If you grew up in an Italian family, you know Sunday dinner isn't just a meal, it's an experience. Food keeps coming, love is served by the plateful, and denying a second helping gets you a look you’ll never forget. That’s the exact feeling of warmth, tradition, and non-stop passion we’re diving into on today’s episode ❤️🇮🇹!

I’m sitting down with my friend Jerry Carollo, the force behind Prima Pizza Kitchen in Somerville, New Jersey 🍕.

Jerry and I actually met over an unforgettable family-style dinner, and speaking with him felt like looking in a mirror. Like me, Jerry literally grew up in the pizza business. At just eight years old, he was standing on a milk crate behind his family's cash register, learning math on the fly 💸. By fourteen, his dad threw him straight into the fire, making pies from scratch during a chaotic Friday night rush.

We talk about everything from balancing 20 years in nightlife alongside the pizzeria to the tactical decision to sell his family's original shop just so his hardworking dad would finally step back and enjoy retirement. Now, seven years into Prima Pizza Kitchen, Jerry is crafting old-school, well-done crispy crusts while pioneering next-level specialty pies like the Drunken Grandma, Vodka Stracciatella, and the award-winning Champlain. Beyond the dough, his heart for the community, especially his work teaching pizza-making to individuals with special needs, is what makes his story truly special 🙌🏽.

🎧 Grab a slice, settle in, and listen to a real Jersey legacy story!

🎙 Episode Highlights

✅ 00:00 – The Sunday Dinner Ritual: Erica and Jerry reminisce about endless Italian family dinners and the rule about never turning down food.

✅ 02:41 – The Milk Crate Days: Standing on a crate at age 8, learning mental math, and growing up inside Joe's Pizza.

✅ 05:18 – Thrown in the Fire: The Friday night Jerry’s dad forced him to make pies from scratch during the rush hour peak.

✅ 07:30 – Dough & Disco: Juggling two decades in club nightlife promotion while keeping one foot in the pizzeria.

✅ 09:00 – Passing the Torch: Selling the family business so his dad would actually retire, leading to the birth of Prima Pizza Kitchen.

✅ 13:30 – The Art of the Crunch: Why high-end ingredients, house-made prep, and a thin, well-done bake make all the difference.

✅ 15:55 – Beyond Pepperoni: The story behind their signature gourmet pies, including the award-winning Champlain.

✅ 24:14 – Old-School Service vs. Online Reviews: Why direct communication matters more than a bad Yelp review.

✅ 29:35 – More Than Pizza: Giving back to the local special-needs community through hands-on pizza-making programs.

🍕 Connect with Prima Pizza Kitchen:

Instagram: @primapizzakitchen

Facebook: Prima Pizza Kitchen (Somerville, NJ)

Order Direct: Call in to chat with their team or find them on Slice, DoorDash, Grubhub, & Uber Eats!

🍕🇮🇹 About the Podcast

Step behind the counter and into the craft with the people who turned a passion for pizza into a lifestyle. We're sharing the untold stories, deep-rooted traditions, and authentic history behind the best pies in the world, one slice at a time.

🎧 Don't forget to like, subscribe, and drop a comment below with your favorite style of pizza ♥️!

Website: https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/ 

Substack: https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/ 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza 

A Story About Pizza Book: https://www.amazon.com/Story-About-Pizza-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/1917116993 

Pietro’s Pizza Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Pizza-Story-About/dp/B0DTYZ15WB/ 

Pietro’s Pizza Toppings Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJM15W22/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0

Pietro’s Italian Christmas: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Italian-Christmas-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/B0G2GQX78W/ 

#pizza #jersey #jerseyslices 

In this episode of the Pizza Story Podcast, host Erica D’Arcangelo sits down with a true New Jersey heavy hitter: Peter Falzo, the mastermind behind Vinnie’s Pan Pizza 🍕.

What happens when you trade life’s heaviest hardship for a ball of dough? For Peter Falzo, opening Vinnie’s Pan Pizza wasn't just a business move, it was a lifeline ❤️. Facing a tough divorce, financial strain, and the chaos of the pandemic, Peter stripped life back down to the basics and found peace behind the pizza oven.

In this candid conversation, Peter shares the deeply personal story of how he revived his late uncle’s legendary legacy, brought back iconic family recipes (like their famous shredded-pepperoni "Roni Pie"), and turned a small, 8-seat spot into a Jersey destination. From surviving a wild, unannounced Dave Portnoy review to expanding down to the shore in Brielle, Peter breaks down the power of family, heritage, and staying grounded in your roots 🇮🇹🙌🏽.

