What's Good Dough?

What's Good Dough
  • 5.0 (103)
  • Food
  • Updated Weekly

I quit my job for pizza. Should you? My name is Eidref Laxa and I am a Mobile Caterer, Ooni Ambassador, and Pan Pizza Champion. Pizza changed my life. I'm guessing that if you're here, it's already changed yours. I started this podcast to learn about pizza and starting a pizzeria. I’m not ready to open a brick and mortar just yet, but I’m still obsessed with learning from pizza operators. Because one day, I just might. I'm just busy doing other things first.

  1. Sep 28

    He Sold 800k Pizzas on DoorDash. Did He Actually Make Money?

    What happens when a pizza business gets too big for the systems that got it there? Eidref sits down with Marc from Square Pie Guys to talk about what happens when a pizza business really starts to scale. From selling more than 800,000 pizzas on DoorDash to opening multiple locations, Marc shares the expensive lessons, growing pains, maintenance issues, and the challenge of relying on third-party delivery apps while building a stronger direct relationship with customers. Highlights: 0:00 – From Pop-Up to 800,000+ Pizzas on DoorDash 1:32 – Making the Iconic Square Pie Guys Pizza 2:18 – Over 1 Million Pizzas Sold 2:48 – The Reality of Growing a Multi-Million-Dollar Business 3:20 – When Growth Means Taking on Too Much 3:49 – Finding a Way Forward After Expanding Too Quickly 4:00 – Why Problems Multiply as You Add More Locations 4:35 – The $500 Maintenance Check That Can Prevent a $20K Bill 5:32 – How Fearlessness Can Drive Business Growth 5:59 – The Cheese Behind Square Pie Guys’ Pizza 6:32 – How Third-Party Apps Influence Pizza Pricing 7:46 – Can Square Pie Guys Ever Get Off Delivery Apps? 8:00 – Building Direct Customer Relationships 8:10 – Why Content Marketing Could Reduce Dependence on Delivery Apps 8:30 – Why Customers Ordering Direct Can Help Restaurants Follow them: https://www.squarepieguys.com/ https://instagram.com/squarepieguys https://www.facebook.com/squarepieguys/ https://www.tiktok.com/@squarepieguys?lang=en https://www.reddit.com/r/SquarePieGuys/ Thank you to our show sponsors: Bacio Cheese: https://bit.ly/3FmQ3up Corto: https://bit.ly/457DNII Patreon Page: patreon.com/whatsgooddough DM @whatsgooddoughhttps://www.instagram.com/whatsgooddough/ email me: claire@whatsgooddough.com Topics:  Square Pie Guys, Marc, Eidref, What’s Good Dough, Square Pie Guys pizza, Bay Area pizza, San Francisco pizza, Walnut Creek pizza, Palo Alto pizza, square pizza, Detroit style pizza, pizza business, pizza restaurant, pizzeria business, pizza entrepreneurship, restaurant growth, restaurant scaling, scaling a pizza business, restaurant expansion, third party delivery apps, DoorDash pizza, restaurant delivery, direct ordering, restaurant marketing, content marketing for restaurants, pizza marketing, restaurant operations, restaurant maintenance, restaurant profitability, pizza business growth, pizzeria owner, restaurant owner, food business, independent pizzeria, pizza industry

