Chef Marcs Novecento 900: Best Pizza, Best Price

Sausage and Pepperoni Pizza

Marc Sgrizzi, alternatively known as Marc Ritz, is a good ol boy Italian chef from upstate New York. Hes an ex-boxer, but today, burrata cheese, and one of the most innovative culinary minds in the city, delivers his uppercuts. Perhaps know him from a place called Marcs World Cuisine, which closed several years ago. Now you can taste his creations at Parma, a crackerjack Northside restaurant.

Chef Marc Sgrizzi

Sgrizzi is finally doing pizza, and its terrific. His newest venture, Novecento 900, is a place with franchise written all over it. Imagine Settebello, at half the price. Sgrizzis new place does VPN, verra pizza Napoletana, or real Neapolitan pizzas, starting at $7.50 for a basic Margherita or Pomodoro. He wants to serve 500 pizzas a day in his new place, hard by an In N Out Burger in a Centennial Parkway shopping mall. Dont bet against it.

This is a modestly decorated place, just one notch more charming than a cafeteria. You stand in a line and order. Pizzas cook in 90 seconds in a wood fired oven, and yes, that pile of various hardwoods, apricot, pecan and apple, that you dodge by the front door so you can enter the line, is what gives them their distinctive smoky character.

What youll get is one of those blistered, thin crusted pizzas that you pull apart. When it is made perfectly, there might be a drop of moisture in the center. I tried two pizzas here and both were excellent. One was the Calabrese, a specialty pizza that sells for $10. Id drive back here from Green Valley, 25 miles, just to eat a second one.

The Calabrese is essentially a Margherita with hot pepper mix topping, blanketed with spicy Calabrian salami, that crisps quickly and curls around the edges in the oven. This pizza soars because of top drawer components. High gluten flour. A delicious marinara. Whole milk mozzarella. Fresh basil. Can you get one with a gluten-free crust? Sure. But who wants one!

Chopped Salad

The second pizza (pictured) was more traditional, topped with sausage and pepperoni. The one difference here is that Sgrizzi makes his own sausage over at Parma, his other restaurant, so its much tastier than a commercial brand. I also sampled his housemade all-beef meat ball. Mamma Mia, azza spicy a-meat-a-ball.

There are several good salads to get you started here. The Chopped salad probably gets the top marks, Romaine lettuce, Genoa salami, Gorgonzola cheese, roasted red peppers, red onions, and red wine vinaigrette. But I like the Arugula, with mushrooms and olives, and the Caesar is done in the classical style, with fat croutons. A small one is only $4.

House Caesar

I didnt try a calzone or Stromboli, but both are also done in the wood oven. I did save room for one of Sgrizzis irresistible homemade cannoli, which come studded with bits of chocolate. And I eyeballed another house specialty, eggplant Parmesan, that he brings from Parma, to be finished off in his wood oven here.

Novecento 9000 offers beer, various Italian wines, and a coffee bar as well. Sgrizzi will be opening for breakfast soon as well. He envisions this place as a coffee bar, before it morphs into a pizza joint. Look for Italian pastries to fill out this menu soon.

Im betting franchise. Damn, I wish I lived a few miles closer to this place. Novecento 900 is at 5705 Centennial Center Blvd. Call 685-4900 for hours and information, or go to their website, www.novecentopizza.com.

editors note: I went to Novecento after reading this. 2 pizzas, wine and a drink were $24. My choice? Chicken with pesto, pine nuts and arugula. The best way to eat this pizza is by tearing it- you get that warm chewy gluten with incredible flavor in each bite. Itching to go back.

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Honey Boo Boo Star June Shannon Lost 102 Pounds in 2 Years!

Here Comes Honey Boo Boo matriarch June Shannon's makeover didn't end with a newly blonde hairstyle. The 33-year-old TLC reality star dropped 102 pounds in the past two years -- without exercising or modifying her diet.

Shannon, a mother of four girls, tells TMZ she weighed 365 pounds when she began taping the Toddlers & Tiaras spinoff in January 2011. She has since slimmed down to 263 pounds.

"I haven't done any surgeries. No diet pills. Never went to the gym," says Shannon, who buys her food in bulk with coupons. "But with the show I've been more active. They have my running around and going different places. I guess it's paying off."