🎙 Episode Highlights

✅ 01:37 — Rooted in Heritage: Peter reflects on growing up in a first-generation Italian-American household and how a high school trip to Italy changed his perspective on family, food, and culture forever.
✅ 09:00 — The Nucleus of the Family: How working at his Uncle Vinnie’s Livingston pizzeria shaped Peter’s work ethic and introduced him to the true meaning of fulfillment and community.
✅ 15:16 — The Melbourne Trattoria Years: Transforming a struggling deli into a bustling 20-seat hotspot overnight—and the hard life lessons learned running a high-stakes restaurant.
✅ 17:48 — Finding Peace in Pizza: Hitting rock bottom, picking up a sledgehammer, and finding healing in the simplicity of flour, water, and dough.
✅ 30:30 — The Legendary Shredded Pepperoni: The secret behind Vinnie’s iconic "Roni Pie" and carrying on his late uncle’s signature recipes.
✅ 32:05 — The Dave Portnoy Effect: What really went down the day One Bite Pizza Reviews dropped by—and the absolute chaos that followed on a Friday night.
✅ 37:25 — Scaling Without Sacrificing Quality: Expanding to Brielle, New Jersey, building a shore-town communal hub, and keeping the family legacy growing.
✅ 46:33 — The New Jersey Pizza Brotherhood: How Jersey’s top pizzaiolos collaborate, build community, and support each other behind the scenes.

🔗 Connect with Vinnie’s Pan Pizza

Website: vinniespanpizza.com

Instagram: @vinniespanpizza

Locations: Millburn, NJ & Brielle, NJ

What's your favorite pizza spot in Jersey? Let us know in the comments below!

🍕🇮🇹 About the Podcast

Step behind the counter and into the craft with the people who turned a passion for pizza into a lifestyle. We're sharing the untold stories, deep-rooted traditions, and authentic history behind the best pies in the world, one slice at a time.

🎧 Don't forget to like, subscribe, and drop a comment below with your favorite style of pizza ♥️!

Website: https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/ 

Substack: https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/ 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza 

A Story About Pizza Book: https://www.amazon.com/Story-About-Pizza-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/1917116993 

Pietro’s Pizza Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Pizza-Story-About/dp/B0DTYZ15WB/ 

Pietro’s Pizza Toppings Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJM15W22/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0

Pietro’s Italian Christmas: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Italian-Christmas-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/B0G2GQX78W/ 

#pizza #jersey #jerseyslices 

If you’ve spent any time in Oakland or around Pittsburgh over the last four decades, today’s guest needs absolutely no introduction. They are a true Steel City institution, family-owned, family-operated, and the definition of Pittsburgh pizza tradition since 1980 🖤💛.

In this episode of the Pizza Story Podcast, host Erica D'Arcangelo sits down with Eutimio Sciulli from Sciulli’s Pizza 🍕!

Erica and Eutimio dive deep into what it really means to have pizza in your blood. Eutimio shares his memories of growing up in the shop from age 5, spending every summer helping his uncles while other kids went on vacation. They uncover an incredible parallel between their two families, both tracing their roots straight back to neighboring towns in the Abruzzo region of Italy and building a life in Western Pennsylvania through grit, coal mines, steel mills, and pizza dough 🇮🇹.

Eutimio takes us on a journey through the shop's history, from its origins as a late-night college joint to the turning point in 2012, when he pitched local universities and hospital systems to secure massive bulk orders. He breaks down the debate over Pittsburgh pizza, the meaning of a Sicilian "cut" (taglio), and why he refuses to change the shop's nostalgic wooden paneling and bright orange booths. Plus, he shares the unforgettable story of how an anonymous call from the Pittsburgh Steelers during the height of COVID turned into a 1,000-pizza order for frontline healthcare workers 🏈.

Grab a cut and tune in for an authentic, heart-filled story about carrying on a family legacy, honoring the ancestors who sacrificed everything, and keeping the community fed 🙌🏽.

🎙 Episode Highlights & Timestamps

✅ 01:36 – Working Since Age Five: Eutimio’s childhood in the pizza shop alongside his brother and uncles.

✅ 02:23 – Small Town Abruzzo Connections: Discovering shared family roots in the province of Chieti, Italy.

✅ 03:21 – Sacrifices of 1955: Eutimio’s grandfather leaving Italy for ten years to build a future in Steel Country.

✅ 05:46 – Pittsburgh Style vs. New York vs. Sicilian: Why it's called a "cut" (taglio) and what makes a great pie.

✅ 08:08 – Sciulli’s History in Oakland: Serving students at Pitt, Carlow, Duquesne, and CMU since 1980.

✅ 10:04 – Passing the Torch: Choosing the family trade over college and stepping up to run the business.