  2. Sep 14

    Booked a $10k Wedding. Practiced By Making Pizza For 200 People

    What Does It Really Take to Land High-Paying Pizza Catering Clients?In this episode, Eidref breaks down one of his toughest catering events, what he learned from serving 176 people, and why he’s decided to step away from catering to focus on building a media company.Highlights: 0:52 – The Catering Event That Didn’t Go as Planned1:30 – Why a “Bad” Catering Gig Can Still Be a Win1:38 – What Serving 176 People Taught Him2:10 – Why the Next 100-Person Event Feels Easier2:17 – Bringing in Extra Hands for a Smoother Service2:28 – How Experience Builds Confidence2:36 – How to Land Higher-Paying Catering Clients2:58 – From $40 Per Person to $75 Per Person3:12 – Why Your Pizza Brand Can Help You Charge More3:24 – Building a Pizza Brand on Instagram3:43 – Why Your Pizza Has to Look Good AND Deliver3:54 – Starting Small to Build Confidence & Content4:14 – Believing in Your Product4:35 – Knowing When Your Pizza Is Good Enough to Sell4:48 – Why This Might Be His Last Catering Gig4:52 – Choosing a Media Company Over Catering5:27 – The Real Cost of Taking on More Catering Jobs5:59 – Why You Can’t Give 100% to Two Growing Businesses6:06 – Saying No to a $100-Person Catering Gig6:14 – Focus Means Eliminating Options6:34 – Choosing the Bigger Long-Term Goal7:12 – What Eidref Wants You to Take From the Journey8:19 – Was This His Smoothest Catering Event?8:30 – Learning From a Tough Catering Gig8:57 – What Serving 176 People Taught Him9:03 – Why the Next 100-Person Catering Will Be Easier9:12 – Why He’s Bringing a Fourth Person9:40 – Feeling Confident Going Into the Next Event9:58 – How to Land Higher-Paying Catering Clients10:04 – How Much He Charges for Catering10:39 – Investing in Your Pizza Brand10:51 – Why a Strong Instagram Presence Can Help You Charge More11:21 – Why Experience Builds Confidence11:32 – Believing in Your Pizza Product12:03 – Why He’s Quitting Catering12:16 – Building a Media Company12:23 – The Real Cost of Taking on More Catering Jobs Thank you to our show sponsors:Ooni Link: https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=77074&awinaffid=1800006Bacio Cheese:https://bit.ly/3FmQ3upJoin my Instagram Community Channel: https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbbWnReTYIlCfO21/Patreon Page: patreon.com/whatsgooddoughDM @whatsgooddoughhttps://www.instagram.com/whatsgooddough/email me: claire@whatsgooddough.comTopics: pizza catering, pizza catering business, pizza catering tips, pizza catering pricing, catering business, catering clients, high-paying catering clients, pizza business, pizza brand, pizza marketing, Instagram pizza marketing, pizza influencer, food influencer, personal branding, catering business growth, pizza business growth, catering event tips, catering experience, catering confidence, pizza entrepreneur, food business, restaurant business, small business growth, entrepreneurship, business mindset, knowing when to say no, business focus, building a media company, What’s Good Dough, Eidref

  3. Aug 24

    This Tiny Kitchen Sells Out at 500 Pizzas (Frank's Pizza And Pasta Baltimore MD)

