clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

One of Naples’ Best Pizza Chefs Returns to LA for a Pop-up at Mozza

New, 4 comments

Nancy Silverton alluded to partnering with renowned chef Franco Pepe

Pizzeria Mozza Elizabeth Daniels
Mona Holmes is a reporter for Eater Los Angeles and a regular contributor to KCRW radio. She has covered restaurants, dining, and food culture since 2016. In 2022, the James Beard Foundation nominated her for a Jonathan Gold Local Voice Award.

Franco Pepe is a third generation pizza maker, and Nancy Silverton calls him, “The best round pizza maker in the world.” Pepe returns to the U.S. for a pop-up next month. This is the third time Pepe has accepted an invitation by Silverton, which will take place at Mozza on April 21 and 22.

Silverton hinted to Pepe’s arrival being more than just a pop-up. “We’re trying to test the waters for something in the future. But I will say no more.”

Pepe usually comes to L.A. to teach pizza making classes with a preset menu at Chi Spacca. This time Silverton wanted customers to have a more full experience, so Pepe will take over all the pizzas while the rest of the salads and appetizer menu will remain the same. Pepe’s menu has not been announced yet, but he should bring his greatest hits, including his signature fried pizza and calzone.

Pepe also recently appeared in David Chang’s Netflix series, Ugly Delicious, where the show visited Pepe’s Naples restaurant. All of his pizzas use a specialty type of Italian flour, and all the ingredients for the April event will be sourced from Italy.

Reservations are going quickly, and walk-ins for the pizza bar might be hard to come by. The pop-up runs from noon until 4 p.m. on both days.

Pizzeria Mozza
641 N Highland Avenue
Los Angeles, CA