✅ 12:10 – Pitching Corporate Accounts: How walking into offices with fresh pies changed the game.

✅ 14:52 – The Steelers Miracle: Delivering 1,000 personal pizzas to frontline hospital workers during COVID.

✅ 17:14 – The Oldest Small Business in Oakland: $5 student pies, retro vibes, and feeling the presence of family every day.

✅ 19:58 – The Perfect Slice: Sweet sauce, salty cheese, a golden bottom, and zero flop.

🔗 Connect with Sciulli's Pizza

Instagram: @sciullispizza

Website & Merch: www.sciullispizza.com

🍕🇮🇹 About the Podcast

Step behind the counter and into the craft with the people who turned a passion for pizza into a lifestyle. We're sharing the untold stories, deep-rooted traditions, and authentic history behind the best pies in the world, one slice at a time.

🎧 Don't forget to like, subscribe, and drop a comment below with your favorite style of pizza ♥️!

Website: https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/ 

Substack: https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/ 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza 

A Story About Pizza Book: https://www.amazon.com/Story-About-Pizza-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/1917116993 

Pietro’s Pizza Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Pizza-Story-About/dp/B0DTYZ15WB/ 

Pietro’s Pizza Toppings Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJM15W22/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0

Pietro’s Italian Christmas: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Italian-Christmas-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/B0G2GQX78W/ 

#pizza #pittsburgh #pittsburghpizza 

On this episode of the Pizza Story Podcast, I’m joined by the incredible Chef Jenny Messing, the brilliant mind behind SoCal's The Little Gem Kitchen ❤️. Jenny is redefining the art of outdoor cooking with her stunning California-style sourdough pizzas and live-fire dining experiences, but her path to the culinary world was anything but traditional 🍕.

Jenny takes us through her inspiring journey, from dropping out of high school and navigating a successful corporate marketing career at Oakley, to finally stepping away from the daily grind to pursue her true passion for food. We talk about how a simple COVID-era side hustle, baking sourdough bread and delivering homemade pizza kits at 3 a.m., accidentally laid the foundation for her thriving catering business 🍞.

We also dive deep into the craft behind her food, including how a Gozney oven transformed her pop-up setup, her secret to making her famous Carolina Gold mustard BBQ chicken pizza, and how she sources fresh, hyper-local ingredients from nearby farms. Plus, Jenny shares why she intentionally chooses to keep her business small and hands-on, staying right at the oven to share the pure, nostalgic joy of pizza with every single guest 🙌🏽.

🎙 Episode Highlights

✅ 00:43 – Jenny’s SoCal upbringing, big family roots, and early love for food

✅ 02:07 – Walking away from action sports marketing to start a home supper club

✅ 04:17 – Inside The Little Gem Kitchen: Live-fire cooking & remote outdoor events

✅ 06:10 – The COVID sourdough pivot: Waking up at 3 AM to deliver pizza kits

✅ 08:20 – The game-changer: How Gozney ovens transformed her catering business

✅ 09:50 – Farm-to-table pizza: Sourcing seasonal ingredients from The Ecology Center

✅ 11:19 – Menu deep-dive: The crowd-favorite Carolina Gold BBQ chicken pie

✅ 13:26 – Finding fresh culinary inspiration on an upcoming trip to Italy

✅ 16:04 – Spreading soul-nourishing joy through simple, humble food

✅ 17:19 – Why Jenny chooses to stay a hands-on, boutique owner-operator

🔗 Connect on Instagram with Our Guest & Host

@thelittlejemkitchen

@chefjennymessing

🍕🇮🇹 About the Podcast

Step behind the counter and into the craft with the people who turned a passion for pizza into a lifestyle. We're sharing the untold stories, deep-rooted traditions, and authentic history behind the best pies in the world, one slice at a time.

🎧 🔔 Subscribe to the Pizza Story Podcast for more stories behind the dough, sauce, and ovens ♥️!

Website: https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/ 

Substack: https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/ 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza 

A Story About Pizza Book: https://www.amazon.com/Story-About-Pizza-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/1917116993 

Pietro’s Pizza Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Pizza-Story-About/dp/B0DTYZ15WB/ 

Pietro’s Pizza Toppings Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJM15W22/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0

Pietro’s Italian Christmas: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Italian-Christmas-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/B0G2GQX78W/ 

#pizza #chef #littlejemkitchen 

In this episode, host Erica D'Arcangelo sits down with Joseph Massaro, the passionate creator behind the @newhavenpizzacrew 🍕.

While many food creators focus on scoring slices, giving reviews, or chasing viral clout, Joseph is on a completely different mission: preserving Italian-American heritage and honoring the craft of the people behind the counter ♥️.

