Morsels

microbrewery to celebrate opening

After a couple years of competitions and perfecting its recipes, Ten Fifty-Five Brewing has opened its tap room, and its beer will soon be served at Zona 78 restaurants.

The brewery, owned by longtime avid home brewers Chris Squires and John Paul Vyborny, is celebrating its grand opening at 3810 E. 44th St., Suite 315, beginning at noon Saturday. They will have four beers on tap: Two Sons Citra (imperial IPA), Lazy Duck (American wheat), Leap Pale Ale (American pale ale) and Sugar Skull (sweet chocolate milk stout).

The day also includes live music and a food truck selling Sonoran hot dogs and tacos.

Ten Fifty-Five - the name was inspired by Vyborny's late brother, whose intials in Roman numerals is 1055 - has opened for several tastings since mid-December. At the last one, 100 people turned up, Vyborny said.

The partners have been brewing beer at the Warehouse District location since November.

To keep up with Ten Fifty-Five, follow the brewery on Facebook at www.facebook.com/1055Brewing

Ten Fifty-Five beers will soon be available at the two Zona 78 locations: 78 W. River Road and 7301 E. Tanque Verde Road.

Northwest pizzeria closes

Bella Vita Pizzeria, a small mom-and-pop pizza shop that prided itself on its deep Italian roots and traditions, has closed.

In an email, chef-owner Lorenzo Iacopelli said that "as much as we wanted to keep the restaurant open, unfortunately we had to close our doors."

The restaurant, at 4229 W. Ina Road at North Oldfather Road, had been open about two years in the strip mall space that once housed Picurro's Pizzeria.

Bella Vita earned rave fan reviews posted on Yelp for friendly service and authentic Italian pastas, pizzas and calzones. Iacopelli is from Palermo, Italy.

Luxor Café closes; Petra Grill opens

The Petra Mediterranean Grill is now open in the space that once housed the Luxor Café in central Tucson.

The grill opened in late December at 3699 N. Campbell Ave., serving a Mediterranean and international menu similar to Luxor's. Dishes draw from Greek, Middle East and Mediterranean influences and include Kufta kabobs, hummus and authentic desserts, according to the restaurant's Facebook page.

Petra is open daily from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.

China Thai has new home at old Panda Village

China Thai Cuisine, which has been around for a decade or more at 6502 E. Tanque Verde Road, is skipping across the parking lot to the old Panda Village Restaurant location at 6546 E. Tanque Verde Road.

The sign is already up on the new digs, but there's nothing posted on the door or China Thai's website about an opening date. Stay tuned.

Sam Witches and Such is opening in the building that had long housed China Thai Cuisine at 6502 E. Tanque Verde Road, next to the Cow Pony bar.

It is expected to open Feb. 1, according to its website.

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