In this episode of That Was Delicious, we sit down with Chris Flanagan and Maya Setton, the dynamic husband-and-wife team behind Grana, a Neapolitan pizzeria in Portland, Oregon. From humble beginnings as a pop-up to becoming one of the top pizza destinations in the U.S., Chris and Maya share their journey in the culinary world. They delve into their passion for authentic pizza-making, the challenges of running a restaurant, and the joy of turning a vision into reality. Listeners will gain insights into the art of Neapolitan pizza, building a successful business, and the power of perseverance in the food industry.   Key Takeaways  

• [00:35] The Start of Grana: Chris and Maya began as a pop-up pizzeria, slowly building a reputation for authentic Neapolitan pizza.
• [10:00] Pizza Journey: Chris’s journey from a small-town upbringing in Oregon to becoming a chef, with his first job in a pizzeria, to opening Grana.
• [14:42] Family-Driven Business: The couple navigated the challenges of entrepreneurship while raising kids and balancing family life.
• [16:42] Neapolitan Pizza Secrets: Chris shares the intricate process of perfecting Neapolitan pizza dough and why temperature and timing are critical.
• [26:45] Las Vegas Pizza Challenge: Chris’s experience competing in the international pizza competition, placing 15th out of 100 competitors.
• [35:00] Vision Board Success: Maya’s story of how they made it onto the prestigious “50 Top Pizza” list and the power of manifesting their dreams.
• [42:20] Staffing Challenges: The importance of building a reliable team and overcoming staffing challenges in the restaurant industry.

  Notable Quotes  

• (12:24) “Every single pizza that comes out of the oven makes me happy. It’s like a growing dough that you shape, and when everything comes together just right—it’s magic.” – Chris
• (22:35) “We built a business during COVID, with two kids at home. It was chaotic, but we figured it out.” – Maya
• (35:05) “We believed in our product and knew it was good, but we just needed our big break—and it came with the ‘50 Top Pizza’ list.” – Maya
• (42:24) “The hardest part was staffing—finding people who believe in what you're doing and want to be a part of it.” – Maya

  Resources:

• Visit the official Grana Pizzeria website
• Follow Grana Pizzeria on Instagram
• Follow Female Foodie on Instagram