festa della donna // international women’s day

women are UNSTOPPABLE.

Urban Kitchen is proud to be a woman owned and operated company. We strive to provide opportunities for women to thrive and thankful for the inspiring women that make up our #CUCINAfamily.

Shattering glass ceilings and paving the way for future culinary leaders we invited 6 of Southern California’s best female chefs to craft their perfect CUCINA pizza from Tuesday, March 8 – March 12th.

MEET THE CHEFS

CUCINA urbana welcomes
Kat Humphus
Director of Culinary Education and Development for CH-Projects

The Pizza: The Catarina
garlicky spinach + cherry tomato confit + oregano + mozzarella + ricotta + lemon + sesame crust

Born and raised in San Diego, Kat fell in love with cooking from a young age while watching her mom and grandma prepare middle eastern feasts every night for dinner. After attending Le Cordon Bleu Paris in 2009, she went on to learn from Chefs Thomas Keller at the French Laundry and Wylie Dufresne at WD-50, before opening her first restaurant as Executive Chef in 2010, here in San Diego. After opening three more restaurants along California, she took a break to do some travel and exploring, including staging at Amass in Copenhagen in 2018. In 2019, Kat officially joined forces with her long time friends at CH-Projects and has since opened and re-opened (thanks, Covid) dozens of restaurants with them, and is currently head of developing their new Department of Culinary Education and Development.

CUCINA enoteca Irvine
Shachi Mehra
Executive Chef, ADYA
The Pizza: The Shachi
spice girl sauces tomato chutney + lamb keema + stracciatella +parmesan +red onions + mint chutney
Chef Shachi Mehra has been credited with bringing a new Indian experience to the region when she opened her restaurant, ADYA, nearly 8 years ago in Anaheim at the Packing House. Her commitment to presenting an authentic Indian experience highlighting the fresh ingredients that are abundant in Southern California has led to the success of the restaurant and many media opportunities, including Food Network’s Chopped, where she emerged as a national champion! Most recently, Chef Mehra launched Spice Girl Sauces with two sauces available nationally online and locally at many specialty shops.

CUCINA enoteca Del Mar welcomes
Kelli Crosson
Executive Chef, The Lodge at Torrey Pines

The Pizza: The Crosson Pizza
grilled radicchio + garlic puree + parmesan + st. andre + kumquat + arugula

Executive Chef Kelli Crosson brings a lifelong interest in real food to the culinary program at The Lodge at Torrey Pines. From her upbringing on a 40-acre citrus orchard to attending The French Culinary Institute in New York, Crosson embraces a simplicity conveyed through dishes that allow fresh and naturally flavorful ingredients to shine. She enjoys the rush of the kitchen as much as bringing people together to dine and enjoy each other’s company, and her focus extends beyond the kitchen line to ensure an impeccable guest experience.

cucina SORELLA welcomes
Carmine Lopez
Executive Chef, Wolf in the Woods

The Pizza: Jason Serrano Pizza
manchego + bechamel sauce + rapini + garlic

CUCINA enoteca Newport Beach 
Our very own female Chefs Carolyn Sutherland  + Gina Hong

CAROLYN PIZZA meyer lemon + house mozzarella + red onion poppy seed jam + red frill  (tues + wed + thurs )
GINA PIZZA Spinach + white cheddar + creme fraiche + tomato + roasted artichoke  (fri + sat)

THE VINTNERS

Cathy Corison, Corison Wines, Napa Valley, CA

Cistercian Nuns, Monastero Suore Cistercensi, Laila, IT

Giovanna Bagnasco, Agricola Brandini Piemonte,IT

Marisa Cuomo, Marisa Cuomo Winery, Ravello, IT

Elisabetta Foradori, Foradori Winery, Trentino Alto-Adige,IT

Serena Palazzolo, Ronco del Gnemiz, Friuli, IT