Daniele Uditi - Pizzana (L.A.)

Steve travels to Los Angeles to talk with Daniele Uditi, the Pizzaiolo at Pizzana, in Brentwood. Uditi comes from a small, Italian village, where he first learned how to bake with his “auntie” but later, came to America and worked at various restaurants, before settling on his own style of pizza – a kind of artisan-meets-Neapolitan, with a slightly lower oven temperature than traditional Neapolitans, that results in a slightly longer baking time. A chance meeting with actor Chris O’Donnell (and a series of pizza parties at his home for friends and colleagues) led to a partnership with both the O’Donnells and the owners of Sprinkles Cupcakes. They eventually opened Pizzana in Brentwood. The late L.A. Times critic Jonathan Gold was a huge fan of the pizzas, and a glowing review led to even more success. The partners have also opened a second location on Robertson Boulevard in West Hollywood.