Red Sky owner to open new restaurant in Tucson
By Valerie Vinyard
arizona daily star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 07.22.2008
Plaza Palomino has been host to Tucson restaurants featuring Pacific Rim, Mexican and, most recently, French fare.
It soon will add Italian to that list.
Steve Schultz, owner of Plaza Palomino's Red Sky Cafe, recently signed a 10-year lease for the space that housed Bistro Philippe. The French restaurant closed June 17, four months after it opened.
Schultz plans to open a Northern Italian restaurant called Luna Bella. He said he hopes to be open by October.
Luna Bella ("beautiful moon") will be at 2990 N. Swan Road in the building that was also once the home of Firecracker.
"It's going to be a fun, affordable, Italian-themed restaurant with exquisite food," said Schultz, 45, during a phone interview last week. "It's going to have the same attention to detail as Red Sky.
"I'm really excited. It's only a two-minute walk, so I'll be splitting my time between the two restaurants."
David Montijo, principal of Bourn Partners LLC, the landlord for Plaza Palomino, confirmed the lease Monday.
"It's official," Montijo said. "We are extremely happy to have Steve Schultz's concept open up. With Steve's past success with Red Sky, we anticipate great things."
Restaurateur Bob McMahon owns the nearby McMahon's Prime Steakhouse and had partnered with Philippe Trosch of Bistro Philippe. He spoke by phone of Schultz's concept.
"He's a good chef," McMahon said. "I hope he does well. If you're thinking about the neighborhood — I think it can take Italian."
Schultz needs to get a liquor license approved and remodeling started. He and a designer already have been through the restaurant, figuring out its new look.
Schultz is happy with the new space's large kitchen and its high-end Garland stoves that were left behind.
"It's a beautiful kitchen," he enthused. "It's really spacious and very new."
Grilled steaks, risottos, fresh fish and quality pastas will be featured.
Schultz will keep prices moderate at $12-$25 per entree.
"I'm pulling out all the stops," said Schultz, who isn't new to Italian fare.
He even has Italian relatives. His Sicilian uncle, John Giuffre, died a couple of years ago, Schultz said.
"He'll spiritually influence the restaurant," he said.
In 1986, Schultz graduated from LaVarenne Ecole de Cuisine in Paris with an advanced diploma in French cooking.
While there, he also learned how to make pastas and Italian dishes.
He was a lead cook in 1986 at Vincent on Camelback in Phoenix, which serves fresh pastas.
The Tucson native later returned as chef de cuisine at the Ventana Room from 1992 to 1994.
"When I was there, it went from three stars to four, and it went from three diamonds to four," he said. "We were ranked No. 12 in the top 50 restaurants in Condé Naste Traveler's first readers poll."
Schultz moved on to executive chef at the Lodge at Ventana Canyon for five years.
Schultz also served as executive chef at Carmel Valley Ranch Resort in 1999 in California.
He has owned Red Sky Cafe, which features new American cuisine, since February 2000.
"It's my hometown and I like it here," he said of Tucson.
Schultz also owns Red Sky Catering Co. and plans to start Luna Bella Catering Co.
The proximity of the two restaurants doesn't bother him.
"I like competing with myself," he said.
Red Sky isn't the only competition, though. Nearby restaurants include Chad's Steakhouse and Saloon and La Placita Cafe, as well as McMahon's Prime Steakhouse.
â—Ź Contact reporter Valerie Vinyard at vvinyard@azstarnet.com or at 573-4136.
5 Comments on this story