    What happens when a 41-year-old pizza shop suddenly goes viral and its tiny kitchen can barely keep up? In this episode, Eidref sits down with Gerry Buontempo of Frank’s Pizza & Pasta in Baltimore to talk about the family business, upgrading their pizza, handling explosive growth, and keeping the old-school feel that made the shop special.  Highlights:  00:52 – Taking Over a Family Pizzeria During COVID  01:51 – The Bell Curve of a Multi-Generational Business  03:02 – Losing Their Pizza Guy & Stepping Into the Role  03:52 – Learning Baker’s Percentages & Rebuilding the Dough  05:41 – Best Product + Best Known = An Unstoppable Force  06:52 – When Growth Outpaced 40-Year-Old Equipment  07:24 – Finally Getting the Lease & Planning a Massive Kitchen Upgrade  08:02 – How Operators Can Create a New Growth Curve  09:46 – Doing 150 Pizzas an Hour With a Tiny Kitchen  10:46 – The Choreography Behind a High-Volume Pizzeria  11:25 – Four-to-Five-Day Dough Fermentation  12:06 – Keeping the Sauce Simple  13:05 – Why Pizza Expo Changed Everything  14:32 – The Unspoken Brotherhood of Pizza Competitions  16:32 – Pizza Karma & Helping Other Competitors  17:06 – Their Award-Winning Margherita  18:08 – Working With Six-Day-Old Dough  19:13 – Why There’s No Such Thing as the “Best” Dough  20:20 – How Pizza Became a Turning Point in Life  22:49 – Carrying on a Family Legacy Through Pizza  24:56 – What Actually Defines Success?  25:33 – Turning Instagram Followers Into Real Sales  26:34 – Recognizing the Signs That You’re on the Right Path  28:06 – Why You Need to Take Inventory of Your Progress  28:53 – Fresh Mozzarella & Respecting the Craft  29:28 – How Small Improvements Compound Over Time  30:25 – The Instagram Strategy: Be the Best Known  31:20 – The Science Behind a Consistent Crispy Bake  32:21 – Water, Time & Temperature: The Pizza “Dance”  34:40 – Why the Micro Details Matter  36:40 – Where Most Pizza Makers Cut Corners  37:09 – The Operators Who Obsess Over Standards  38:27 – “Inspect What You Expect”  39:12 – “What You Permit Is What You Promote”  40:26 – Why You Have to Be Obsessed With What You Do  41:01 – Finding the Work That Gives You More Than Money  43:15 – What’s Good Dough?  44:13 – Feeding People, Making Connections & Building Community  Follow them:  https://frankspizzaandpasta.com/  https://www.facebook.com/frankspizzaandpasta  Frank's Pizza & Pasta (@frankspizzaandpasta) • Instagram profile  Thank you to our show sponsors:  Bacio Cheese: https://bit.ly/3FmQ3up  Corto: https://bit.ly/457DNII DM @whatsgooddough https://www.instagram.com/whatsgooddough/  email me: claire@whatsgooddough.com Topics:  Frank’s Pizza and Pasta, Frank’s Pizza Baltimore, Jerry Von Tempo, Baltimore pizza, Baltimore pizzeria, old school pizzeria, family owned pizza shop, multi generational restaurant, 41 year old pizzeria, pizza business growth, pizza shop viral review, Dave Portnoy pizza review, pizza restaurant success, pizza Expo, pizza dough, bakers percentages, pizza kitchen bottleneck, restaurant equipment upgrade, pizzeria kitchen renovation, high volume pizza shop, cheese pizza, Bacio mozzarella, buffalo mozzarella, pizza business social media, Instagram restaurant marketing, pizza marketing strategy, family restaurant business, pizza entrepreneur, pizza industry, restaurant growth, pizza podcast, What’s Good Dough podcast, Eidref podcast, Baltimore food scene, independent pizzeria, restaurant community, pizza business strategy

  4. Aug 14

    The Best San Jose Pizzeria Yet To Be Discovered (The Last Round Tavern)

    What makes a tavern-style pizza stand out—and what does it take to build a pizzeria that can grow beyond the owner? In this episode, Eidref visits Last Round Tavern in San Jose and sits down with owner Caleb Orozco to talk about the unique pizza style he's bringing to the Bay Area.Their tavern-style pizza is thin, crispy, cut into squares, and loaded with ingredients all the way to the edge—but instead of the traditional cornmeal, Caleb uses a sourdough starter. The result is a pizza that's familiar, but completely its own thing. Highlights: 0:00 – Discovering San Jose’s Hidden Tavern-Style Pizza 0:32 – What Makes Last Round Tavern’s Pizza Different 1:00 – Sourdough Meets Chicago Tavern-Style Pizza 1:52 – Rolling, Stretching & Building the Dough 2:24 – The Cuban Pizza: Braised Pork, Ham & Salami 3:07 – 15-Hour Wine-Braised Brisket 3:33 – Building a Taco-Inspired Pizza 3:45 – What Would Caleb Tell His 26-Year-Old Self? 4:20 – Learning to Step Away From the Kitchen 4:50 – Why the Owner Can Become the Biggest Bottleneck 5:00 – Revitalizing East Santa Clara Street 5:35 – Why Last Round Didn’t Offer Online Ordering for Five Years 6:00 – Overcoming Fear & Opening Up to New Opportunities 6:34 – “I Should Have Done This a Long Time Ago” 6:41 – Building a Business That Isn’t Just About the Owner 7:00 – Taking the In-Restaurant Experience Online 7:39 – Creating a Better Online Ordering Experience 8:48 – Tasting the Pizza: The “Hella Texture” Moment 9:30 – The Crunch and Texture They’ve Been Chasing 10:10 – Tasting the 15-Hour Braised Brisket 10:41 – Why They Put So Much Time Into Their Ingredients 10:52 – Creating Something Customers Can’t Find Anywhere Else 11:14 – Final Thoughts: Quality, Value & Doing Something Different Follow them: https://lastroundtavern.com/ https://www.instagram.com/thelastroundsj/ https://www.facebook.com/thelastroundtavern Check out Owner.com: https://bit.ly/3UvMQzy DM @whatsgooddoughhttps://www.instagram.com/whatsgooddough/email me: claire@whatsgooddough.com Topics: Last Round Tavern, Last Round Tavern San Jose, San Jose pizza, tavern style pizza, Chicago tavern style pizza, sourdough tavern pizza, Bay Area pizza, San Jose pizzeria, thin crispy pizza, square cut pizza, sourdough pizza, tavern style pizza California, Cuban pizza, Cuban pork pizza, brisket pizza, taco pizza, wine braised brisket, pizza dough fermentation, pizza business, pizzeria owner, restaurant owner operator, restaurant systems, restaurant bottleneck, online ordering restaurant, restaurant growth, pizza business growth, Bay Area pizzeria, San Jose food scene, pizza entrepreneur, pizza podcast, What’s Good Dough podcast, Eidref podcast, pizza business strategy, independent pizzeria, restaurant marketing, customer experience, pizza industry, artisan pizza, unique pizza concepts