VIDEO: Why June Shannon is scared of mayonnaise

The family's health has often been in question, as cameras capture 7-year-old Alana "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson drinking go-go juice (a mixture of Red Bull and Mountain Dew) and eating "sketti," pasta served with a generous helping of microwaved ketchup and butter.

Shannon, who describes herself as "beautimos," defended the young beauty queen's diet during a February 2012 appearance on Good Morning America. "She's not skinny but, whether skinny or fat, I am still going to love my children regardless," she said. "I could care less if they get up to 1,000 pounds; I am still going to love them."

The Eyes Have It: Andreas at Wynn

Andrea Wynn's Eyes Photo by Barbara Kraft

The sensuous, color-shifting eyes flashing over the bar at Andreas, the new Asian fusion restaurant at Encore, belong to Steve Wynns wife, Andrea, taken from a photograph by local shutterbug Denise Truscello. Indeed, everything about this build-out, from chic dcor by Todd-Avery Lenahan to the Japanese-anchored menu by Nobu alum Joe Elevado, is an eye-opener. Its hard to remember this room was once Switch.

The nightlife-ification of Wynn Resorts continues with the nightclub-adjacent Andreas (pronounced Ahn-DRAY-uhs, please), an airy, cream-and-gold space with windows that open to neighboring Surrender Nightclub. The ceiling is studded with geometric rows of crystal teardrops. The dining room is geared toward and filled with beautiful people, here to party and enjoy the modernist Asian fare by executive chef Elevado. Their next stop is likely to be Surrender.

Japanese Kobe Rib Cap. Photo by Checko Salgado

Perhaps the best tables in here are a series of private booths couched behind doors composed of shimmering metal beads, which run along the perimeter of the mezzanine wall. In luring Elevado back from Los Angeles, Wynn Resorts has officially become part of the turning Japanese phenomenon currently under way in Las Vegas. The master himself, Nobu Matsuhisa, is about to open his own tower at Caesars Palace. Meanwhile, in Chinatown, there is a seemingly endless parade of new sushi bars and ramen houses.

So dont be surprised to see a full menu of sushi, sashimi and esoteric hand and cut rolls that you couldnt find in Tokyo with a divining rod. Nobu may be the chef who made Japanese a global cuisine, but he developed his unique style in Lima, Peru, so its not surprising that Elevado, a Nobu disciple, is largely following suit.

Well, not altogether. I loved his take onshishitopeppers, served warm in a small pot with a sprinkling of beadedararerice crackers and a delectable mustard miso. And his Kumamoto oysterslaced with smoky ponzu gele, Indonesiansambal(chili sauce) and spring onion stand proudly alongside the oyster dishes at Sage and Guy Savoy, as the Strips best.

Two rolls I triedone, a combination ofwagyubeef and lobster (steep at $36, and to my view, mostly a gimmick), the other a rolled cucumber with yellowtail and albacore miso cleverly crammed insidewere both fine, but ahamachi(farmed yellowtail) sashimi took the prize, made with crispy garlic, cherry peppers, cilantro andcalamantsisoy sauce.

Are there other touches from Elevados native Philippines, such as thecalamantsisoy, on Andreas eclectic, pan-Asian menu? Not many. But there are dim sum, such as limp, pan-fried scallion pancakes, crispy pork pot stickers and even Gardein chickenshumai, for those of you towing the vegan line like the eponymous Andrea.

Many Asian bases are covered here, though.Tom kha gai, a creamy coconut-ginger chicken soup, is distinctly Thai. One could argue that the chefs whole crispy fish (an oddity in a tomato and egg broth), is similar tosinigang, a Filipino fish dish, except, in this case, minus the sour tang of tamarind.

Sixty-five bucks may seem a lot for a steak, but this baby is a Japanese Kobe rib cap, and worth the indulgence. And Ill have to return for Elevados five-spice garlic lobster, served with long beans. I saw it on an adjacent table, and it looked and smelled great.

Make sure to get a cocktail such as the Asian Pear, created for the room by top-notch Wynn Resorts mixologist Patricia Richards. Desserts are rarely a strong suit in an Asian restaurant, but there is a nice display of exotic ice creams, in tiny cones, on a tree-like contraption.

Just go easyAndrea is watching.

