So I took Jack, who lived in Rome for a few years and is very picky about his wood-fired pizzas, over to La Posta for a light meal this week. We sat in the front in one of the deep windows that make La Posta such an architectural treat. Service – right on. Wines — especially a remarkably well-structured Nebbiolo 2003 — excellent. For openers we shared a plate of unctuous, salty Nostrano salame ($5), sliced paper-thin. “This is so Italian,â€Jack commented. By that he meant, this was the sort of antipasti available in Italy, rather than what is found in most American versions of Italian restaurants. My escarole salad ($9) might have served as a light meal unto itself. Huge tangy, slightly bitter leaves had been topped with a fried egg, whose warm yolk joined the vinaigrette for a very playful union. Punctuated by bits of intensely-flavorful pancetta and it was molto bene indeed. But on to the pizza. Too large to finish in one sitting (rather miraculous for only $12) our fragrant main course arrived lightly finished with marinara, mozzarella and fresh basil leaves. Not too much. Just enough. And the very thin crust was pliant as well as crisp. Jack gave La Posta his seal of approval and agreed to return. Soon.
La Posta – 538 Seabright Avenue, Santa Cruz 831.457-2782
