Donna Baldwin and Steve Muller of D & S Partners, LLC, along with World Pizza Champion teammates John Arena and Chris Decker, announced the long-awaited arrival of “Truly Pizza” – Dana Point’s newest neighborhood artisanal pizzeria located at 24402 Del Prado, Dana Point CA 92629. Plans for the new pizzeria will be presented to the Dana Point Planning Commission on Monday, June 28. Once the plans are approved, Truly Pizza will host a public ground-breaking event as a fundraiser for a Dana Point non-profit group.
The concept of Truly Pizza is created from an artful union of like-minded friends combining diverse talents like complimentary ingredients on a great pizza. Donna Baldwin brings decades of hospitality and world-class service experience from her years leading VIP Services for Steve Wynn and at some of Las Vegas’ most renowned properties like MGM Mirage Resorts.
Steve Muller, partner of D and S Partners and owner of The Muller Company, is a longtime Dana Point resident and developer, known for his thoughtful community projects like the restoration and expansion of the Historic Lighthouse Building. John Arena, one of the most respected pizzaiolos in the world was born into a family of pizza makers and is most notably known for his Food Network appearances, making pizzas for 5 US Presidents and his beloved Metro Pizza Las Vegas restaurants. Chris Decker is a renowned World Pizza Champion with a reputation for culinary excellence, artistry and an imaginative approach to pizza making that respects long standing traditions.
“We’ve created Truly Pizza to serve as a neighborhood pizzeria that is welcoming, enthusiastic, service oriented and thoughtful to our customers throughout the entire guest experience,” says Donna Baldwin, co-founder of Truly Pizza. “We value and care deeply about our local community and look forward to expressing our passion for hospitality, design and of course amazing pizza with our neighbors here in Dana Point.”
Truly Pizza’s menu is guided by a philosophy of respect for tradition while exploring the creative opportunities made possible by California’s unique culinary and cultural sensibilities. Customers can expect whole pies and pizzas by the slice including crispy-airy wood fired and 5 day rise steel pan Sicilian, salads, panini, charcuterie and cheese plates, premium soft-serve desserts, and regional craft beers and wines at approachable price points.
“Food is the expression of our community, the environment and the background of the people who make and eat the food, and we’ve created Truly Pizza to be a hub that brings these expressions to life through great pizza,” says John Arena “Our menu is informed but not bound by tradition, and mindfully curated from the ingredients to the food’s aesthetic – every decision is selected for a purpose with a focus on local sourcing and supporting farmers in our community.”
The design imagined by Ted Berner & Dayna Lee, Powerstrip Studio lets guests dine in a garden and drink wine on the rooftop. The restaurant design is a romantic piazza that brings people home to stay. The exhibition kitchen to showcase Truly Pizza’s passion and love for hand-crafted pizza.
Dana Point residents and tourists alike can look forward to a series of on-site community events, partnerships and collaborations with local organizations and Truly Pizza in the upcoming months ahead. Grand opening festivities scheduled for February 2022 will be announced later this year.
