Photo Credit: Nick RamaFood & Drink
Eat Local: Tosca Italian Gourmet Cypress
Discover Tosca Italian Gourmet, an authentic Italian restaurant located in Cypress, and meet the owner, learn about the culture, and of course, the food!
The Story
Tosca Italian Gourmet owner, Maya Sretenovic Schiavo, wanted a way to enjoy the tastes of home that she missed. As a result, she opened the first Tosca Italian Gourmet in December 2021 with the help of her husband Mario Schiavo. In January 2024 they opened their 2nd location in Cypress less than 2 miles from The Boardwalk Towne Lake at 17823 Longenbaugh Rd. , which offers both the taste and feel of an Italian cafe.
Schiavo said her restaurant “brings together a variety of traditional regional Italian meals while adding a twist on local classics for breakfast, lunch and some special dinner services.”
The Goods
The menu at Tosca Italian Gourmet is based on traditional Italian recipes and Italian food culture, which is very diversified depending on regions and local traditions. While inspired by Italian traditions, Tosca has reinvented recipes such as their Arezzo focaccia. Although made with authentic Italian ingredients, this item was created by Tosca Italian Gourmet. The focaccia sandwiches at Tosca Italian Gourmet are one of the restaurant’s most popular items on the menu, and a very traditional offering in Italy. The variety of unique and refined food and flavors at Tosca Italian Gourmet is reminiscent of a pleasant journey through the Tuscan hills.
The crowd-pleasers include their famous house-made focaccia and freshly baked croissants, which are always a hit. Customers also rave about Tosca’s delicious lasagna, savory meatballs, mini pastries, and cookies. These items, along with their wood-fired pizzas, have become favorites that keep guests coming back for more.
We have to mention their coffee. Tosca takes pride in using the best coffee beans from Italy, along with top-quality coffee machines to ensure every cup is exceptional. Plus, their flavors and syrups are of the highest quality, making their coffee truly special.
Furthermore, the Arezzo sandwich is made with truffle and ricotta cheese, premium quality San Daniele Prosciutto Crudo, arugula, and extra virgin Italian olive oil. The pistachio croissants and Sicilian cannoli are also much loved by their customers and both are a symbol of Sicily. Nonna cake is the most wanted of their traditional Italian desserts.
We asked Shiavo why she decided to open their 2nd location in the Cypress area. “We chose Cypress, TX, for our second location because of its rapidly growing community. The area has a strong sense of family and a vibrant local culture, making it the perfect place to introduce our authentic Italian gourmet experience. We believe Cypress residents value quality dining, and we’re excited to offer them a real taste of Italy with the same commitment to excellence that has been made in The Woodlands.”
The Name
The name Tosca is meant to recall the amazing landscape, wine, and food traditions of Tuscany. Mario shared, “Tosca Italian Gourmet does not only offer Tuscany products for sale, but Tosca is the final summary of our values. Come to Tosca to enjoy the authentic Italian vibes.”
When asked what sets Tosca Italian Gourmet apart from other bakeries in the area, Mario said, “Our ambition as a bakery is to combine the simplicity of the Italian traditions with the finest Italian ingredients.”
Tosca’s chefs and bakers start their day at 3:00 AM at The Woodlands location, preparing everything fresh. Daily they deliver all the goods to the Cypress location each morning. Additionally, they have bakers in Cypress who handle the final preparations, ensuring every dish and baked goods is fresh and up to their high standards.
Community
Mario explained “Tosca Italian Gourmet is a family-focused business that prides itself on being deeply involved in our local community. As a family-owned bakery, we engage in community events, sponsor local initiatives, and collaborate with neighboring businesses. For us, it’s about more than just great food—it’s about building lasting relationships and creating a warm, welcoming environment where families can gather and enjoy a true taste of Italy.“
Owners Favorites
Mario:
Breakfast: Breakfast croissant with eggs, capocollo and cheese
Lunch: Arezzo with a soft drink
Marija:
Breakfast: croissant with pastry cream
Lunch: Tosca Salad with salmon or Tuna and a glass of wine
What the Locals are Ordering:
Breakfast: Croissants, Cinnamon Rolls,
Bread: Ciabatta, Sicilian bread, Olive Bread, Cranberry and Pistachio
Salads: Tosca Salad with Selected Italian Meat and caprese with Tomatoes and burrata.
Sandwich: Arezzo, Pisa (with Ham and cream cheese), Mortadella
Pizza: Margherita, pepperoni and Vegetarian
Pastries: Nonna Cake, Caprese cake, Tiramisù, Sacher Cake, Sicilian Cannoli, Affogato, Napoleon (Ice cream with Espresso)
Coffee: Cappuccino, Espresso, Latte (We use only Lavazza)
Specialties: Bolognese Lasagna, Meatballs, Tiramisù,
Take Home Family Meals: We can prepare Bolognese Lasagna and Meatballs to share with your family, but if you want to try a special meal, don’t hesitate to call us.
Cakes: Nonna Cake, Caprese cake, Blueberry coffeè cake, Sacher Cake
Gelato: Our selected flavors of Italian Gelato are Amaretto, Vanilla, Nutella, Raspberry, Strawberry, and Pistachio.
Catering
Tosca Italian Gourmet offers catering for both private and corporate events. Some catering they have done so far for prestigious organizations such as Ferrari, the Italian Chamber of Texas, and Istituto Commercio Estero. Whether it’s an intimate gathering or a larger corporate event, they will bring the same level of quality and authenticity to every occasion, ensuring that the guests enjoy the best of Tosca Italian Gourmet.
Wrapping it all up
Tosca’s Italian Gourmet’s success so far, according to Mario, is “Our success is rooted in our dedication to freshness and quality. We use only the top ingredients to create high-quality dishes, ensuring everything is made from scratch every day. Many of our recipes come from my grandmother, passed down through generations, which adds a special, authentic touch to everything we serve. This combination of fresh, carefully selected ingredients and time-honored recipes has been key to our success. We’re also grateful for the loyalty of our customers and the hard work of our team, all of whom share our passion for bringing a true Italian experience to the community”
Tosca Italian Gourmet is the real deal authentic Italian bakery with true flavors of Italy and Italian culture. With breakfast, lunch, and some dinner services, Tosca has you covered for all the traditional tastes of Italy. Stop by and say hi to Marija, Mario, and the crew for some pastries and espresso, a perfect morning or afternoon pick-me-up.
We asked: What are 5 Words to Describe Tosca Italian Gourmet? Italian bakery, focaccia, pastries, coffee, wine.
Tosca Italian Gourmet Cypress
Address: 17823 Longenbaugh Rd, Cypress, TX 77433
Phone: (281) 861-5277
Website: toscaitaliangourmet.com
Nick Rama is a food writer, contributor to Hello Cypress, and shares his restaurant experiences on Nick’s Local Eats at NicksLocalEats.com and on social media Facebook, Instagram, and Cypress NW Houston Eateries on Facebook. Nick enjoys helping small business owners, supporting his community by fundraising for food banks, animal shelters and plans tasting events with locally owned mom and pop restaurants.
