About
Dora
After quietly building one of San Diego’s most beloved Italian concepts out of a cozy North Park trattoria, Dora marks the newest venture for husband-and-wife duo Chef Accursio Lota and writer and hospitality visionary Corinne Goria.
Named for Chef Accursio’s grandmother, Dora celebrates coastal Southern Italian cuisine–rooted in tradition, guided by seasonality, and interpreted through a contemporary lens. The menu draws inspiration from the sea and the seasons, centered around handmade pastas, Mediterranean seafood, and a touch of theatrical flair, with thespian-inspired dining experience and themed specialty cocktails as an ode to the neighboring Tony Award-winning La Jolla Playhouse.
As new residents to La Jolla, Chef Accursio and Corinne bring their familiar sense of neighborhood hospitality and heart to the coast–the same spirit that made Cori Pastificio Trattoria a cherished North Park fixture and rise to international acclaim as one of only six U.S. restaurants to receive Gambero Rosso’s Tre Forchette award.
Dora continues the story, where Sicilian heritage meets the sun-soaked spirit of Southern California.
Sicilian-born Chef Accursio Lota, the visionary behind San Diego’s Cori Trattoria, brings an unmatched blend of heritage, creativity, and culinary precision to every dish. Raised in the agricultural town of Menfi, where the bounty of the Mediterranean was ingrained in daily life, Lota’s cooking ambitions were shaped early on, and by 18, his culinary star began to rise when he was selected to compete in Italy’s preeminent showcase of young talent.
Lota went on to hone his craft under legends like Chef Sergio Mei at the Four Seasons in Milan, Chef Pino Cuttaia of the two Michelin-starred La Madia (Licata, Sicily), and Chef Bernard Guillas at The Marina Room in La Jolla, before joining Solare Restaurant and Lounge as Executive Chef where he earned the restaurant its coveted MICHELIN Bib Gourmand status. Among his numerous accolades, Lota took home first place in the 2017 Barilla World Pasta Championship, cementing his reputation on the international stage.
At Cori Trattoria, his modern approach to Sicilian cuisine has earned the restaurant the prestigious 3-fork “Tre Forchette” distinction from Gambero Rosso. Now, as Lota prepares to open a second restaurant in La Jolla’s Theater District in 2025, he continues to push the boundaries of Mediterranean cuisine, while staying true to the deep culinary traditions that inspire him