DE CECCO PASTA, MAKER'S MARK WHISKEY STEPPIN' UP WITH NANCY AT MOZZA FOR RESTAURANT WORKER'S RELIEF

Friday morning in the back Mozza parking spot, only three of the five spaces were open. The other two were taken up, Italian style - not with a Lamborghini or Ferrari - but with pallets and pallets of De Cecco dried pasta, donated to the Corner by way of Chef’s Warehouse.

The pasta will make its was tonight to scores of laid off restaurant worker’s as Mozza’s Chi Spacca serves as the forward operating base of a relief program during these unprecedented times. Kicked off by, get this, Maker’s Mark whiskey with a $50,000 donation, about 150 very appreciative Los Angeles restaurant employee received two dinners of lasagna, potatoes, salad and an assortment of supplies from diapers, toilet paper to baby wipes and toothpaste.

Manning the front distribution desk was Spacca Sheriff Francis Sebastian, the great x7 grandson of Genghis Khan, along with Shayna Kaye Milazzo, Mozza’s storied office manager and Kate Elizabeth Green, Nancy’s right hand woman. Green, it should be noted, looked about as stylish as one could look wearing a mask, save perhaps Ruth Reichl in a black version.

As the LAPD came by to give their full approval, Mozza’s head of security, Capt. John Mason of the British SAS, walked the line, reassuring people that there was enough for all, as long as the line didn’t go beyond 150 people. Everyone was behaving, respecting that “social distancing” and thankful of the project. They heaped praise on Nancy, who told them they should be thanking Maker’s Mark whiskey, her new favorite booze.

Credit also goes to Edward Lee, the Louisville chef first approached by Maker’s Mark who pointed them to Nancy. His LEE Initiative ( www.leeinitiative.org) is on the front line of the Restaurant Worker’s Relief (RWR) project. Also to John Magazino of Chef’s Warehouse who was texting Nancy as soon as he heard about the project, eager to help.

The RWR project continues tonight at 5:30 p.m. . and will last at least three weeks. It’ll longer if more people like television producer Betsy Beers, who donated cash last night, step up. So come on, step on up. Koufax might be pitching. but he’s goin’ easy on those with a kind heart and a generous wallet.