The Hot Slice Pizza Today

This week, we continue our Pizza Expo Interview Series from the show floor at Pizza Expo. Denise interviews three operators with pizzerias doing business in California. Check out these Golden State pizza pros:
 
Zak Fishman from Prime Pizza. The pizza company has seven locations in Los Angeles, California. Zak shares how much the LA pizza scene has grown, details Prime’s authentic New York style pizza, why pizza, and growing from one to seven units in 10 years. Learn more about Prime Pizza at https://primepizza.la/ .
 
Philip Adler from Freda’s Pizza. The artisan pizzeria has three locations: Camarillo, West Lake and Moorpark, California. Philip talks food truck beginnings, his background in the restaurant business and his Pizza Expo experience. Learn more about Freda’s at https://www.fredaspizza.com/.
 
Steven Barrantes, is owner/operator at Slice of Homage in San Jose, California. The pizzeria serves up a New York-inspired and Detroit pizza. Steven lets us in on the pizza scene in San Jose, what brought him into the pizza business, and his thoughts competing in his first International Pizza Challenge. Learn more about Slice of Homage at https://www.sohpizza.com/
 
Stay tuned as we continue our interviews from Pizza Expo 2024.
 
Check out more news from International Pizza Expo, including pizza competition results, show floor takeaways and happenings in our Pizza Expo News Hub.

This week, we continue our Pizza Expo Interview Series from the show floor at Pizza Expo. Denise interviews operators who are building their businesses and expanding their reach in the pizza industry. They are:
Sofia Arango founded of Atlanta Pizza Truck a catering company in May 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. She has also created a thriving pizza industry community, Latinos En Pizza. She shares how she started both ventures and her vision of sharing stories of Latinos in the pizza industry. Learn more about Atlanta Pizza Truck at https://www.theatlantapizzatruck.com/ and explore more on Latinos En Pizza at https://www.latinosenpizza.org/ 
Jonathan Fell and Zachary Black operate Jason’s New York Style Pizza in Bangor, Maine. The couple details the three-location’s model and its focus on carryout. Johnathan shares the story of his family business as a second-generation operator. Learn more about Jason’s at https://jasonsnypizza.com/.
Enrico and Cira Aguila own Uncle Rico’s Pizza, an old-school mom and pop pizzeria in Fort Myers, Florida. We talk concept and pizza style. We also chat about getting national press for best pizza and what comes with that. Learn more about Uncle Rico’s at https://www.unclericospizza239.com/.
Stay tuned as we continue our interviews from Pizza Expo 2024.
Check out more news from International Pizza Expo, including pizza competition results, show floor takeaways and happenings in our Pizza Expo News Hub.

This week, we continue our Pizza Expo Interview Series from the show floor at Pizza Expo. Denise interviews experience multi-unit pizzeria operators: Zach Toth and Chris Brown of Blacksburg, Virginia-based Benny’s Pizza with 32 locations and Jonathan Schroeter from Il Primo Pizza & Wings with seven locations in Southwest Floriday
Benny’s is home of the 28” Virginia Slice. Since the first location opened in Blacksburg, VA, in 2011, the pizza company has grown to 32 locations in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wyoming. Each Benny’s has a unique name. The original is Benny Marzano. We talk about growing the business and what Zach and Chris look for in a new location. We also talk pizza industry and Pizza Expo. Learn more about Benny’s at https://www.bennysva.com/our-story/.
 Il Primo was founded by Paul Conti opened the first Il Primo in Arizona in 1983, growing to three locations. But when Conti relocated to Naples, Florida, he closed the Arizona stores and opened his concept in Southeast Florida in 1999. He grow Il Primo to six locations. Director of Operations Jonathan Schroeter continues that charge. Jonathan shares the growing pains of operating multiple restaurants during hurricanes. We talk about how the model has shift from large footprint dining to more carryout and delivery. We talk about Pizza Today’s visit to Il Primo in 2020 and Pizza Expo. Learn more about Il Primo at https://ilprimopizza.com/
Stay tuned as we continue our interviews from Pizza Expo 2024.
 Check out more news from International Pizza Expo, including pizza competition results, show floor takeaways and happenings in our Pizza Expo News Hub.

