Angelo Auriana-headed Factory Kitchen ready to open

What? Another great-sounding restaurant opening downtown? Yup. Factory Kitchen, an ambitious Italian project from chef Angelo Auriana (18 years at Valentino) and manager Matteo Ferdinandi (formerly business partner of Celestino Drago), announces it will be “soft opening� Oct. 31. [UPDATED: The opening was originally scheduled for this week, the restaurant has announced it will be later.]

Located in the Arts District in the Factory Place Arts Complex, a live-work building near 7th and Alameda streets, the Factory Kitchen will begin serving Oct. 24. At first it will be dinner only, but lunch is promised within a couple of weeks.

Both partners are well known in Southern California Italian food circles. Auriana was a highly praised chef at Valentino until leaving in 2003. He was last spotted at Farina in the Bay Area. Ferdinandi came up through the Spectrum Foods organization, served as Wolfgang Puck’s GM at Spago Las Vegas and at Cut, before joining Drago, where he helped open Drago Centro. He is also the owner of Froma on Melrose, an Italian food and wine shop.

Details are scarce. In a statement, the food is described as using “fresh, seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. The approachable menu at The Factory Kitchen highlights the simplicity of traditional local recipes. These recipes have been passed down from generation to generation within Italian families.“

Factory Kitchen, 1300 Factory Place, Los Angeles, (213) 996-6000.

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In the kitchen, Chef Auriana prepares dishes using fresh, seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. The approachable menu at The Factory Kitchen highlights the simplicity of traditional local recipes. These recipes have been passed down from generation to generation within Italian families.