Chris Helms
Matthew Virzi, owner of Aurum in Hyde Square, will be on the Food Network’s “Buy This Restaurant.”
Aurum, the newly-opened Syrian meat pie shop in Hyde Square, takes the national stage Wednesday night.
Aurum's owner Matthew Virzi and manager Andrea Belanger star in an episode of "Buy This Restaurant" on Food Network. "Boston Baked Dream," as the segment is called, premiers at 9 p.m. Wednesday.
Virzi paused from his long hours as the only cook for the breakfast-lunch-and-dinner restaurant to reflect on what it means for a new JP business to get this kind of publicity. He said he hopes it prompts people to ask, "What is this pie? What is this product?"
Aurum's signature dish takes the Syrian meat pie, which traditionally contains only spinach and lamb, and offers a range of fresh ingredients. Virzi said 90 percent of their offerings can be vegetarian if you don't add lamb, chicken or beef. Aurum also specializes in fresh juices. The "Reboot," for instance, contains sweet potato, cantaloupe, pear, ginger and cinnamon.
As for Wednesday's national TV debut, Virzi says viewers will get to see what the place looked like before an extensive rehab. Kennedy Fried Chicken was the most recent former occupant.
You can follow Aurum on Facebook here or stop in for a meat pie at 377A Centre St.