Send us a text This week, we talk growth and Detroit pizza with Danny Stoller at Square Pie Guys. Danny and partner Marc Schechter recently opened their third location in San Francisco. Danny shares some of the lessons he’s learned through expansion and what’s next for the Detroit style pizzeria. Check out Square Pie Guys’ killer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/squarepieguys/ Show Notes: Last chance to BE COUNTED in our Pizzeria Industry Survey. Complete yours today: https://pizzatoday.com/...
Aug 25, 2022•33 min•Ep. 115
Send us a text Brandon Nixon worked in pizzerias for 15 years. He took the leap to ownership after a curious Craigslist ad of a pizzeria for sale in the small Virginia town of Strasburg. He kept the name, Alforno’s Italian Cuisine but overhauled the pizza and sales have soared since then. Listen to his story now. Don’t forget to BE COUNTED! If you are a Pizzeria Owner or Operation, do these two things: Take the survey now. https://pizzatoday.com/be-counted-pizzeria-operator-survey-portal/ Comple...
Aug 18, 2022•30 min•Ep. 114
Send us a text Tony’s Pizza Napoletana has been named Pizza Today’s Pizzeria of the Year. We talk to pizza legend and owner Tony Gemignani about the honor and some of his best moments at the pizzeria. Stick around until the end when Tony reveals what he thinks will be the next hot pizza style. Read the Pizzeria of the Year feature at https://pizzatoday.com/topics/2022-pizzeria-of-the-year-tonys-pizzeria-napoletana-san-francisco-ca/ Don’t forget to BE COUNTED! If you are a Pizzeria Owner or Opera...
Aug 11, 2022•42 min•Ep. 113
Send us a text Andrew Gregory is meticulous about his pizza. Daily improvement to keep his New York-style pizza consistent is a top priority at the small shop he owns with his wife Ruel. In the business’s four years, a lot has happened from COVID-19 to seemingly never-ending construction that has altered the customer base. This and more with this Rising Star of the Pizza Industry on this episode. Show Notes: Don’t forget to BE COUNTED! If you are a Pizzeria Owner or Operation, do these two thing...
Aug 04, 2022•34 min•Ep. 112
Send us a text Janet Duran is a breakout pizzeria operator in the July issue of Pizza Today. Find out how she’s taking her pizzeria, 550 Pizzeria in Laredo, Tx, to the next level after celebrating its second anniversary. We also talk beating the scorching heat at the restaurant, inflation and pricing, lessons learned and favorite pizza. Show Notes: You can register for Pizza & Pasta Northeast at http://pizzaandpastaexpo.com Don’t forget to BE COUNTED! If you are a Pizzeria Owner or Operation...
Jul 28, 2022•32 min•Ep. 111
Send us a text We at Pizza Today are diving deep into Pizza Industry stats for you. But we need your help by completing a vital industry survey. The team hits on what’s in the Pizzeria Industry survey. We outline the comprehensive look at the industry and what it means for the individual operator. We also highlight our new 30 Pizzerias to Watch List and how you can make the list. Listen now. If you are a Pizzeria Owner or Operation, do these two things: Take the survey now: (SURVEY CLOSES AUGUST...
Jul 21, 2022•29 min•Ep. 110
Send us a text Rob Cervoni is a breakout pizza operator. He’s deviated from the NY norm to feature Roman-style pizza at his pizzeria, Taglio in Long Island, New York. Listen as he shares more on this red hot pizza style, growing his concept, meeting staffing challenges and up-and-coming trends in the pizza industry. Check out a quick Q&A with all of our Rising Stars at https://pizzatoday.com/topics/people-pizzerias/rising-stars-of-the-pizzeria-industry-2022/...
Jul 14, 2022•34 min•Ep. 109
Send us a text Pizza master Chris Decker now has his own recipe column in Pizza Today. Chris is managing partner at Metro Pizza in Las Vegas. He’s one of the brightest minds in the business and we all drool over his @Everythingbutanchovies Instagram. We talk recipe column, pizza creativity, anchovies (of course), pizza pairing tips and what’s next for Chris.
