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Maya Sciarretta To Open “Pazzo Chow” Italian Deli In Chinatown April 1st

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Maya Sciarretta of Sugo Sauce is set to open Pazzo Chow in Chinatown on Wednesday, April 1st (no fooling). The little eatery/delicatessen is the next step for Sciarretta after a successful couple of years sharing her passion for simple Italian cooking and bringing her particular brand of awesome to pop-ups, local events and craft fairs. We’ve long-loved her sauces – almost as much as her sexy, funny ads…

Pazzo Chow – located at 620 Quebec St. (just around the corner from The Keefer) – will carry the full Sugo line of sauces; everything from Classico and Puttanesca/”Whore Style” to Arrabiata/”Angry Style” and Fagiolata/”Bean Style” sauces. Sugo also makes infused olive oils, so these will be on the shelves, too, together with a bunch of Italian essentials and prepared foods (eg. squid in ragout, dried pasta, espresso). For sit down and take-out food, options Tuesday through Saturday (11am to 7pm to begin with) might include panini, soup, salads, and house-made pastas. Sciarretta will use the Pazzo Chow Instagram account to announce a daily special every day, so you might want to follow it if you live/work on or near the DTES. Sadly, there is no liquor license.

What’s in a name? “Well, it really came together in many different ways.” Sciarretta explains. “I wanted an Italian word that people could say in English easily and would still sound good. Pazzo translates to the British word ‘mad’, which is a more positive way of saying ‘crazy’ or thinking outside of the box or the norm – so putting a twist on something classic. Then I wanted a descriptor word – ‘chow’ – that means casual eating but also references Chinatown. On top of that, when one says ‘pazzo chow’ it sounds all-Italian with the ‘ciao’, like ‘Pazzo Hello'”.

Bonus: In the back of the space near the kitchen area there’s a 10-12 person table that will be available for private bookings for Saturday night suppers. Sciarretta plans to host 2-3 of these dinners per month.

Super Bonus: Ashley Watson of small-batch, artisanal ice cream company, Brown Paper Packages, will also be operating out of the space, offering a selection of traditional Italian scoops, pints, and quarts with Asian flavour twists.

  • Photos of Sciarretta's "Nonna" line the walls of the washroom
    Photos of Sciarretta's "Nonna" line the walls of the washroom
  • Sugo Sauce Olive Oil | Pazza Chow
    Sugo Sauce Olive Oil | Pazza Chow
  • Sweet branding (and ink-matching sneaks)
    Sweet branding (and ink-matching sneaks)
  • Diner-style seating | Pazza Chow
    Diner-style seating | Pazza Chow
  • Martelli pasta on the retail shelves
    Martelli pasta on the retail shelves
  • Interior coming together | Pazza Chow
    Interior coming together | Pazza Chow
  • Street signage | Pazza Chow
    Street signage | Pazza Chow
  • Retail section | Pazza Chow
    Retail section | Pazza Chow
  • Take out box | Pazza Chow
    Take out box | Pazza Chow
  • Detail | Pazza Chow
    Detail | Pazza Chow
  • Rummo pastas | Pazza Chow
    Rummo pastas | Pazza Chow
  • Dig the checkerboard lino | Pazza Chow
    Dig the checkerboard lino | Pazza Chow
  • Pazza Chow
    Pazza Chow
  • Espresso | Pazza Chow
    Espresso | Pazza Chow
  • Sugo Sauce | Pazza Chow
    Sugo Sauce | Pazza Chow
  • Ashley Watson of small-batch, artisanal ice cream company, Brown Paper Packages
    Ashley Watson of small-batch, artisanal ice cream company, Brown Paper Packages
  • Pazza Chow
    Pazza Chow
  • Pazza Chow
    Pazza Chow
  • Pazza Chow
    Pazza Chow
  • Peekaboo | Pazzo Chow
    Peekaboo | Pazzo Chow
  • Maya Sciaretta | Pazzo Chow
    Maya Sciaretta | Pazzo Chow
  • Maya Sciarretta | Pazzo Chow
    Maya Sciarretta | Pazzo Chow
  • Sauce line-up | Pazzo Chow
    Sauce line-up | Pazzo Chow
Pazzo Chow
Neighbourhood: Chinatown
620 Quebec St.
604-563-1700

There are 2 comments

  1. So wait…you are fooling about the 1st being Wednesday though right? Can’t wait to try it.

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