  5. Aug 10

    Let's Make Award Winning Detroit Pizza with White Rabbit Gastro Pub

    How do you build a successful pizzeria, empower your team, and still have a life outside the restaurant?In this episode, Eidref heads to White Rabbit Gastropub in Frederick, Maryland, home of the World Champion Detroit-style pizza and the team behind Rad Pies.The conversation goes way beyond pizza. From developing the famous Crust We Trust to building systems that allow the owner to step away from the day-to-day, this episode digs into restaurant growth, leadership, dough development, customer experience, and the reality of balancing business with family.The team also breaks down how they built their signature 100% hydration dough, experimented their way to better cheese and baking results, eliminated reservations to increase table utilization, and created a culture where employees are empowered to make mistakes and grow.Highlights:2:38 – Welcome to White Rabbit: World Champion Detroit Pizza3:48 – Why Cheese Pizza Is the Ultimate Test6:08 – The Evolution of the White Rabbit Smash Burger6:53 – The Mentor Who Changed Their Restaurant Strategy8:13 – Building Loyalty Through Happy Hour & Word of Mouth9:28 – Adding $1 Million in Sales Without Massive Volume10:08 – Why They Eliminated Reservations12:08 – Building a Bakery & Commissary Kitchen12:38 – The 100% Hydration Dough Behind Crust We Trust14:08 – Creating the Signature Pepperoni-Filled Crust15:38 – The Science Behind Their Cheese Experiments17:18 – Why 100% Hydration Dough Is So Difficult17:58 – Why They Refuse to Compromise on Their Process19:03 – 25-Year-Old Sourdough Starter & Long Fermentation21:18 – Building the Rad Pies Team21:48 – Empowering Managers to Run the Business23:18 – The Goal of an Owner-Absent Restaurant24:38 – Creating the Crispy Bottom on Detroit Pizza31:08 – The “Cheez-It” Theory Behind the Perfect Crust32:38 – Chasing Consistency Without Going Too Dark44:08 – How Small Markets Can Compete With Big Cities45:28 – What Is the “White Rabbit Attitude”?1:01:18 – Can Systems Give You More Freedom?1:01:58 – Is the Juice Worth the Squeeze?1:02:38 – Eidref’s Question: Is It Time to Open a Pizzeria?1:03:38 – Using a Restaurant as a Professional Proving Ground1:07:38 – Building a Business Without Losing Time With Family1:09:38 – The 60-Day Grind Behind Opening Rad Pies1:11:23 – Learning Every System by Doing It Yourself1:15:08 – Final Advice: Listen, Adapt & Don’t Be Afraid to Change1:16:38 – Why Pizza Brings People Together1:17:38 – The Power of Relationships in the Pizza IndustryFollow them:https://www.instagram.com/radpiesmd/?hl=enThank you to our show sponsors:Bacio Cheese:https://bit.ly/3FmQ3upCorto:https://bit.ly/457DNIIDM @whatsgooddoughhttps://www.instagram.com/whatsgooddough/email me: claire@whatsgooddough.comTopic:detroit style pizza, maryland pizza, rad pies md, best pizza in maryland, maryland food, pizza review, detroit style pizza maryland, rad pies, maryland hidden gems, award winning pizza, pizza vlogger, best pizza md

