of plans,” Espinoza told Patch on Tuesday. A 10-year veteran at Pines of Florence on King Street, Espinoza said she will bring in a new chef to Rosemarino D’Italia but that many of La Strada’s staff will return to work at the new restaurant, including manager George Prudente. Espinoza also said the Italian cuisine at Rosemarino D’Italia would be different than what is served at Pines of Florence. “Each restaurant has its own style of Italian food,” she said. “But we’re busy working on permits …

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New Plans for La Strada

Rosmeri Espinoza of Pines of Florence files permit application to take ownership of business.

Rosmeri Espinoza, who has worked at Pines of Florence on King Street for the past decade, has filed an application with the city to take ownership at La Strada on Mount Vernon Avenue. According to the application, the restaurant will be renamed Rosemarino D’Italia.   La Strada, located at 1905 Mount Vernon Ave., closed its doors on Dec. 31. Family health issues and business shortfalls prompted the decision to close the Italian restaurant, according to Courtney Scott, daughter of owner Stephen Scott. Look for more info on Espinoza and the future of the restaurant next week on Del Ray Patch. For the quickest updates on Del Ray businesses, "like" Del Ray Patch on Facebook and follow @delraypatch on Twitter.

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This Week's Top Story: La Strada to Close Dec. 31

Family health issues and business shortfalls prompt Scott family to shutter popular Italian eatery.

La Strada to Close Dec. 31

Family health issues and business shortfalls prompt Scott family to shutter popular Italian eatery.

La Strada on Mount Vernon Avenue is closing its doors on Dec. 31. Family health issues and business shortfalls prompted the decision to close the Italian restaurant, according to Courtney Scott, daughter of owner Stephen Scott. “I think it's too little money, time and energy to keep it going,” Courtney Scott wrote in a message to Patch. “So many things factored into our decision, but the main reason was to have time to spend with our father and for health issues.” Courtney Scott also said that her family couldn't afford a rent increase on the space. Scott said there are plans to offer a special menu on Christmas Eve for a fifth consecutive year. A special menu will also be offered on New Year’s Eve, which will also be a farewell party for …

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Del Ray Farmers' Market Hosts First Chef Demonstration

La Strada's Stephen Scott showcases recipes involving fresh, local ingredients.

Saturday marked the first chef demonstration at the Del Ray Farmers’ Market this year. Stephen Scott from La Strada prepared salad and homemade pasta free of charge for market shoppers. His recipes showcased fresh, local ingredients available at the market. Market master Pat Miller said the plan is to host a different chef demonstration on the first Saturday of each month through October. Chef Will Artley staged a demonstration at the final Four Mile Run Farmers and Artisans Market of 2011. The Four Mile Run Market opened its 2012 season on Sunday, as did the West End Farmers’ Market in Ben Brenman Park. Along with Scott’s demonstration, Saturday’s Del Ray Farmers’ Market included a performance from the Irish Breakfast Band and a visit by …

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Osteria 1909 Receives Alcohol License

New Mt. Vernon Avenue restaurant now has a full-service bar.

Osteria 1909, a new restaurant and wine bar operated by the Scott family behind La Strada, opened its doors last week. On Tuesday, the Mt. Vernon Avenue eatery received its alcohol license. “We are now a full-service bar,” Courtney Scott wrote in an email to Del Ray Patch on Tuesday afternoon. No beer is available at the moment, but it should be available later in the week. Osteria is open 11 a.m. to midnight seven days a week for lunch and dinner service. Brunch is served on the weekend. To read last week’s Del Ray Patch article about the restaurant, click here. To follow Osteria 1909 on Facebook, click here.

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Osteria 1909 Open For Dining

Scott family still waiting to secure alcohol license for new spot.

Osteria 1909, a new restaurant and wine bar operated by La Strada restaurant’s Scott family, opened Wednesday at 1909 Mt. Vernon Avenue. Osteria is still awaiting its alcohol license, which Courtney Scott hopes will be obtained in a few days. “We’re absolutely thrilled to be open and can't wait to get the alcohol license so we can start serving drinks,” Scott said. “We have great bartenders who are eager to start mixing and pouring.” The restaurant is currently open 11 a.m. to midnight. Longtime D.C.-area chef Hector Guerra was hired to oversee Osteria in July. The menu includes charcuterie, grilled steak and fish, hearty flatbreads, small plates, panini sandwiches, soups and salads. The small plates include items like oyster rocco and …

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Updated: La Strada Opens For Lunch

Osteria 1909 still not open for business.

11:20 a.m. Wednesday update — Courtney Scott emailed Del Ray Patch to say Osteria 1909 is not opening for lunch on Wednesday. Instead, La Strada, the Scott family's restaurant located next to Osteria, will be open for lunch at 11:30 a.m. "I don't know how I got this so wrong, but La Strada is opening for lunch starting [Wednesday], not Osteria," Scott wrote. "Osteria is still having a few problems getting open." Both Scott and Patch apologize for the confusion. — — — — Osteria 1909, a new Italian-themed restaurant on Mt. Vernon Avenue, will open for lunch at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. In an email to Del Ray Patch, Courtney Scott, daughter of owner Stephen Scott, wrote: “We will be serving panini [sandwiches], salads, pastas and more. We will be…

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Karen Gautney

11:28 am on Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Will we soon see them featured in the "Patch Deal of the Day"?   more ›