Pasta, Pizza, Italiano

PIZZA, PASTA, ITALIANO

UNDER A CAR RAMP IN THE BACK STREETS OF BROOKVALE, IT ALL BEGAN. NOW NESTLED NEXT DOOR TO ONE OF THE BROOKIE’S DESTINATION BREWERS - 7TH DAY BREWERY, SALE PEPE SITS AMONG THE BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANTS ON THE BEACHES. BEACHES COVERED’S PUBLISHER, JOHN VICKERY, SAT DOWN FOR A PIZZA AND BEER WITH OWNER ENRICO SINI TO DISCUSS HIS SUCCESS.

Enrico, Tell me the 3 top things about Sale Pepe? We’re well known for our traditional Italian wood fi red pizza and fresh pasta. Our team have an artisan background and we’ve found a great balance between local and Italian imported ingredients Our aim is to create an experience for our patrons that make them feel like they are entering in a ristorante in the back streets of an Italian city.

What’s on the menu and the two things I must try? Our menu is pizza and pasta based, which are both handmade in-house from scratch. However, we also have a wide selection of Italian entrees. But, I have to tell you about three dishes on the menu because they’re so good. You must try our half metre pizza - the Sale Pepe. It’s the best pizza you’ll ever taste with pancetta, gorgonzola, red onion and chili and Prosciutto di San Daniele all the way from Province of Udine in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, fresh rocket, cherry tomatoes and fresh Italian buffalo cheese. Next, defi nitely our wood fi red oven baked meatballs in an Italian tomato sauce. The sauce has been created from our family recipe. And last but not least, our homemade Tagliatelle Al Ragù, a slow braised veal and beef ragù. open their brewery. One day, they walked into Sale Pepe and approached me and asked, “What do you think if we opened a brewery next door?” I walked around the counter and I replied, “Can I hug you??!!” And within no time, we became great next door neighbour partners.

Pasta or Pizza? What’s the best way to test all the Italian fl avours in one sitting? That’s a good question! Sale Pepe is about sharing food with friends and family. We suggest ordering various different dishes from the menu so you can get to taste the most of our delicious Italian food.

What is your heritage? Where did you learn the art of cookery? I was born in Sardinia, an amazing island off Italy, where my parents ran a family restaurant. I grew up running around tables in the ristorante and always sneaking inside the kitchen to fi nd some treats. Eventually I found myself getting involved more and more in the business and enjoying cooking with my parents. I became part of the team. Our home in Sardinia is beautiful. We have Olive Trees, where we make our own Extra Virgin Olive Oil. We also grew seasonal vegetables, so from the earth to the kitchen, food was always part of my life since an early age. I left Italy in my early 20s travelling the world and gathering more life experiences. I settled in Australia and opened Sale Pepe in 2012. And this was the beginning...

Crowd mix? Who are you inviting for a gathering? Sale Pepe is a perfect fi t for any age group or occasion with a casual set up. We’ve got both inside and outside seating to accommodate everyone’s tastes.

The beer next door, tell us your connection with 7th Day Brewery? The crew from 7th Day Brewery were hunting for a location in Brookvale to How do you choose the Italian wines on the menu? We have a family friend who is a wine connoisseur and they’ve helped us create a selection of wines to match our style of Italian food.

Enrico, last words? We are in love with what we do. As Italians, we are very attached to our traditions. That being said, we love to share the most important things in our lives and especially around the dining table.

So come and join us for an authentic Italian cuisine made with love.

You can book a table online at www.salepepe.pizza or give us a call on (02) 8542 4990. •

44/9 POWELLS RD, BROOKVALE // (02) 8542 4990 BROOKVALE@SALEPEPE.COM.AU // www.salepepe.pizza FB + INSTA @SALEPEPEPIZZERIA