Jul 07, 2022•31 min•Ep. 108
Send us a text This week, we talk to the operator on the cover of our July issue of Pizza Today, Tara Hattan. She’s among a select group of pizzeria professionals that we’ve named “Rising Stars in the Pizzeria Industry”. Tara owns Zasa’s Pizza and Wings in Tulsa, Oklahoma and is World Pizza Games Champion. Hear all about her transition from maker to owner, opening a second location, pizza topping trends and dough acrobatics....
Jun 30, 2022•34 min•Ep. 107
Send us a text Today is National Detroit-Style Pizza Day. What better way to commemorate the occasion that to revisit our conversation with the original Detroit pizza, Buddy’s Pizza. Listen to Chief Branding Officer Wes Pikula talk about the development of the Detroit pizza and how the legendary pizza company is in full growth mode.
Jun 23, 2022•37 min•Ep. 106
Send us a text This we talk to Steve and Patricia Bangos about moving their pizzeria, Eureka Pizza Company, from Seward, Alaska to Yorba Linda, California. Learn how the concept has translated and thrived with a very different customer base. Also discover their cornerstones to customer service.
Jun 16, 2022•34 min•Ep. 105
Send us a text This week, we talk to Stuart Cameron, chef at The Crown Tavern in Manchester, New Hampshire. He was an Ivy League science student who fell in love with restaurants and never looked back. See how he developed his dough formula and perfected the neo-Neapolitan pizza the tavern is known for.
Jun 09, 2022•29 min•Ep. 104
Send us a text This week, we talk to Brett and Chadd Nemec, who opened Zaza’s Pizzeria in Chicago, a mere five months ago. We talk opening strategies, New York-style pizza in the Chicago market and what’s next for the brothers.
Jun 02, 2022•26 min•Ep. 103
Send us a text Going strong 15 years in the pizzeria business is a feat. The Pizza Place on Noriega has done just that in San Francisco. We talk succeeding in the Bay Area market and best business practices with owners Cindy and Kevin Hayward-Baryza.
May 26, 2022•29 min•Ep. 102
Send us a text Jeremy White and Josh Keown sit down with Lars Smith from State of Mind Public House and Pizzeria in Los Altos, CA. Lars dishes on the big win he recently pulled off at a major pizza competition in Italy, the thought process that went into his award-winning creation and a host of other topics in the lively discussion.
May 19, 2022•26 min•Ep. 101
Send us a text To commemorate our 100th episode, everyone’s favorite pizzeria ambassador Pete Lachapelle joins us on The Hot Slice Podcast. Pete has been the fixture at Pizza Expo and Pizza Today for over 20 years. Pete has so many stories to share. You won’t want to miss this special episode.
May 12, 2022•47 min•Ep. 100
Send us a text Detroit-style pizza is trending across the country. This week, we talk to Chief Branding Officer Wes Pikula of Buddy’s Pizza, the original Detroit style. Discover more about Buddy’s, the development of the Detroit pizza and how the legendary pizza company is in full growth mode.
May 05, 2022•37 min•Ep. 99
Send us a text We continue our mini sessions from above the Pizza Expo exhibit hall. Hear from Brian Hall, owner of Crafters Pizza & Drafthouse in Carmel, Indiana. We talk rebranding the concept, staffing, new products on the show floor and International Pizza Challenge. We chat with Linda Ortega, owner of Fired Up Fresh mobile catering company in Watsonville, California. Linda shares her startup story, catering and how vital sampling ingredients at Pizza Expo is for her business....
Apr 28, 2022•13 min•Ep. 98
Send us a text We continue our Pizza Expo Mini Series from above the show floor talking to pizzeria folks from two pizza companies killing it in their markets. First up, we chat with Christian Buck and Calvin Freatman, co-owners of Cascadia Pizza Company with two locations and food trucks in the Seattle area. We also talk to Jennifer Howell, director of marketing with Catch-a-Fire Pizza with two locations in Cincinnati, Ohio. See what they have say about expansion, marketing and Pizza Expo 2022....