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Allison Williams, Girls Star, Shows Off Skinny Bikini Body

Following a busy awards season and promotional tour, Allison Williams deserved some fun in the sun -- and that's exactly what the Girls star got! The 24-year-old actress (her father is NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams) soaked up the sun and showed off her toned, tanned bikini body while vacationing in Miami on Sunday, Feb. 3.

Sporting a red manicure, Williams wore a black bandeau top and matching bottoms while reading a magazine by the pool. The brunette -- who's been dating College Humor founder Ricky Van Veen since the spring of 2011 -- kept her face out of the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat.

Though Girls' series creator and star Lena Dunham often appears nude onscreen, Williams has yet to bare all on the HBO hit. Even so, Williams has filmed several racy sex scenes -- and she's watched them all with her family. "People are vomiting in their chairs," she joked during a recent appearance on E!'s Chelsea Lately.

In all seriousness, Williams said her family is "proud" of her role on the groundbreaking, Golden Globe-winning series. "My grandmother watched the first episode and she was like, 'This is feminism?' And then by the end of the season she was like, 'This is feminism.' The tone changed completely," the actress said. "She was really psyched about it."

Molly Sims Debuts Slim Bikini Body After Complaining About Baby Weight

Molly Sims has her pre-baby body back! One week after she shared with Us Weekly that she still has "10 pounds" more to lose after welcoming son Brooks in June 2012, the 39-year-old supermodel showed off her svelte shape in a series of WhoSay pictures Feb. 2.

"Finally bikini ready and pulling out those Sports Illustrated Swimsuit poses, just in time for my bestie Lauren Kucerak's big birthday!" Sims wrote in one caption. Sims and her pal are staying at the Viceroy Riviera Maya in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Raved Sims, "Best girlfriends getaway ever!"

Molly Sims
Credit: whosay.com/mollysims

When Us caught up with Sims at the ELLE Women in Television event Jan. 24, the jewelry designer -- who gained 65 pounds while pregnant -- spoke about her postpartum weight loss struggle. "I developed a thyroid condition during my pregnancy, so I didn't realize why I was gaining so much weight. So now I'm on thyroid medicine. My thyroid kind of shut down, so that really made it very difficult in terms of the weight loss," the Project Accessory host said. "It's been difficult, I'm not going to lie. I've had to exercise and keep a very, very rigid diet. I mean, it's the hardest thing I've done -- and I've modeled since I was pretty much 21 years old!"

Sims limits her diet to "really lean protein, no salt, no oils -- I mean, hard core. The problem is . . . you can't [cut back your diet] until you stop breastfeeding, and I stopped at three months because I had no milk."

The Las Vegas actress added that she's envious of fellow celebrity mom Claire Danes, whose tiny post-baby body has made headlines in recent weeks.

"I look at Claire Danes at the Globes and I'm like, I hate you," said Sims, who is married to movie producer Scott Stuber. "I'm jealous [of women like Danes]. I wish to God I could have done it that way. But my body just didn't. And I'm so happy I have an amazing, happy, healthy, gorgeous, Buddha-like son, but I wish it would have been easier. I tell my husband, it made me depressed a little."

Where I Would Stay in Vegas: The Nobu Hotel

I was fortunate enough to recently tour Nobu Hotel at Caesars Palace, scheduled to open today, Monday February 4, 2013.

Billed as another boutique hotel amidst a national invasion of boutique hotels, my expectation was to be mildly amused and tremendously disappointed by The Nobu. The boutique hotel term is one of the worst misnomers out there. More often than not, the term boutique hotel is applied to a concept of quirkiness* of faux mod luxury amidst dcor and surroundings, the novel experience of which declines as drastically as the initial budget for the hotel itself.

Furthermore, this Nobu boutique hotel has 181 rooms and a 12,775 square foot eponymous restaurant.

Oh dear.

Worse yet, I was unable to grasp the concept of a restaurant with a hotel, much less a boutique hotel. Howard Johnsons, anyone? Yeah, they have great clam strips, but does anyone really stay there? More recently, Las Vegas has seen a similar concept by Charlie Palmer go down the tubes. (In the interest of fairness, Mr. Palmer does have a hotel/restaurant elsewhere- but it has 55 rooms. Lets just say itis likelya true boutique hotel.)

Lets get back to Las Vegas and hotels.

We have a ton of them, with an estimated 125,000+ rooms and some of the worlds largest hotel properties. For years my clients have asked me where to stay in Las Vegas and, honestly, I have to tell them to just find the least expensive room with the amenities they expect. I wouldnt stay in a Las Vegas hotel room if I didnt need to.

