Leo Spizzirri and Brian Hernandez Talk Pizza

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Brian Hernandez sits down with Leo Spizzirri in the Chef’s Corner and gets a rundown on what it takes to be a successful chef, pizza maker and consultant in the industry.

In this seminar Chef, Leo explains how he grew up in Chicago on Harlem Avenue. He explains that across the street from where he grew up was a neighborhood pizzeria. The summer breezes would waft toward his house bringing along the incredible smells of pizza. This was his number one memory and such an incredible experience.

Chef Leo started his pizza journey with a lot of dishwashing and floor mopping in the early days. He relates that many of his friends in the pizza industry started out the same way. you need to pay your dues if you want to make pizza. Or as the great David Bromberg relates: “You got to suffer if you want to sing the blues”. The same can be said about pizza. You need to pay your dues a bit to master the art of pizza.

One of the shockers of this interview is the fact that Chef Leo never owned his own pizzeria. He is content to work other operations. He wants to help make pizza. He is enthusiastic about helping to develop the concept. His goal is to make pizza as well as show others how to make pizza.

While the pizza was always number one for Chef Leo. He was more interested in looking at the big picture. He was more excited about watching and being part of the large pizza operation. He wanted to help integrate the back of the house and was content to make sure the operations always ran consistently.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”2810″ img_size=”large” title=”Mark Dym, Peter Reinhart, Chef Leo Spizzirri and Jonathan Goldsmith at Pizza Expo”][vc_column_text]Chef Leo was asked about what are some of the greatest struggles faced by someone wanting to get into the pizza business. He started a website Ask Leo Pizza to be able to address some of these issues. Leo is very open and forthcoming about all he does and he encourages those wanting to get into the pizza business as well as seasoned veterans to connect with him on his website. 

Here is the interview:

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/VM4S_NEWibk” el_width=”70″ title=”Chef’s Corner: Leo Spizzirri”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I was also able to interview Chef Leo at Pizza Expo.

In this video Chef, Leo Spirrizzi talks about how he wants to pay it forward for anyone who wants to get into the pizza business. Chef Leo is a pizza master and artisan baker. I caught up with Leo at the Forno Bravo booth at Pizza Expo.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/M2kwcF6CMTo” el_width=”70″ title=”Chef Leo at Pizza Expo”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_btn title=”Albert’s Recommended Products ” color=”primary” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fshop%2Fpizzatherapy|title:Albert’s%20Recommended%20Products|target:%20_blank|”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_raw_html]JTNDaWZyYW1lJTIwd2lkdGglM0QlMjcyNTAlMjclMjBoZWlnaHQlM0QlMjczNTAlMjclMjBzcmMlM0QlMjdodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnd3dy5zdW5mcm9nLmNvbSUyRndpZGdldCUyRnNmd2lkZ2V0LmNmbSUzRjQ0NzY3JTI2Y3QlM0QlMjZrZXklM0QlMjZidG4lM0QxJTI2YnRudHh0JTNEQnV5JTIwTm93JTI2Y29sJTNEMTQyODglMjclMjBmcmFtZWJvcmRlciUzRCUyNzAlMjclMjBhbGxvd2Z1bGxzY3JlZW4lMjBzY3JvbGxpbmclM0QlMjdubyUyNyUzRSUzQyUyRmlmcmFtZSUzRQ==[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Vito of Stella’s Pizza Pie Talks Mobile Pizza Business

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Stella's Pizza Pie Oven

Stella’s Pizza Pie Oven

In this video I interview Vito Romani of Vito’s Pizza Pie. Vito is the owner of Stella’s Pizza Pie which is a mobile pizza business. This interview took place at Pizza Expo

Pizza Therapy supports the Pizza ExpoHis pizza business is a catering business and although he is based outside of San Diego, he is able to travel with his pizza business to various locations. Vito has taken his oven up to Northern California. He is able to take his pizza oven anywhere, and is actually a rolling pizza party on Wheels.

“This is a fun family oriented business that really makes me enjoy life.”

Vito explains how he had always loved pizza and wanted to get into the pizza business. This had been a life long dream of his. He had always wanted  to follow the pizza dream.

As with most budding pizza business owners, he started first by researching. He consumed all he could about the pizza business. He looked at buying a pizza business and also more importantly  running a pizza business. He spent months finding all the answers to his questions. He felt he had a great knowledge base….he was ready.

One of the first learning experiences for pizza was to attend The Fire Within Pizza University.

Fire Within

Fire Within

Vito explained that he learned more at the Fire Within than he had learned in all those months of trying to learn on his own. He was able to purchase his oven directly from The Fire Within. The oven is made by Forno Bravo

Stella' Pizza Pie Oven with Pizzas

Stella’ Pizza Pie Oven with Pizzas

The best thing about Vito’s pizza operation is that he can go anywhere to cater events. From Farmer’s Markets, to weddings, to private parties and even corporate events, he is ready to bring his pizza restaurant on wheels. Guests are able to see the pizza being made and are able to interact with his and his staff. The oven is the focal point for the entire operation. The pizzas that come out speak for the business creating an edible calling card and promotion.

As you can imagine there is quite a bit of work in preparing the ingredients and dough, setting everything up as well as taking everything down at the end of the day. At the event itself, he explains it is well worth it.

