Chris Bianco will open an outpost of his popular Phoenix pizza restaurant in downtown Tucson this fall.
The James Beard Award-winning chef will open Pizzeria Bianco sometime in late November or early December in a 2,000-square-foot space next to The Hub on East Congress Street.
"I look forward to being a part of the community," Bianco said today. "We’re excited to get started and cook for Tucson.”
Bianco's pizza was named by the New York Times as one of the country's best pizza in 2004.
Bianco, a native of New York, opened the original Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix in 1994. He has since opened three other Phoenix area restaurants and teamed up with London celebrity chef Jamie Oliver for four restaurants in London.
News of his foray into Tucson prompted comedian and TV talkshow host Jimmy Kimmel to tweet: "Congratulations Tucson - @PizzeriaBianco is coming to you" (Bianco said he and Kimmel are longtime friends.)
Read the full story in Wednesday's Star.