Until now.

Caesars Palace is one of those monster hotels, incidentally, with over 3,900 rooms. The Nobu Hotel, which has 181 rooms nested within the massive Caesars complex (it is a renovation of the old Centurion tower), could certainly be considered a boutique hotel in comparison to the exoskeleton of Caesars. It isnt. What it is, however, is the most cohesive and possibly the finest luxury hotel in Las Vegas.

Chef Nobu. Photo by Eric Kabik.

Designed by David Rockwell and his Rockwell Group, the Nobu Hotel is a masterpiece of serenity amidst the chaos of the Las Vegas Strip. I often hear that the rooms on the Strip are designed to be comfortable enough to sleep in with the perfect amount of discomfort to get gamblers back on the gaming floor. Not so, in this case.

The entire hotel is designed to convey an extension of the fun and energetic Nobu lifestyle. Ok, enough of the Press Kit. The Nobu Hotel was designed as homage to the Japanese aesthetic and lifestyle. Natural wood- hemlock, fir, and oak abound, and natures refusal to conform to our mental linearity is everywhere. Sinuous forms are the norm; the only deliberate rigid form I found were the steps leading to the elevator corridor- more than likely a result of code compliance.

David Rockwell. Note the Origami-style legs on the Coffee Table. Photo by Eric Kabik.

The interior of the rooms continue the aesthetic. Overseen by Rockwell with Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, the rooms are comfortable and elegant, with fine linens in a setting accented by Japanese prints. The furniture also conveys a specifically Asian influence, with custom carved wooded coffee tables supported by welded metal bases in origami-like forms. Each room has stylized Japanese calligraphy on the wall, and guests are greeted by tea and soothing images of waterfalls, etc on the TV.

Bathrooms are especially well-done, with a clean and modern appearance accented by a wooden ladder-form to hold towels. Fixtures by Toto continue the theme of man intertwined with nature, with sinks of simple geometric forms perched on wooden plinths. The open shower features a more-traditional Japanese teak stool, rather than a modern stainless steel one. Even the mini bar contains Nobus touch: blood orange juice, great Pocky pretzel sticks, and an array of Nobus branded sake are available if you wish.

Arbitrary Photo of Mind-Boggling Nobu Food: Yellow Tail Jalapeno

I was especially impressed with the Nobu Restaurant itself. At 12,775 square feet, the restaurant can seat 300-350 people. This is the largest restaurant of Nobus 26 worldwide. The issue with a restaurant this size is two-fold. One is a question of maintenance of quality, while the other issue, equally important, is maintenance of the intimacy of a high-end restaurant in an area that could easily fit a cafeteria. Rockwell Group did a masterful job on the space. Demarcation of eating areas is non-linear, so the restaurant doesnt appear as rows of cafeteria-like rows of tables. Banquette seating is semi-circular. Rather than simply place the banquettes facing the dining area, the banquettes are slightly rotated to decrease sight lines of the diners and allow more intimacy. This restaurant also features teppanyaki tables, the best of which is sequestered along a corridor leading away from the main dining area.

Also interesting was the open feel of the design. The restaurant bulges into Appian Way, an area of Caesars that was once designated for retail only. A floor-to-ceiling lattice work upholstered in faux shagreen surrounding the walkways border permits a more open feel in the interior, while directing a sense of mystery to the strollers outside, who are presumably looking at small snippets of the dining marvels within.

Initial Press Image of Nobu Restaurant

The initial press images of the restaurant portrayed an almost circus-like setting, with large banquettes used to separate the space and even more enormous lighting fixtures descending from the ceiling. All upholstered in enough colorful fabric to suggest a Maharam showroom. Fortunately the room was (presumably) redone before opening, and the tones of the restaurant are now subdued, with wonderful cumulus-like expanded cut honeycombed tyvek (or similar) fixtures hovering in mid-air.

Lousy Image of Nobu Restaurant, Current Day. Notice the Latticework in the Rear and the Cumulus fixtures

(Note: I was not allowed to bring a camera for the tour. However, I did shoot that image of the restaurant. Apologies for quality.)

The restaurant is also following the trend toward a more interesting cocktail selection. Their cocktails feature mixers such as sake, yuzu, soju, and lychee. The cocktails, like the hotel , have an impressive balance- something rarely seen in their Western counterparts.

