Rinata is born Jonathan Hunt, chef/owner of Al Vento (5001 34th Av. S., Minneapolis), has been on the lookout for a second location for several years, but could never find just the right place -- until this summer, when Giorgio Cherubini decided to call it quits and closed his long-running Giorgio's on Hennepin in south Minneapolis.
"We should be opening next week here at 2451 Hennepin," said Hunt.
Hunt's partner in the venture is Amor Hantous, a longtime server at Bayport Cookery; he'll run the front of the house. The kitchen will be managed by chef Edward Hayes, an I Nonni and Forepaugh's vet. The food will remain Italian ("No one region of Italy; we're pulling from all over," said Hunt), with a focus on fresh house-made pastas as well as pizzas and a few small plates, including an homage to Cherubini's popular bruschetta, all sold at reasonable prices and served to 1 a.m. daily. "Right now there are only a couple of places out there that serve to 1 a.m.," said Hunt. "We want to give people another option."
The small storefront has been given a green-brown-copper makeover, and the Giorgio name is being replaced by Rinata, an Italian feminine name with roots to the word reborn. "I really wanted to represent what this space meant to me," said Hunt. "I never worked here, but I worked at Pane Vino Dolce, and those guys worked at Giorgio, so I wanted a little rebirth here at Giorgio."
Taking tea The St. Paul Hotel (350 Market St., St. Paul, stpaulhotel.com) is offering its multicourse afternoon teas ($27 per person) in its elegant lobby on Saturday and Oct. 4 and 25; call 651-228-3860 for reservations.
RICK NELSON