Apr 21, 2022•19 min•Ep. 97
Send us a text We continue our Mini Sessions from Pizza Expo 2022 with Nicole Bean, co-owner at Pizaro’s Pizzeria in Houston, Texas and Rocky and Courtney Shanower, owners of Park Street Pizza in Sugar Creek, Ohio and Bahler Street Pizza mobile kitchen in Austin Texas. We talk shop and Pizza Expo with these leading pizzeria operators.
Apr 14, 2022•17 min•Ep. 96
Send us a text Mini Sessions from Pizza Expo are back with a brand new setup. We kick off Pizza Expo 2022 sessions with two of the leading women pizzeria owners Leah Scurto, PizzaLeah in Windsor, California and Brittany Saxton, 600 Downtown, Bellefontaine, Ohio. Hear about their Expo experiences and what’s happening at their pizzerias.
Apr 07, 2022•18 min•Ep. 95
Send us a text From above the exhibit hall, Jeremy White and Denise Greer share their takeaways from the highly successful Pizza Expo 2022, including pizzeria industry trends from the show floor. Thank you to everyone for making this year a great show.
Mar 31, 2022•17 min•Ep. 94
Send us a text It’s Pizza Expo Week! We’re revisiting one of our favorite chats with Ken Forkish, the man behind Ken’s Artisan Bakery and Ken’s Artisan Pizza in Portland, Oregon and a keynote speaker at Pizza Expo. We learn more about the James Beard Award winner and a big January announcement. He also dishes on his first two books: Flour Water Salt Yeast and The Elements of Pizza, as well as an upcoming third book. Listen to Ken Forkish on Baking....
Mar 24, 2022•32 min•Ep. 93
Send us a text Jeremy White, Josh Keown and Denise Greer are here to get you ready for Pizza Expo less than week away. Find out their favorite show moments and get insider tips on how to approach the packed schedule of events. For all things Pizza Expo, visit http://PizzaExpo.com .
Mar 17, 2022•29 min•Ep. 92
Send us a text Veteran pizzeria owners Jennifer Morales and Phoebe Reckseit have experienced a lot in their 30+ years in pizza business at Pizza Girls in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. On this episode, we talk words of wisdom, employees, closing a location and what’s next for the Pizza Girls.
Mar 10, 2022•30 min•Ep. 91
Send us a text This week, our guest is Eric Rickman of Wholly Stromboli in Fort Lupton, Colorado. We talk overcoming obstacles, husband and wife business roles, expansion plans and employee strategies. Eric will join us as a panelist on an Overcoming Obstacles session on Wednesday, March 23 at Pizza Expo. More details at pizzaexpo.com.
Mar 03, 2022•33 min•Ep. 90
Send us a text This week, we explore the interworking of building a family business from food truck to brick-and-mortar and beyond. Lasonia’s idea to sell Jay’s family night pizzas has turned into the flourishing Triple Jay’s Pizza in Atlanta, Georgia. Also see how they’ve reached TikTok acclaim.
Feb 24, 2022•44 min•Ep. 89
Send us a text This week we dive into Juan Perez’s passion for pizza making. Juan is executive chef at Posto in Boston. He has reached millions of viewers on TikTok and Instagram. Find out how he does it. Also learn how Juan manages and trains pizza makers at Posto and the pizza he grew up on in Columbia. Check out his social: https://www.instagram.com/juangpizza/ https://www.tiktok.com/@juangpizza...
Feb 17, 2022•40 min•Ep. 88
Send us a text 87. Getting Real on Labor & Pricing Bruno Zacchini, owner of Pizza Bruno in Orlando, Florida, is on the show this week. He shares the reality of labor and menu pricing and how it’s impacting his pizzeria. Big things are also ahead as he plans to add a second location.
Feb 10, 2022•38 min•Ep. 87
Send us a text Rocky Shanower is a visionary restaurateur and a keynote speaker at Pizza Expo 2022. We chat about new directions with his two concepts, Park Street Pizza and Bahler Street mobile catering. He’s devised some new strategies for retaining employees and they are working at his Sugar Creek, Ohio pizzeria.
Feb 03, 2022•33 min•Ep. 86