The Cracked Basil

1 oz Grand Marnier
1 oz Nobu Soju (or similar)
oz Yuzu Juice
oz Simple Syrup
Thai Basil
Fresh Strawberries
Egg White
Freshly Cracked Pink Pepper

The most interesting aspect of the restaurant is not contained within its walls. It is the ability of guests to have a private dining experience with most (if not all) of Nobus menu from 11:30 AM to 6 AM. Breakfast is also served. In-suite events may also be planned, and a master chef and bartenders may be ordered for one of the most comfortable fine dining experiences on the planet.

Room Rates for The Nobu Hotel are currently listed starting at $269 for Queen rooms. Sign me up.

Nobu Hotel
Caesars Palace
3570 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 785-6677
www.NOBUCaesars Palace.com

*I believe Quirkiness in this context means, A property of Interior Design where proportion, pattern, quality, and relationship are deemed invalid or lacking. See Chaos, Utter or Garage Sale.

One last detail: The Zen of a Good Sand Garden, immortalized in hallway carpeting:

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Kate Middleton Resurfaces, Covers Up Baby Bump: Pictures

The royal baby bump is almost ready for its closeup! After several very low-key weeks, a more voluptious Kate Middleton was finally spotted -- and photographed -- in London this past Wednesday, Jan. 30. Visiting a Boots store in West London, the Duchess of Cambridge sported a noticeably growing belly -- which she attempted to conceal with a tartan shawl -- and a fuller face. Prince William's wife stayed warm during the outing with a scarf, black leggings and boots.

Due in July, the Duchess, now fully recovered from the acute morning sickness that plagued the early days of her pregnancy, is now "arranging meetings with the charities she is involved with and planning future engagements before the baby is born," a royal source told Us Weekly. "She wants to keep herself busy now that she is feeling better."

Credit: Top Star Pictures

That also means shopping! Last Monday the beloved royal was seen shopping for workout clothes at the Selfridge's department store in London -- buying a pair of yoga leggings and checking out the sweaters by her favorite brand, Reiss.

Credit: Top Star Pictures

She's also stocked up on maternity clothes, picking up items at JoJo Maman Bebe, a London boutique, and ordering goodies from Asos Maternity Line.

Lauren Conrad Wears Sexy Daisy Dukes, Flashes Abs at Wild Birthday Party: Pictures

Gettin' wild in the wild wild west with LC! Lauren Conrad turned 27 on Friday (Feb. 1), and made like a sexy cowgirl for the special occasion with a Western-themed birthday celebration with pals that night. Documenting the free-spirited evening out via Instagram and Twitter, the former Hills star turned designer and author wore tiny Daisy Duke shorts and a plaid, Western-style shirt tied above her navel to reveal her trim abs.

"Headed to our b-day hoedown!" Conrad wrote beneath one detailed snapshot of a "Country Western" belt buckle. As the night unfolded, Conrad shared more pics with family members and pals in similar cowboy (and cowgirl) dress, and posted a full-body shot as she looked for a ride home. ("Just hailing a cab with my stick pony . . . ")

Credit: laurenconrad/Instagram

Conrad  added some Caribbean flavor to the festivities as well -- apparently downing some rum during the evening. "Cheers to my Birthday! Can't wait for what @Malibu_Rum and I have in store for you all this year," she captioned another pic, in which she holds up a bottle of Malibu Rum.

Credit: LaurenConrad/Twitter

Before heading out for the raucous night, the California girl went for a hike, and also Instagrammed some of her birthday spoils: Pale roses, French macarons, and birthday cards. No word yet what birthday goodies Conrad received from boyfriend William Tell, whom she began dating on Valentine's Day 2012.

Credit: laurenconrad/Instagram

While Conrad and the USC law student are serious, don't expect her to have babies just yet. "I want kids, but not in the immediate future," she told Lucky magazine.

Kate Middleton Debuts Baby Bump: Pictures

The royal baby bump is almost ready for its closeup! After several very low-key weeks, a more voluptious Kate Middleton was finally spotted -- and photographed -- in London this past Wednesday, Jan. 30. Visiting a Boots store in West London, the Duchess of Cambridge sported a noticeably growing belly -- which she attempted to conceal with a tartan shawl -- and a fuller face. Prince William's wife stayed warm during the outing with a scarf, black leggings and boots.