The Hot Slice with Pizza Today marks its 200th episode with a special episode. Listen as we look back some of our favorite episodes, talk about how the podcast has evolved and what to expect moving forward.
Who is your wish list guest that you would like for us to have on the show? Let us know. 
If you would like to be a guest on The Hot Slice Podcast, reach out to Executive Editor Denise Greer dgreer@pizzatoday.com. 
Now let’s explore some of the episodes, Josh, Denise and Jeremy mentioned on the show:
Meet the Pizza Today Podcast Team: Episode 1
 S2E7 Pizza Champion Ali Haider gives the pizza tribe a much-needed pep talk
S3E2 Jeff Smokevitch on Detroit-Style Pizza
S3E10: Cup of Joe — Joe Fugere, Tutta Bella Neapolitan Pizzeria, Seattle, WA
S4E7 Maggie Mieles: Growing Up in the Legendary Di Fara Pizza
72. Science of Pizza Dough and Positivity with Derek Sanchez
108. On Deck with Chris Decker
113. Tony Gemignani on Pizzeria of the Year
116. Pizza Today Mail Bag
118. The Creative and Entertaining John Gutekanst
129: A 3-Month Waitlist on Pizza Orders! How?
137. The Brilliant Sarah Minnick of Lovely’s Fifty Fifty
142. A Pizza Destination on Route 66
173. Catching Up with Pizza Man Dan Collier

This week, we continue our Pizza Expo Interview Series from the show floor at Pizza Expo. Denise spends some time with women who are in the mobile pizzeria business to get their perspective on business, mobile clientele, the pizza industry and Pizza Expo.
Gina and Betsy Wolfe own the upstart Wolfe It Down Pizza in Princeton, Iowa. Gina is retiring this month, so the couple’s new pizza mobile unit will debut at an event in May. We learn all about how this mobile unit is getting off the ground.
Colleen Constant and husband and Chef Isaiah Ruffin own Project Pizza in Seattle, Washington. The food truck relocated from Colorado. We talk with Colleen about business growth plans and learn more about their food literacy nonprofit organization. Explore more about Project Pizza at https://www.projectpizzaco.org/.
Linda and Abby Ortegas, owners of Fired Up Fresh in Watsonville, California, give us an update on what’s happening with the business and the rebranding process they are currently going through. Learn more about Fired Up Fresh at https://www.firedupfresh.net/.
Stay tuned as we continue our interviews from Pizza Expo 2024.
Check out more news from International Pizza Expo, including pizza competition results, show floor takeaways and happenings in our Pizza Expo News Hub: https://pizzatoday.com/topics/industry-news/pizza-expo-2024-all-news-from-the-worlds-largest-pizza-show/

Belfast, Ireland Pizza Scene began with John Arena
We’re back from Pizza Expo in Las Vegas with story after story from pizzeria operators. For the next several episodes of The Hot Slice, we will take you back to the Pizza Today booth to listen to interviews with pizzeria operators from around the country and the world.
We kick off the first episode with a unique tie-in to Pizza Expo’s Opening Keynote Speaker John Arena. Denise sat down with Ciaran Kelly, owner of Pizza Guyz in Belfast, Ireland. He shares the story of how pizza first made its footprint in Belfast. John Arena played a major role in Belfast’s first pizzeria. Listen to Ciaran tell the story.
With over 20 years in the pizza industry, Ciaran also share insights on pizza in Ireland and how operating a pizzeria on the front lines during turbulent times helped bring a divided community together
Ciaran also made his debut in the International Pizza Challenge. He details that experience and what keeps him coming back to Pizza Expo.
Learn more about Pizza Guyz at https://www.pizzaguyz.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/pizzaguyzbelfast
Check out more news from International Pizza Expo, including pizza competition results, show floor takeaways and happenings in our Pizza Expo News Hub: https://pizzatoday.com/topics/industry-news/pizza-expo-2024-all-news-from-the-worlds-largest-pizza-show/