Monthly Archives: June 2011

Roberto Caporuscio of Keste Pizzeria Discusses Pizza with Pizza Therapy

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In this interview with Roberto Caporuscio of Keste Pizzeria and Vino, he reveals his inspiration for making great pizza.

Roberto explains his original inspiration for pizza was his mentor. Now he is inspired by his cusomers.

From the Keste website here is some history of Roberto:

It was…in Napoli, the birthplace of pizza, that Roberto went to study the art and craft of this culinary delight with the most talented masters of the Neapolitan pizza makers. After training with the best, he opened two successful pizzerias in Pittsburgh, followed by A Mano in Ridgewood, NJ . Each endeavor brought critical acclaim from the culinary industry, as well as the rave reviews and articles in books and magazines.

While I discussed pizza with Roberto, he revealed to me his true inspiration for pizza:

My customers are my inspiration…I want to do better every day for them. Every morning when I wake up I want to do a better job for them.

He also talks about his new pizza school. You can learn the art of pizza making from Roberto and his world reknowned staff.

What I was most impressed when I did this interview was how friendly and happy, Roberto was. He allowed his customers to come right up to him while he was making pizza. He answered all of their questions. He took time for them. He shared all of his knowledge about pizza. And he did it with a smile on his face.

Roberto is truly an inspirational pizzaiolo. A great person, making great pizza. What a combination.

You can get more information about Robert’s Pizza School, here. The school will teach you not only how to make pizza but also how to make mozzarella.

Roberto Caporuscio is a true Legend of Pizza . He has passion and belief. He truly cares about his customers and his pizza.

Keste Pizzeria and Vino
271 Bleecker Street
New York, New York 10014

212-243-1500

Another Pizza from Keste:

Amazing pizza at Keste from Pizza Therapy

A simple pizza from Keste

You can watch  Roberto Working Dough, here.

Respectfully submitted,

Albert Grande
The Pizza Promoter

And if you want to get into The Pizza Business, get a copy of the Pizza Business Papers. you can discover all the inside tricks of how to start a pizza business.

Here is another great resource:

The Back Story of Metro Pizza Las Vegas

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Over 40 years ago, in New York, two cousins learned to make pizza at their family pizzeria.

Young John Arena, (12) started working for 50 cents an hour. It was fun but difficult. He worked hard but he began to learn the pizza business.

After a short while he asked his younger cousin Sam Facchini (11) to come by to work as well.

This did not sit well with Uncle Rocky, one of the brothers who owned the pizzeria.

He told John, “I didn’t hire him, you did…so you pay him…”

And John did. He split his 50 cent per hour wage in half. Both he and Sam were now making 25 cents an hour.

Here is the story as explained by Sam:

Years later, Sam and John , would see an ad in an Italian newspaper in New York, describing a pizzeria for sale. The problem was that it was in the desert town of Las Vegas. The year was 1980.

The first day they opened, someone rode up to their shop on horseback and ordered pizza. They knew they were in for a ride!

They struggled at first. Making dough in Las Vegas was very different from making dough in New York. The humidity of the desert air affected the dough process greatly. They experimented and after a short while they perfected their dough.

They have come a long way since those early years and now make award winning pizza. They are both Legends of Pizza.

They have been featured on Entertainment Tonight, guests on Regis and Kathy Lee, and made pizza for Air-Force One.  John and Sam, now host monthly “reservation only” pizza seminars. Metro has received the highest awards in the restaurant industry, including:

  • Top Ten Pizzerias in America- USA Today
  • National Pizzerias Operators of the Year- Pizza Today Magazine
  • Best of Las Vegas- Las Vegas Review-Journal
  • Best Pizza-LV Weekly Magazine
  • Top Pizza  in Las Vegas- Zagat’s Restaurant Review
  • Best in City- aol.com
  • Best Pizza in town- UNLV

They learned their craft well and now make the best pizza in Las Vegas.

Visit Metro at:

1395 East Tropicana Avenue
Las Vegas, Nevada
Tropicana & Maryland Parkway
Phone: (702) 736-1955

Repectfully submitted by:
Albert Grande
The Pizza Promoter




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More Video of Robert Roberto Caporuscio of Keste and Don Antonio Starita of Pizzeria Starita

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I came accross these amazing videos that I felt I needed to share.

Here you can see Roberto Caporuscio of Keste and Don Antonio Starita of Pizzeria Starita demonstrating pizza.

It is fun to watch as Roberto translates for Don Antonio.

In the following video you can see the dough handling technique of Roberto Caporuscio of Keste.

You can see the masterful way the dough is handled. Gently yet deliberately. There is magic in those hands. Roberto is simply an amazing pizzaiolo.

For more pizza adventure, visit:

Pizza Therapy

Albert Grande
The Pizza Promoter


Roberto Caporuscio Legend of Pizza at Keste, in New York

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Roberto Capruscio learned to make pizza from the masters in Naples.

Naples, Italy is the birthplace of pizza. He studied and perfected his craft through years of hard work. He has been rewarded and honored by his ultra successful pizzeria Kest, located at at 271 Bleeker Street, in New York City.

The Keste website describes Robert’s journey:

“Roberto Caporuscio was born and raised on a dairy farm in Pontinia, about an hour’s drive from Napoli where he first developed his culinary skills producing and selling cheese.

It was, however, in Napoli, the birthplace of pizza, that Roberto went to study the art and craft of this culinary delight with the most talented masters of the Neapolitan pizza makers. After training with the best, he opened two successful pizzerias in Pittsburgh, followed by A Mano in Ridgewood, NJ . Each endeavor brought critical acclaim from the culinary industry, as well as the rave reviews and articles in books and magazines.

Two years ago, Chef Roberto became President of APN (Associazione Pizzaiuoli Napoletani) and consultant to a variety of restaurants in Chicago, Denver, St Louis, and Madison – bringing his knowledge, experience and influence to a wider audience.”

i was fortunate to be able to interview Robert recently at the Pizza Expo in Las Vegas. He discusses what it takes to be a legendary pizzaiolo. He talks about his experiences and his training. He also tells why he feels Keste has become so successful.

You can visit:
Keste
271 Bleeker Street
New York

Keste website

Here is something I have in common with Roberto.

We were both featured in Ed Levine’s Book,

Pizza: A Slice of Heaven: The Ultimate Pizza Guide and Companion

Now that is amazing!
Albert Grande
The Pizza Promoter