  6. Jul 26

    Is This The Best Detroit Style Pizza In All of Maryland? (Rad Pies MD)

    In this episode of What's Good Dough, we head to Rad Pies in Maryland to see if their Detroit-style pizza lives up to the hype. Known for that signature crispy cheese crust and airy dough, we’re putting their pies to the ultimate test.Highlights:00:07 — White Rabbit / Rad Pies intro & the accidental pepperoni frico crust00:40 — The 100% hydration dough01:04 — 25-year-old starter & 19-hour ambient fermentation02:03 — Why pro pizza makers avoid 100% hydration02:20 — Building the Detroit: killing the gum line & cupping-pepperoni walls02:59 — How the pepperoni frico creates the "glass"03:13 — Tasting: Maryland crab pizza03:40 — Tasting: the smash burger (20,000 a year)03:57 — Tasting: chicken cutlet (pesto & vodka sauce)04:16 — Tasting: Cheese pizza (best showcase of the dough)04:41 — Tasting: broccoli-lemon-ricotta white pizza ("Martha Stewart's prison pizza")05:05 — Running the business: why great food needs great operations05:25 — Letting staff fail, buying out the partner & +$1M in sales06:33 — Happy hour philosophy: converting guests to full-price entréesFollow them:https://www.instagram.com/radpiesmd/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/whiterabbitgastropubThank you to our show sponsors:Bacio Cheese:https://bit.ly/3FmQ3upDM @whatsgooddoughhttps://www.instagram.com/whatsgooddough/email me: claire@whatsgooddough.comTopic:detroit style pizza, maryland pizza, rad pies md, best pizza in maryland, maryland food, pizza review, detroit style pizza maryland, rad pies, maryland hidden gems, award winning pizza, pizza vlogger, best pizza md

  7. Jul 19

    How a Failed Pizzeria Owner Built a Pizza Oven Empire

    What makes this the "Ferrari" of pizza ovens? In this episode, we go inside the Marra Forni factory to see how the "Ferrari" of brick ovens is built. Founder Francesco Marra share powerful story of moving to America with nothing, facing a major restaurant failure, and eventually building a global business that ships to 37 countries. We also dive into the tech that can double or triple a restaurant's revenue. Highlights: 00:52 – Intro: The Ferrari of Pizza Ovens 01:32 – Inside the Factory: Building Brick by Brick 02:42 – From Failed Pizzeria to Pizza University 04:02 – Static vs. Rotator: Which Oven Doubles Revenue? 05:55 – The Art of the Bake: Maximizing Deck Space 06:54 – History & Consistency: Learning from Pompeii 08:34 – The Business of Marra Forni: 600 Ovens a Year 09:15 – The Rise of High-Performance Electric Ovens 10:14 – Francesco’s 5 P’s for Building a Great Business Follow them: https://marraforni.com/ https://www.instagram.com/marraforni/?hl=en Thank you to our show sponsors: Bacio Cheese:https://bit.ly/3FmQ3up Corto:https://bit.ly/457DNII Join my Instagram Community Channel: https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbbWnReTYIlCfO21/ Patreon Page: patreon.com/whatsgooddough DM @whatsgooddoughhttps://www.instagram.com/whatsgooddough/email me: claire@whatsgooddough.com Topic:pizza oven, brick oven, Marra Forni, pizzeria revenue, pizza business, commercial oven, wood fired oven, electric pizza oven, pizza equipment, restaurant tech, pizza university, artisanal pizza, pizza industry, restaurant profit, oven factory, pizza manufacturing, rotary oven, authentic pizza, dough consistency, pizza gear, high-volume pizzeria, professional pizza oven, pizza marketing, restaurant operations, bakery equipment

