Uchi/Uchiko Team Strikes Out in New Direction

After establishing themselves as the premiere outlet for sophisticated interpretations of Japanese cuisine, the creative team behind two of Austin's top restaurants will make their next move in a completely different direction. They are planning a pizza parlor and bake shop named for the patron saint of bakers and pastry chefs, St. Phillip.

With a projected opening date of summer 2014, St. Phillip (4715 S. Lamar), will be located in the suburb of Sunset Valley in the large restaurant buiilding left empty by the County Line's failed Cannoli Joe's Italian dining concept. Uchi Executive Pastry Chef and Director of Culinary Operations Philip Speer will be at the helm. The rest of the team will include Uchi co-founder Daryl Kunik, Uchi president John Baydale, Uchi managing partner Leo Barrera, and Uchi chef/owner Tyson Cole.

According to today's press release, the new concept will be "part pizza parlor, part bakery, and part culinary workshop, where guests can dine in or take out from the adjoining bakeshop." I'm somewhat curious about how Philip Speer's talent for deconstructing desserts with molecular gastronomy gadgets will play in a suburban bakeshop, but maybe those tools will be left behind in the Uchi kitchen.

“This is really a passion project for us. The idea of a place where we can riff on classics and the things we all grew up with. Nostalgic food. Great housemade breads and sandwiches, pizzas, exciting shared plates and, of course, great desserts,” Philip Speer commented for the press release. Should be a very interesting debut.