By Laura Eckstein Jones By Laura Eckstein Jones | July 17, 2024 | People, Feature,
Giada De Laurentiis’ new restaurants at Caesars Republic Scottsdale are the talk of the town. Here, the acclaimed chef, author and Giadzy founder reveals her inspirations, Arizona go-tos and plans for the future.
Giada De Laurentiis at Luna by Giada at Caesars Republic Scottsdale. She wears a Zimmerman dress, zimmerman.com; and Tasaki jewelry, tasaki-global.com.
Congratulations on opening Luna by Giada (lunabygiadascottsdale.com) and Pronto by Giada at Ceasars Republic Scottsdale (caesars.com)! Why Scottsdale for your new restaurants? Scottsdale is a great market. My cookbooks have always done very well here. There’s a strong economy and a great restaurant scene, so it felt like a natural fit. I was also lucky to have a relationship with Caesars and Caesars Republic, so again, it just made sense. Also, it can be a day trip from L.A. if needed, so I can always get there quickly if something urgent comes up.
Where does the name Luna come from, and what inspired the menu? I grew up cooking with my grandmother, and we always called her Nonna Luna, as she loved the moon and always told us stories about it. She was an actress who loved to travel and was a huge influence in my life, and it felt like a really special way to honor her. It’s a coastal Italian-themed menu—we will change it to reflect the seasons!
What are some of your favorite dishes on the menu? Two of my personal favorites are our lemon pizza and our agnolotti. They’re both really special and were made specifically for Luna, so whenever I’m there, they’re at the top of my list. I always get a Bella Luna cocktail before dinner and a souffle for dessert. And I always get a pack of my lemon ricotta cookies to bring home. Divine!
How does the design of the restaurant align with the menu? Everything in the restaurant was intentionally chosen—from the art on the walls all the way down to the tiles in the kitchen. We wanted to transport you to Southern California and worked hard to make our outside and inside dining areas feel really special, open and breezy. I always look for colors that make people happy, and love the open spaces in the restaurant. Going to dinner should feel like a theater event; you can see your food being prepared—it’s all part of the ambiance. Plus, the view of Camelback doesn’t hurt!
De Laurentiis in the kitchen at Luna by Giada
As for Pronto—is it similar to the Vegas location? It’s a smaller version of the Pronto in Vegas but it has the same aesthetic and feel. We pride ourselves on serving great coffee, food and light bites to local community members and guests of the hotel.
You have your hands in everything from cookbooks to television to restaurants to food! What are you working on these days? Aside from opening Luna, I’ve been pouring a lot of my energy into Giadzy (giadzy.com). The entrepreneurial journey truly is a full-time role. I’ve been soaking up all the knowledge and learning as much as I can. I have a great team who supports me, and we have a lot on the roadmap for this year. It’s incredibly rewarding to see the strides we have been making, and we have a lot more in the works.
What should readers know about the newly launched Giadzy VIP membership program? It is something I’ve been ideating for quite some time. It’s an experiential way to access the Italian culture I’ve shared with fans for years. We have live streams with me and people in my circle, travel guides for cities all over Italy, exclusive content, products and recipes. We’re producing quite a bit—for me, it would be the equivalent of putting out a new cookbook every few months, but I can do it in a way that feels timely and true to what I’m inspired by at that moment. It’s really special!
What’s a typical day like for you? Every day looks totally different, honestly. I will say my favorite days are the days I get to cook with my family and enjoy time at home with my daughter and pets.
With so much going on, how do you stay centered? I swear by my morning yoga. I try to practice at least four times a week. It’s something that I’ve learned to prioritize. I love starting my day with movement.
What inspires you these days? I’m inspired by all of the creativity in the space. I love seeing how innovative so many of my peers are, and I am constantly inspired to grow and try new things. Opening a new restaurant pushes me to constantly think outside of the box. I want to give everyone who dines in my restaurant a unique experience, which also drives me.
What are some of your proudest accomplishments? I think my biggest career accomplishment is helping people learn how to cook Italian food at home. I am most proud when people share that I even played a small role in teaching them how to cook Italian food and enjoy la dolce vita. Inspiring people is the truest career accomplishment. [On a personal level], my daughter really is my pride and joy. Being her mom has been my greatest accomplishment, and I love seeing her become such an amazing young lady.
What else are you curious about learning? I want to learn to speak Japanese and visit Japan. I have been obsessed for years and it is the place I want to go most! I have promised myself to get there in the next year.
What do you cook for yourself and your family at home? I try to keep it pretty simple: Lots of pastas all the time, ha. Jade is obsessed with all of my pastas and crispy salmon. Oh, and my chocolate chip cookies of course.
Who do you count as your biggest influences? Family. My grandfather is the reason I’m in the U.S. at all, and he was the first one to inspire me in the kitchen. Honestly, my family is my No. 1 inspiration for everything I do.
Any favorite cookbooks, besides your own? My all-time favorite is The Silver Palate Cookbook. [It] kicked off my obsession with cookbooks. Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child and The Zuni Café Cookbook are two of my other favorites.
What do you like to do for fun in the Scottsdale area? I’ve spent a lot of time here this year and have made it a point to try all of the restaurants. There’s SO much good food, and I love knowing the surroundings of any restaurant I open. I loved the seafood tower at Ocean 44. I also loved Francine’s decor and vibe—the high ceilings and the bar area are really special. Also, their branzino is stunning.
What can we expect next from you and your brands? I’ve been busy! We have some really incredible products in the works for Giadzy this year—one of them in a completely new space for us, which is exciting! I’m working on a cookbook that will be released early next year (I just finished the shoot) and developing new concepts for future restaurants and new TV shows.
Do you have any upcoming trips planned? I have a few more trips to Italy this summer, some for work and some for pleasure. I’ll share them all on Instagram, and best of all, I’ll be writing guides on Giadzy so you can go on all the same trips!
Lastly, what do you love most about what you do? I love that I get to connect with people over the one great equalizer: food. I feel so lucky that my career is to educate people about cooking and enjoying Italian food. It’s a true honor.
Photography by: CARL SCHULTZ