MINNEAPOLIS - The pizza queen is turning her attention to handmade tortillas.
Ann Kim, of Pizzeria Lola, Hello Pizza and Young Joni, announced Monday she is opening a new restaurant in the former space of Lucia's in Uptown.
The longstanding neighborhood favorite on West 31st Street in Minneapolis closed after 32 years last year, leaving many curious what would take over in the coveted spot.
Those answers came Monday with Kim's announcement that she will tackle a Mexican-inspired menu centered around handmade tortillas in a totally reimagined space.
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"We're deep into the research and development phase and exploring many exciting possibilities,"
Kim said in a press release. "There is a lot yet to be defined, but some things are clear. It will be inspired by my love for Mexican flavors that go beyond chips and salsa. There will be chile heat and a cooking fire. There will be experimentation with equatorial ingredients, not necessarily limited to the Americas. There will be an emphasis on the craft behind deceptively simple foods which are fairly complex to make correctly. You might even see a little hint of my signature Korean influence here and there."
Studio MAI, the LA-based design firm that helped craft Young Joni, is on board to design the new space. Construction is slated to begin this fall and an anticipated opening date is set for next summer.