  8. Jun 21

    Inside the SD Pizzeria That Did $3M Their First Year (Odie's Pizza)

    What happens when a pizza shop expects to do $6,000 a day... but ends up doing $16,000? In this episode, Eidref visits Odie's Pizza in San Diego and sits down with founder Odie O’Connor to discuss one of the fastest-growing pizza concepts in Southern California. From building a vegan Detroit-style pizza brand in Portland to launching a surf-inspired sourdough pizza shop that generated over $1 million in its first few months, Odie shares the systems, mindset, and lessons behind scaling a high-volume restaurant. This conversation covers dough production, team building, customer service, expansion plans, and the mental challenges that come with explosive growth. Highlights:00:52 – Crushing Projections: From $6K Days to $16K Days 01:12 – Producing Up to 800 Pizzas Per Day 01:42 – The Dough System Powering High Volume 02:12 – Why Odell Returned to San Diego 02:42 – Building a Surf, Skate & Punk Rock Pizza Brand 03:12 – The Unexpected Explosion in Sales 03:42 – Scaling Without Selling Out 04:12 – Managing a 22-Person Team During Peak Service 04:32 – Redefining What's Possible in a Small Space 04:52 – What Good Dough Means to Odell 05:22 – High Hydration, Long Fermentation & Sourdough 05:52 – Switching From Conveyor Ovens to PizzaMaster Ovens 06:32 – The Hardest Part of Running a High-Volume Restaurant 07:12 – Training Pizza Makers Under Pressure 07:42 – Handling Customer Complaints the Right Way 08:22 – Why Great Customer Service Builds Loyalty 08:52 – Growing From Pop-Up to Food Truck to Brick & Mortar 09:32 – Why Starting Small Matters 09:52 – The Pizza That Defines Odie's 10:22 – Expanding to a Second Location 10:52 – Raising Capital and Scaling the Brand 11:32 – Surpassing First-Year Revenue Goals 12:12 – The Reality of Overnight Success 12:42 – Managing Stress as an Entrepreneur 13:22 – Therapy, Mindset, and Staying Present 14:02 – What If Everything Goes Right? 14:32 – Gratitude, Success, and Building Something You Love Follow them:https://www.instagram.com/propizzamaker/https://www.facebook.com/papaspizzacaborojo/ Thank you to our show sponsors: Bacio Cheese:https://bit.ly/3FmQ3up Corto:https://bit.ly/457DNII Join my Instagram Community Channel: https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbbWnReTYIlCfO21/ Patreon Page: patreon.com/whatsgooddough DM @whatsgooddoughhttps://www.instagram.com/whatsgooddough/email me: claire@whatsgooddough.com Topic: odies pizza, odie's pizza san diego, san diego pizza, sourdough pizza, sourdough pizza shop, pizza business growth, high volume pizzeria, pizza restaurant systems, pizza dough production, pizza master ovens, pizza entrepreneur, pizza shop success story, restaurant scaling, restaurant operations, pizza business podcast, what’s good dough podcast, eidref podcast, surf skate pizza culture, california pizza, pizza startup story, million dollar pizzeria, restaurant leadership, pizza team building, pizza customer service, expanding a pizzeria, restaurant growth strategy, pizza industry insights, opening a second restaurant, successful pizza business, san diego food scene, artisan pizza business, pizza operator mindset

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5
out of 5
103 Ratings

About

I quit my job for pizza. Should you? My name is Eidref Laxa and I am a Mobile Caterer, Ooni Ambassador, and Pan Pizza Champion. Pizza changed my life. I'm guessing that if you're here, it's already changed yours. I started this podcast to learn about pizza and starting a pizzeria. I’m not ready to open a brick and mortar just yet, but I’m still obsessed with learning from pizza operators. Because one day, I just might. I'm just busy doing other things first.

Information

  • Creator
    What's Good Dough
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    378
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © What's Good Dough
  • Show Website
    What's Good Dough?

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