Due in July, the Duchess, now fully recovered from the acute morning sickness that plagued the early days of her pregnancy, is now "arranging meetings with the charities she is involved with and planning future engagements before the baby is born," a royal source told Us Weekly. "She wants to keep herself busy now that she is feeling better."

Credit: Top Star Pictures

That also means shopping! Last Monday the beloved royal was seen shopping for workout clothes at the Selfridge's department store in London -- buying a pair of yoga leggings and checking out the sweaters by her favorite brand, Reiss.

Credit: Top Star Pictures

She's also stocked up on maternity clothes, picking up items at JoJo Maman Bebe, a London boutique, and ordering goodies from Asos Maternity Line.

Kate Middleton Debuts Baby Bump for First Time: Pictures

The royal baby bump is finally here! After several very low-key weeks, a more voluptious Kate Middleton was finally spotted -- and photographed -- in London this past Wednesday, Jan. 30. Visiting a Boots store in West London, the Duchess of Cambridge sported a noticeably growing belly -- which she attempted to conceal with a tartan shawl -- and a fuller face. Prince William's wife stayed warm during the outing with a scarf, black leggings and boots.

Due in July, the Duchess, now fully recovered from the acute morning sickness that plagued the early days of her pregnancy, is now "arranging meetings with the charities she is involved with and planning future engagements before the baby is born," a royal source told Us Weekly. "She wants to keep herself busy now that she is feeling better."

Credit: Top Star Pictures

That also means shopping! Last Monday the beloved royal was seen shopping for workout clothes at the Selfridge's department store in London -- buying a pair of yoga leggings and checking out the sweaters by her favorite brand, Reiss.

Credit: Top Star Pictures

She's also stocked up on maternity clothes, picking up items at JoJo Maman Bebe, a London boutique, and ordering goodies from Asos Maternity Line.

Nicole Kidman: I Can Finally Move My Face Again After Trying Botox

No knives, please! Despite rumors to the contrary, Nicole Kidman has always insisted that she has never undergone plastic surgery, but in a new interview with Italian newspaper La Repubblica, the actress does cop to one anti-aging cheat: Botox.

"No surgery for me," she told the paper when asked about how she maintains her youthful appearance. "I did try Botox, unfortunately, but I got out of it and now I can finally move my face again."

Kidman, 45, admitted that getting the age-defying injections was an "unfortunate move," but said that she is happily now back to being "completely natural." 

"I wear sunscreen, I don't smoke and I take care of myself, and I am proud to say that," she proclaimed. "Anybody can do anything to themselves -- I don't judge -- but personally, I believe in being physically fit. That's how I was raised." 

The Academy Award-winning actress similarly defended her appearance back in 2011, insisting to Marie Claire UK that she prefers her own natural look, signs of aging and all.

"Well, I move my forehead, I frown … I tried it, I didn't like it, so I've gone back to my own forehead," she said to the magazine at the time. "But I've never had plastic surgery on my face. People say I have but I haven't."

 

CaCee Cobb Pregnant, Debuts Baby Bump in Bikini

A double baby moon! Back in December, a pregnant-again Jessica Simpson vacationed in Hawaii with fiance Eric Johnson, daughter Maxwell Drew, now 9 months, plus sister Ashlee and parents Tina and Joe -- and CaCee Cobb, her former personal assistant and longtime best friend. As it turns out, 32-year-old Simpson wasn't the only woman with a baby on board for the lush getaway.

About a month and a half after marrying Scrubs' Donald Faison, Cobb, 31, announced her first-ever pregnancy on Thursday (Jan. 31). But in a newly revealed photo from the Hawaiian vacation, Cobb was already beginning to rock a baby bump.  (A bikini-clad Simpson tweeted a bare baby bump picture herself on Dec. 30.)

In a snapshot from Dec. 29, Cobb frolicked in the Pacific Ocean clad in sunglasses and a small black bikini that showcase her burgeoning belly. Cobb used Facebook to announce on Thursday that she and Faison, 38, were expecting "a little stormtrooper of our own!"

For her part, Ashlee Simpson is also thrilled about her close pal's first-time pregnancy. "That's my other sister!" Simpson, 28, told Us Weekly at a bash in West Hollywood on Thursday.