The Hot Slice

Send us Fan Mail John Gutekanst owns Avalanche Pizza and Slice House in Athens, Ohio, a contributor with Pizza Today, Emcee at the International Pizza Challenge and frequent demo and seminar presenter. We talk keynote, competitions, bread baking, ancient grains and pizza creativity.

Send us Fan Mail Just before the pandemic, Woody’s Wood Fired Pizza in Golden, Colorado, invested in a repurposed shipping container turned carryout and delivery addition to its high-volume pizzeria. We talked to owner Jon Bortle about how the container along with a strong waste management program have earned Woody’s bottom line benefits and sustainability awards. We dive into several aspects of W...

Send us Fan Mail Moto in Seattle, Washington has a three-month waitlist on pizza orders. That’s right, 3 MONTHS! We talk to owner Lee Kindell on this phenomenon and how he set up the business with an order-ahead approach. But, Moto is growing, will order ahead work at the new locations? Don’t miss this conversation on innovation and ingenuity.

Send us Fan Mail Happy Thanksgiving! Kick back and lounge after all that turkey and stuffing with a replay of a favorite episode with our 2022 Pizzeria of the Year owner and world-renowned pizza restaurateur Tony Gemignani. We talk 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.

Send us Fan Mail We continue The Hot Slice Podcast straight from the Pizza & Pasta Northeast show floor at the Atlantic City Convention Center. We interview pizzeria pros who are working to make a name for themselves in the pizzeria industry. Listen to Shaun Porter of Lou Delgrego’s Italian Diner in Woodsville, New Hampshire and Megan Rakebrandt of Zoni’s Brooklyn Brick Pizzeria in Middletown,...

Send us Fan Mail We continue The Hot Slice Podcast straight from the Pizza & Pasta Northeast show floor at the Atlantic City Convention Center. We interview pizzeria pros looking to advance their businesses and the industry. We chat with David Whiskers of B.C. Pizza headquartered in Boyne City, Michigan and George and Patti Taylor of Taylor’s Pizza House in Endicott, New York.

Send us Fan Mail Straight from the Pizza & Pasta Northeast show floor at the Atlantic City Convention Center, we interview pizzeria owners from two spots that are doing things differently and it’s paying off. Listen to Jimmy Casapizzaiolo from Casa Pizzeria in Ludlow, Massachusetts, just moments before he won the Traditional Division of the Best of the Northeast Pizza Competition. Mario Paula,...

Send us Fan Mail We tap pizza industry veterans Scott Anthony, owner of Punxsy Pizza in Punxsutawney, PA, and pizza champion Eric Von Hansen, Executive Regional Chef at Caliente Pizza and Draft House in Pittsburgh, PA, to find out the pulse of Pizza & Pasta Northeast from the show floor at the Atlantic City Convention Center. We’re also talking business, operations and competing.

Send us Fan Mail Jeremy White and Denise Greer are roaming the Pizza & Pasta Northeast show floor talking pizza industry trends and key takeaways from the show. Hear about what’s trending in menu items and toppings, equipment and technology at the Atlantic City trade show that took place Oct 16-17.

Send us Fan Mail As Organ Stop Pizza in Mesa, AZ, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, it is one of the last remaining pizzerias featuring a massive theatre pipe organ. Its Mighty Wurlitzer is the largest in the world. We chat with co-owner Jack Barz to find out what has kept the destination pizzeria a lasting success. Don’t forget to read Jack Barz Conversation in the latest Pizza Today: ht...

Send us Fan Mail Joe and Jordan Hagy loved feeding their friends at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, so much that after graduation their dad Ralph joined them to open La Famiglia. The restaurant has taken a slow and steady approach to growing the business that today includes a satellite location at the university’s student center. Listen as they share how the Calabrian family brou...

Send us Fan Mail We sit down with Bill Oakley, longtime Show Director for International Pizza Expo as well as the Pizza & Pasta Northeast Show. Bill dishes on the happenings at next month's PPNE Show in Atlantic City. From the strong attendance numbers to the blockbuster lineup of seminars and demonstrations, Bill says this event is shaping up to be another winner.

Send us Fan Mail Mike Bausch, owner of Andolini’s Pizzeria in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is a favorite speaker. We talk Pizza & Pasta Northeast. He gets real about online ordering and the current climate in the industry and what you should be doing in your shop. Show Notes: There’s still time to sign up for his workshop: W03 Maximizing Online Ordering ($250) on Monday, October 17 from 9:00 am to 11:30 a...

Send us Fan Mail John Gutekanst will be a keynote speaker at Pizza and Pasta Northeast in October. He owns Avalanche Pizza and Slice House in Athens, Ohio, a contributor with Pizza Today, Emcee at the International Pizza Challenge and frequent demo and seminar presenter. We talk keynote, competitions, bread baking, ancient grains and pizza creativity. Show Notes: Don’t miss John Gutekanst at Pizza...

Send us Fan Mail Davide Lubrano and Vinny Gallagher opened Pizzata Pizzeria in Philly with their own version of New York style during the height of the pandemic. A few short years later, they are rolling out a Roman style slice shop in Naples, Florida. Learn more about their styles, sourdough starters, employee management style and startup story. Show Notes: Don’t forget to check out the National...

Send us Fan Mail This week, we’re answering Pizza Today readers' burning questions. We talk National Pizza Month, busiest pizza sales days, oven choices for a first-time pizzeria owners, future growth and the next big pizza style trend to break. We also learn Editor In Chief Jeremy White’s true feeling towards St. Louis-style pizza. If you have a question for the Pizza Today team, e-mail jwhi...

Send us Fan Mail 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: La...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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-...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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 Northeas...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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.

Send us Fan Mail 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 toppin...