Staying Hungry

If you think great pizza sells itself, think again. On Staying Hungry, hosts Michael D'Onofrio & Vinny Pappalardo sit down with Anthony Laurino of Phil’s Pizza (Syosset) - the owner who turned a neighborhood pizzeria into a destination brand by treating the internet like his busiest dining room. Smart, fast, and funny, this episode is a playbook for restaurant owners who want lines at the...

Welcome back to Staying Hungry , the podcast where restaurant life gets real. In this episode - “King of the Misfit Toys: A Chef’s Playbook for Chaos” - hosts Michael D’Onofrio and Vinny Pappalardo sit down with award-winning chef, author, and entrepreneur Eric LeVine of 317 Main Street. Known for his no-BS honesty, Chef Eric pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to thrive in hospitality....

In this episode of Staying Hungry, hosts Mike D’Onofrio and Vinny Pappalardo sit down with Salvatore Bono, founder of O.G. Ramen in Babylon, NY. Sal pulls back the curtain on what really goes into America’s food system - and why so many restaurants have traded authenticity and quality for mass production and convenience. From the hidden dangers of seed oils and pre-made soup bases to the art and s...

🎙️ "30 Years. 3 A.M. Wake-ups. And He Still Loves It." Hosted by Michael D'Onofrio & Vinny Pappalardo Guest: Mike Pantano If you've ever asked yourself "How do some restaurant owners stay this fired up after three decades?"-this episode is your answer. This week on Staying Hungry , we sit down with Long Island legend Mike Pantano, the powerhouse behind Pantano’s Gourmet and Pantano’s Doz Bagel...

From graffiti-covered subway cars to fondant-sculpted Louis Vuitton cakes, The Cake Don takes us on a wild ride through reinvention, resilience, and raw hustle. In this episode of Staying Hungry , we sit down with the former shoe company personnel turned fondant phenom to unpack how one favor for a friend sparked a culinary empire - powered by Queens grit and social media savvy. If you're a re...

Welcome to Staying Hungry , where passion meets purpose - plate by plate. In this soul-stirring episode, hosts Mike and Vinny sit down with Jackie from Tula Kitchen, a Bay Shore culinary institution with a deeper mission: to heal through food. What started as a daughter watching her mother save her father’s life with nutrition became a lifelong philosophy and a restaurant unlike any other. From ex...

In this episode of 'Staying Hungry,' hosts Michael D'Onofrio and Vinny Pappalardo sit down with Joey Cioffi, the visionary behind Salad House.  Joey shares his inspiring journey from working in his family's deli to founding a rapidly growing healthy eating franchise. Learn how his Italian immigrant parents' pursuit of the American dream influenced Joey's business philosophy...

In this episode of Staying Hungry, hosts Mike and Vinny sit down with Mark Boccia, a seasoned restaurateur and real estate developer with over 30 years of experience in the Bayside, Queens community.  Known for his popular establishments such as Bourbon Street, Austin’s Ale House, and One Station Plaza, Mark shares his inspiring journey from bussing tables as a teenager to owning multiple successf...

Welcome to another soul-stirring episode of Staying Hungry, where legacy meets lunch and grit gets deep-fried. In Episode 107, hosts Vinny and Mike sit down with the incredible Merrill Zorn, third-generation owner of Zorn’s of Bethpage - a Long Island institution that’s been feeding families (and their nostalgia) for over 85 years. This isn’t just a story about rotisserie chicken. It’s a meditatio...

Welcome to Staying Hungry, the podcast where fire-tested entrepreneurs pull back the curtain on what it really takes to survive, thrive, and stay hungry in today's world. In Episode 106: "30 Years of Steak, Sweat, and Straight Talk," we sit down with Willie Degel - the no-BS restaurant mogul, former TV host, and founder of the iconic Uncle Jack’s Steakhouse - for a raw and unfiltered conversation...

Welcome back to Staying Hungry - where stories of grit, flavor, and the real work behind the hustle come to life. In this episode, Mike and Vinny sit down with Martin Butera, the chef-owner and entrepreneur behind the beloved Long Island staple, Butera’s. From flipping pizzas in the '70s to selling over 30 million chicken meatballs across supermarkets today, Martin unpacks the journey of building...

Step into a world where restaurants aren’t just places to eat, they’re reflections of culture, ambition, and the chaos of creativity. In this episode of Staying Hungry, Mike & Vin sit down with Matthew McBride, Managing Partner at The Parlay Group—the force behind some of Long Island’s most talked-about spots, including Mesita, Salt, ITA Kitchen, The Ainsworth, and Sparrow Kitchen & Cockta...

Welcome back to Staying Hungry, the podcast where ambition meets execution. In this episode, we sit down with a guy who went from selling slices to scaling a brand - Paul Saccoccio, co-founder of The Pizzeria. From a single pizzeria inside a mall at the height of COVID to a multi-location empire with a bar at the center of the experience, Paul shares the gritty realities of building a business fro...

Welcome back to Staying Hungry, where we dive deep into the real, raw business of running a restaurant.  In this episode, Bobby from Vincent’s Clam Bar joins Vinny Pappalardo & Michael D’Onofrio to share the legendary history of Vincent’s, his personal journey from busboy to owner, and the high-stakes reality of keeping a 120-year-old brand thriving. In this episode, we cover: 🍽️ The intensity...

Welcome to the first episode of Staying Hungry, the podcast that takes you behind the swinging doors of the restaurant industry! Think running a restaurant is all about good food and packed tables? Think again. In this pilot episode, hosts Vinny Pappalardo and Michael D’Onofrio of Premier Payroll Solutions break down what it really takes to survive in the restaurant business. From long nights to r...