Patricia's Pizza

As the daughter of famed Restauranter Tomaso Maggiore, Melissa Maggiore traveled extensively to Italy with her father, where her love affair with food and wine began. After pursuing a journalism degree at Arizona State University, she decided her passion for food, wine, and hospitality could not be ignored and returned to San Diego to assist in the opening of a new family restaurant venture in Coronado. Through the years Melissa developed her skills and knowledge of restaurants from her mentor and father.

In 1997, Melissa opened the trattoria, La Bruschetta, in La Jolla, California, and embarked on a second location, Zibibbo Italian Bistro, in Encinitas, California in 2000. On May 5, 2010 Melissa opened Tommy V’s Urban Kitchen in Carlsbad, California, the subject of Food Network primetime series, Family Style.  In 2018 Melissa and her husband Kevin relocated to Scottsdale to be closer to family and assist in the family operations. In 2021 Melissa opened, The Italian Daughter, an homage to her late father. In 2024 Melissa was recognized by NIAF, the National Italian American Foundation for her contributions to the Italian culinary scene.

In 2025 Melissa opened Patricia’s Pizza, honoring her mother Patricia’s legacy, named after her parent’s first restaurant in Garnerville, New York in 1969.