From the Owner of Malibu Farm Comes SkƄl Pizza
From flavored salt and custom pizza boxes to oven-roasted fruit and thoughtfully crafted dough, itās the little details at SkĆ„l Pizza that really set the restaurant apart. This new pizzeria concept at the end of the Lido boardwalk is a dream for the health-conscious food lover. SkĆ„l, by the visionary behind Malibu Farm, is designed to elevate the pizza experience to new heights in a vegetable-forward, healthy way. Leave SkĆ„l with a clear conscience, a full belly and a new favorite pizza place.
The pizza oven is the centerpiece at SkĆ„lāeverything else is built around this one piece of equipment. Aside from the small bar, the few tables and the colorful flooring, there is little to distract from the corner piece thatās churning out fresh thin-crusts, tons of veggies and a steady flow of roasted fruit desserts. Helene Henderson, founder of SkĆ„l and Malibu Farm, wanted the restaurant to be minimal and colorfulāan offshoot of her cooking philosophy. Sheās all about simplifying food with fresh, clear and sustainable ingredients.
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At SkĆ„l, serving healthy food does not mean compromising on flavor or color. Pizza, as a medium, is important at SkĆ„l. All the pizzas are named after veggies (Avocado, Tomato, Butternut Squash and Sage, etc.). Everything is basically vegetarian to start, and you can add salami, turkey, chorizo, prosciutto or egg to your creation. This isnāt a vegetarian restaurant by any stretch, but no longer do vegetarians have to ask to remove proteins from otherwise delicious pies.
There is plenty to eat besides pizza; the roasted veggies are to die for, and the handmade pastas are out of this world. As an experiment to see what else on the menu could be whipped up in the oven, the roasted veggie concept was born. Try the Artichoke, a full artichoke halved and served with a vegan green goddess dip and kale and pomegranate salad. The brown butter beet pasta could convert any junk-food apologist into a believer in the power of healthy eating.
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What truly takes SkĆ„l to the next level, however, are its desserts. These are A+, top of the line, do-not-miss sweets that defy expectations. There are hot and cold desserts, but the roasted fruit desserts are absolutely unreal: a pinot noir poached pear, caramelized banana or roasted rosemary grapes. Each is paired with vegan caramel, coconut whipped cream and flavored salt. The salt itself is a highlightāthe pink pinot noir salt that pairs with the wine-soaked pears and roasted grapes is a favorite of Hendersonās, who describes the symmetry and detail on the table as āendlessly entertaining.ā
Behind the bar, the drink selection is described as āa little geeky.ā With a selection of European and Euro-inspired wines, ales, IPAs, ciders and more, thereās something for everyone (even though these arenāt the drinks typically found at an OC pizza joint). The bottled and draught beers were all hand-selected to complement the menu. Try the Duvel (6.6%) paired with a Cruciferous Pizza with an egg.
Hailing from Sweden, Henderson believes in the idea of smƶrgĆ„sbord, a buffet-style table full of different foods. āI like to have a lot of things on the table. A little pizza, a little pasta, a little of this, a little of that,ā Henderson says. āI want to see my selection and determine what I want to eat.ā The trick here is to eat a little bit of everything.
Because of this concept, all of the food is served at the same time at SkĆ„l; this isnāt the spot for a fancy five-course meal. Order a little bit of everything, share and enjoy!Ā
SkƄl Pizza
3400 Via Oporto, Ste 104
Newport Beach, CA 92663
949.270-6100
@skal.pizza
