The South Bay is tasting more and more like the Italian coast lately with another respected chef bringing the cuisine to one of the area’s beachfront communities. Chef Anne Conness, who runs the new modern Middle Eastern spot Jaffa in Palms near Culver City and El Segundo’s Spanish and Mexican restaurant Sausal, is now looking at Italy for inspiration as the executive chef of the recently opened Mosa in Hermosa Beach.

Her goal, she said, is to create a spot where the locals will come several times a week by serving what “makes people happy.” “We decided that had to be pasta, and seafood,” she said. Located in a spot that formerly housed the short-lived Serve on 2nd, Mosa does have a bit of competition when it comes to serving Italian fare.