Vito and Peter Reinhart

Vito and Peter Reinhart

[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/0Tkm3jE4zho” title=”Vito of Stella’s Pizza Pie Interview”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_images_carousel images=”2617,2616,2614,2615,2613,2611″ title=”Stella Pizza Pics (Click On Image)”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]For more information contact:

Find out more about Pizza Expo at:
http://pizzaexpo.com
The Fire Within:
http://firewithin.com
Forno Bravo
http://fornobravo.com[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_raw_html]JTNDcCUzRSUzQ2lmcmFtZSUyMHdpZHRoJTNEJTI3MjUwJTI3JTIwaGVpZ2h0JTNEJTI3MzUwJTI3JTIwc3JjJTNEJTI3aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cuc3VuZnJvZy5jb20lMkZ3aWRnZXQlMkZzZndpZGdldC5jZm0lM0Y0NDc2NyUyNmN0JTNEJTI2a2V5JTNEJTI2YnRuJTNEMSUyNmJ0bnR4dCUzREJ1eSUyME5vdyUyNmNvbCUzRDE0Mjg4JTI3JTIwZnJhbWVib3JkZXIlM0QlMjcwJTI3JTIwYWxsb3dmdWxsc2NyZWVuJTIwc2Nyb2xsaW5nJTNEJTI3bm8lMjclM0UlM0MlMkZpZnJhbWUlM0UlM0MlMkZwJTNF[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_raw_html]JTNDcCUzRSUzQ3NjcmlwdCUyMHR5cGUlM0QlMjJ0ZXh0JTJGamF2YXNjcmlwdCUyMiUyMHNyYyUzRCUyMmh0dHAlM0ElMkYlMkZ0ZXNsYXRoZW1lcy5jb20lMkZhbWVtYmVyJTJGYiUyRjYyNjJiMDM2MzczNCUyRnBpenphdGhlcmFweSUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRnNjcmlwdCUzRSUzQyUyRnAlM0U=[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]

PizzaQuest.com to Launch December 20

I am very pleased to share the following information with you. This will rock the World of Pizza as we know it!

Hosted by Peter Reinhart, new website serves as a virtual meeting place and resource for people with a passion for pizza and artisan food; site includes webisodes
chronicling the search for America’s great pizzas and pizzaiolos, recipes and video
cooking instructionals, expert guest blogs, and photo galleries

Two years in the making, PizzaQuest.com with Peter Reinhart is set to go live on Monday, December 20, 2010. The website is subtitled “a journey of self-discovery
through pizza,” and that’s exactly what it is, according to host Peter Reinhart,
author of American Pie, My Search for the Perfect Pizza.

“We set out to find the great pizzas and pizzaiolos of America and discovered all
sorts of other amazing artisans, and found ourselves following unexpected paths to
unanticipated adventures. We soon realized that our pizza quest was about a lot more
than pizza,” Reinhart continued.

PizzaQuest.com is a joint venture between Pizza Quest and Forno Bravo, a leading supplier of pizza ovens, pizza stones and pizza-making supplies. “The Internet is
the perfect media to deliver Peter’s passion for pizza and the artisan food
movement,” said James Bairey, Forno Bravo founder and president. “We think
PizzaQuest.com breaks new ground for food lovers everywhere.”

The website features short video episodes or “webisodes,” as producers Jeff Michael
and Brad English call them. “Each week we’ll post a new segment that chronicles our
journey,” said English. “Some will be parts of a larger story arc that may continue
for a number of weeks, and some will be freestanding webisodes, such as our
discovery of an amazing fish taco place in Morro Bay called The Taco Temple.”

Michael added, “Together, the webisodes add up to a documentary that takes Pizza
Quest viewers on the proverbial bus with us.” The webisodes are also being edited
for later use as a 13-part television series, currently in development.

In addition, the site includes a recipe section, with video instructionals,
featuring some of the guest pizzaiolos filmed during the quests. There is also a
guest contributors section with thoughtful essays by invited experts and thought
leaders.

“This site, while it focuses on pizza, is really a celebration of artisans and
artisanship, so the guest essays will cover a broad range of interesting topics,”
noted Reinhart. “I call it the ‘This is what I’ve been thinking about lately’
section, so it will get into the philosophical and metaphorical, as well as the
practical side of the quest.”

Every section of the site is designed for viewer interaction and community building.
PizzaQuest.com is aimed not only at the vast community of people who love pizza, but
also to anyone who loves the adventure of life and the search for excellence.

PizzaQuest.com can be accessed via www.fornobravo.com/pizzaquest or www.pizzaquest.com.

About Pizza Quest
Pizza Quest: a journey of self-discovery through pizza, is a website dedicated to
the exploration of artisanship in all forms, wherever we find it, but especially
through the literal and metaphorical image of pizza. The site features webisodes
chronicling the pizza quest journey, recipes with video instructionals, guest
essays, member blogs and other resources. Peter Reinhart, award-winning cookbook
author and acclaimed baker, serves as narrator and primary host. Visit
www.pizzaquest.com for more information.

About Forno Bravo
Founded in 2003, Forno Bravo is a leading global producer of Italian wood- and
gas-fired pizza ovens for residential and commercial use. Our ovens are made using
state-of-the-art methods and the highest-quality refractory and insulating
materials, and then shipped from our warehouse in Northern California. Visit
www.fornobravo.com for more information.