
Chef Soerke Peters has a simple restaurant philosophy: create food that is fresh, flavorful and sustainable. Those ideas have certainly resonated with diners on the Central Coast of California and now the green-leaning restaurateur has expanded east to Bentonville, Arkansas.
Peters opened Mezzaluna Pasteria & Mozzarella Bar with his life and business partner Amy Stouffer in March, 2019, as the first certified green restaurant in Pacific Grove. The wine-centric restaurant made a splash by offering house made pastas and other rustic Italian food, along with a bar that specializes in creative cocktails and Italian liqueurs such as amaro. It become so successful that the couple expanded into Bentonville, a vibrant city that boasts a varied and cosmopolitan culinary scene.
A European Background
Born and raised in Germany and classically trained in Europe, Peters decided to become a chef at the age of 5. He remembers cooking with his grandmother as a young boy and followed this path his entire life to become a chef.
After his three-year apprenticeship in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, Peters moved to Munich and worked at world-class hotels and restaurants including a one and three Michelin Star rated restaurant. In 1990, he was hired as executive chef for the first World’s Fair in Russia/Siberia. He then moved to New York City, where he fell in love with Italian cuisine.
In October of 2001, Peters moved to Los Angeles, the new hot spot for creative restaurant concepts. While mastering Northern-Italian cuisine at Ca’del Sole, Peters opened From a on Melrose in West Hollywood. He was also the Executive Chef at the Sunset Restaurant in Malibu before taking the opportunity to move to Carmel to take over Basil Seasonal Dining, the first-ever certified green restaurant in the city.
Sustainability at the Forefront

A leader in sustainability, Peters received an Ocean Hero Award from the renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium for his responsible sourcing of seafood and preserving the oceans for generations to come.
Peters has continued his sustainability philosophy in Bentonville, becoming a member of the Green Restaurant Association. Peters also offers a special blue zone menu brimming with staple foods that promote health and longevity.
In addition to fresh pasta dishes, Mezzaluna offers a variety of antipasti, along with a mozzarella bar featuring fiori di latte mozzarella, burrata and various accompaniments. Peters also creates his own gelato and sorbetto, along with several iconic Italian desserts such as affogato and a special bourbon barrel stout float.
Mezzaluna in Bentonville is open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Reservations can be made at mezzalunapasteria.com