Page 23 - Winter 2024 Taste Magazine

Mean Deans Local Kitchen
advance. You can taste the heritage in every single menu item at the Fresh Mozzarella’s Pizzeria. It's the perfect combination of decades of professional chef experience and a love for top-notch quality produce with affordable prices. Stop by and see for yourself what the neighbor- hood hype is all about! Please don’t forget to Follow their Facebook, Tik Tok and Instagram pages for special events, music and fine dining nights and possibly breakfast coming soon too!
As a chef who inspires hope, the Fresh Mozzarella’s Pizzeria has been one of the very few area's restaurants with no closures during the pandemic and the fewest during hurricane seasons including Milton closed for only 1 day and open with no power for 36 hours helping hundreds of First Responders. Now customers have been calling Chef Rocco ‘their community hero!’ Not only has he offered hope and con- sistency during hard times, but his belief in "always doing your best with gratitude and a smile" is contagious!
When not creating mouth-watering cuisine, you can find Rocco spending time with his family, playing soccer and volunteering for his community and schools, spreading his technical knowledge, experience and general food culture. Rocco started working when he was very young, he has lived and worked in seven different countries and travelled to about 30 countries collecting more and more experi- ence, cooking skills and a variety of fluently spoken languages. He's always ready to tempt your tastebuds and increase your cooking knowl- edge, sharing his amazing passion for good food. Rocco says, “Thank you for supporting your local businesses, for your precious time and attention but please, make sure you don’t stop enjoy cooking and eat- ing good food at all times!” Well said “Amico mio”!
Mean Deans Local Kitchen 8059 26th Street West, Bradenton 941-251-5435 www.meandeanslocalkitchen.com
Every so often, you stumble upon a restaurant that feels like a well-kept secret—a place where the food is great, the atmosphere wel- coming, and the people behind it truly passionate. That’s exactly how I felt when I discovered Mean Deans Local Kitchen in Bradenton. Tucked away at 6059 26th Street West, this isn’t a spot you’ll just hap- pen upon—it’s one you’ll seek out after hearing the buzz. It’s worth find- ing. Just a block north of Bayshore Gardens Parkway on 26th St W in Bradenton, this unassuming location hides a local gem of a restaurant.
Owned and operated by Dean Donnelly and his wife Michele Angell, Mean Deans is a testament to what happens when talent and heart come together. Dean’s years of experience in the restaurant indus- try shine through in every dish, all of which are made from scratch. The menu offers something for everyone, with standouts like the indulgent Lobster Lasagna with vodka sauce, the bold and flavorful Bourbon Maple Short Rib over Thai-Style Peanut Pasta, and the best shrimp and
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