Bottega Italiana (UTC)...coffee and gelato

mmm-yoso!!!, a food-centric blog with (almost) daily writings shares posts about various cuisines, new and established restaurants, pubs and other places where food can be found, as well as sometimes home cooking.  Today, a short post written by Cathy about a small three-location establishment. 

Not that I wrote any posts about the holidays or any New Year resolutions, but now, almost six months into 2015, I feel successful.  The free "Steps" app on our mobile phones record how much The Mister and I walk each day and the goal of 10,000 steps a day has become easier and almost regular since about mid-April.

The only thing was, it started getting a bit boring, despite the almost daily weather changes.  So, we've become 'those people'- Mall Walkers.Parkway Plaza is covered and air conditioned, Grossmont Plaza is also close to home, but not that interesting to us any more, so one day we drove West to Westfield University Town Center, where we haven't regularly stopped in years.  

The Ice Rink and surrounding restaurant choices are new to us and so are most of the shops. (edit- the Ice Rink seating area used to be open to the rink and is now enclosed.  Most of the food court restaurants and the food court seating area have been redone since we were last here).

There's also a new movie theater building that was added onto the mall.Down the steps near the entrance (or, exit) of the Arclight Cinemas is Bottega Italiana.  

Kirbie visited in January. cc visited the other (Coronado) San Diego location selling Bottega Italiana gelati in November. Faye also mentioned Bottega Italiana in the middle of this post. There is an area selling coffees and San Diego made Chuao Chocolates to take home.The menu is simple, the coffee preparation area is observable, there are a few sweets for sale at the cash register. The gelato is made right here. Daily. The fresh made gelato are beautiful...and overwhelming.  We've been offered samples and sometimes that makes decisions more difficult.  Fortunately, two flavors can be part of a 'small' size.Also, an affogato (small size gelato ($3.80) with a shot of espresso over it (+$1)) can have two flavors within...in this case, panna cotta (vanilla flavored sweet cream; it's different than (the excellent) vanilla) and hazelnut went perfectly with the brisk shot of concentrated coffee.Another day, a small ($3.80) with Speciale (burnt cream, dark chocolate chips, caramel and sea salt: all able to be tasted in one bite) with a scoop of Opera (pistachio, hazelnut and almond nuts and flavors) was enjoyed at the patio tables out front. 

Bottega Italiana is a nice place to stop and get a shareable, excellent treat.

Bottega Italiana 4445 La Jolla Village Drive Suite H-17 (just down from the movie theaters) San Diego 92122 (858)404-0799 website Mon-Th 10-9:30, Fri-Sat 10-10 Sun 10:30-9:30

Comments

[Brian]

You must really not have been to UTC in a while if the ice rink was new to you! It's been there at least 16 years, and I suspect it's more like 30.

[caninecologne]

The ice rink has been there since at least the early 80's. The food court around the ice rink has changed over the years. So many new (to me) food options in that area now.

[Cathy]

Oh gosh, the ice rink windows and seating areas around the stairs going to the rink from the food court area have been redone...I thought the windows had been half open, not to the ceiling all around. The restaurants and their footprints and seating are new...didn't mean the rink was new. Sorry for being unclear. In any case, thanks for reading my confused words; I've tried to make it clear in the post. We probably haven't been to UTC since 2009.

[Faye]

I really like the remodeled UTC mall. I must look into that walking app ! The Speciale looks delicious - I didn't see that flavor last time I visited but it's been many months. So hopefully they still have that flavor.

[Brian]

Cathy - you are correct. The windows used to be open. Part of the reason for sealing it was safety, part for comfort, and part for saving money on keeping the ice surface cool (they've also permanently closed the back entrance doors - now they are just there as emergency exits). I now get what you meant, and yes you were correct.

There already have been a few eateries in the new part that have closed up. The all-potato concept didn't work all that well, shockingly, and the somewhat gourmet burger place closed as well (hardly surprising with Red Robin and Eureka already in the mall).

[Cathy]

The Speciale we got had a great flavor, Faye. I'm unsure if it is seasonal, or if whatever is 'special' changes. UTC mall is so 'new' looking and interesting...it's easy to get in a good walk there.
I'm glad you pointed out my unclearness, Brian-sometimes I feel I am being too wordy and edit down my posts, but in this case, I didn't re-read myself as is my usual habit. The new/non-chain eateries have us curious, but a lot are open late and don't open early. There is another post from UTC coming up though.