Tuscany Grill in Suntree: Italian done right

This October, 18 of Brevard’s best restaurants are taking part in FLORIDA TODAY’s third annual Flavor Dining Month. From Oct. 1-31, our Flavor partners will offer three-course, prix fixe dinner menus for $40. To learn more about participating restaurants and to see menus, visit floridatoday.com/flavor.

We asked five questions of chef Eric Anderson at Tuscany Grill in Suntree.

QUESTION: What inspired you to go into the restaurant business?

ANSWER: I would say my family. ... I'm from New York, and back in New York, my family had restaurants so I started working around food very young. My grandfather had a butcher shop, and it evolved into a high-end Italian grocery store.

But mostly, more than that, I would say when I got older and I started going out to eat for myself, I was always disappointed going out to restaurants, especially Italian restaurants. I always felt that I could do it better.

Q. What makes your restaurant unique?

A. Tuscany Grill, I would say, is very unique especially in this area, because it's not a chain or a corporate restaurant, which is saturated in this area. Gina (Pierce, the owner) is still here every day, operating the restaurant. So it's family-owned.

Q. Describe the cuisine at your restaurant.

A. It's Italian, but there are a lot of influences. Even on our website, it says Mediterranean also, slash, Italian. So, like you see with the Acropolis, there is a Mediterranean, kind of a Greek-Mediterranean influence there. And now, a little German influence; we do a German night every Thursday.

Q. What’s your secret guilty food pleasure?

A. It's not going to be a secret any more, if I tell you. But sushi is probably my favorite food that I eat, because I don't cook ... it's very different from the cuisine that I cook. Even though I do dabble in some Japanese influence. ... Also maybe some junk food once in a while. Because I'm always the one who preaches health and high-quality as a chef, but once in a while I crave some fast food.

Q. What’s a simple dish that everyone should be able to cook?

A. I would say eggs. Eggs and toast. Very simple, but can be difficult if it's not done right.

Tuscany Grill

Address: 7640 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne

Info: 321-757-7220

Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday; 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday; 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday

Style of cuisine: Italian with Mediterranean influences