Joseph isn't out here scoring slices or chasing viral clout. He’s on a personal mission to preserve Italian-American heritage and honor the living legends keeping the craft alive. From kicking off his journey interviewing Gary Bimonti (grandson of Frank Pepe) to growing up with wood-fired ovens in his family's backyards, Joseph takes us through the rich culture of New Haven, Connecticut.

We break down the story behind the famous Apizza Mobile studio 🚐, why supporting small pizzerias matters more than getting a free meal, the secret spots you need to visit outside of the "Holy Trinity," and how the pizza community between Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey is built on mutual respect, not wars 🙌🏽.

"There isn't a pizza war. The common thread between all these guys is simple: there’s enough pizza to go around for everybody." - Joseph Massaro

🎙 Episode Highlights

✅ 01:00 – Starting with Gary Bimonti & The Mission

✅ 04:40 – Italian Immigrant Roots & Backyard Ovens

✅ 08:35 – Supporting Small Pizzerias & Karma

✅ 14:15 – Current Obsessions: Amado's & Beyond

✅ 18:44 – The Legend of the Apizza Mobile

✅ 23:01 – The Royal Pizza Float & "Pizza Love"

✅ 29:05 – Final Thoughts: Community Over Competition

🔗 Connect & Follow

Instagram: @newhavenpizzacrew

Pizzerias Mentioned: Modern Apizza, Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, Sally's Apizza, Santillo's Brick Oven Pizza (NJ), Amado's Apizza (Madison, CT), Little Rendezvous (Meriden, CT), Apizza Heaven (Middletown, CT), Crust Issues.

💬 What's your go-to pizza spot in the Tri-State area? Let us know in the comments below!

🍕🇮🇹 About the Podcast

Step behind the counter and into the craft with the people who turned a passion for pizza into a lifestyle. We're sharing the untold stories, deep-rooted traditions, and authentic history behind the best pies in the world, one slice at a time.

🎧 🔔 Subscribe to the Pizza Story Podcast for more stories behind the dough, sauce, and ovens ♥️!

Website: https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/ 

Substack: https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/ 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza 

A Story About Pizza Book: https://www.amazon.com/Story-About-Pizza-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/1917116993 

Pietro’s Pizza Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Pizza-Story-About/dp/B0DTYZ15WB/ 

Pietro’s Pizza Toppings Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJM15W22/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0

Pietro’s Italian Christmas: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Italian-Christmas-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/B0G2GQX78W/ 

#pizza #apizza #newhavenpizza 

Is the world’s best pizza hiding in… Los Angeles🍕? 

In this episode of The Pizza Story Podcast, host Erica D'Arcangelo sits down with filmmaker, podcaster, and pizza champion Peter Ferriero (The Beverly Hills 90210 Show, Slice of Life). Peter is stepping into the director’s chair with a bold new documentary making the ultimate controversial case: that LA has taken the pizza crown 🌴.

Peter takes us on a nostalgia-filled journey from his East Coast roots straight into the heart of Southern California's slice revolution. Together, Erica and Peter explore how deep food memories go, from the semolina flour in his grandma's Sicilian kitchen to watching 90s WrestleMania with a warm delivery box and drinking soda out of classic red Pizza Hut cups 🥤.

More than just nostalgia, Peter makes the case for why pizza rules are meant to be broken. As craft pizza makers arrive in LA to blend tradition with bold culinary ideas, like Tokyo-style crusts, sweet corn toppings, and pizza Omakase, a genuine movement is taking over ♥️. Peter even shares what it was like eating slices on camera with iconic stars from Beverly Hills 90210!

Whether you're an East Coast purist holding onto traditional red sauce or an adventurous foodie open to modern craft slices, this conversation will change how you view pizza culture.

🎙 Episode Highlights

.✅ 01:17 – The Controversial Take: "The Best Pizza is in LA" | Peter drops his hot take and sets the stage for the documentary.

✅ 02:42 – Grandma’s Sicilian & 80s Pizzeria Nostalgia | Memories of semolina flour, setting expectations, and the unique charm of classic local pizza joints.

✅ 05:41 – Pop Culture & Pizza Nights | Connecting Gen-X culture, 90210, WrestleMania, and the nostalgia of classic dine-in Pizza Huts.

✅ 08:44 – Developing Palates & Evolving Taste | How early food experiences open the door to experimenting with non-traditional pizza flavors.

✅ 11:02 – The Birth of the LA Pizza Documentary | What inspired Peter to challenge the traditional NY/NJ vs. LA pizza narrative.

✅ 14:06 – Inside LA’s Craft Pizza Movement | Exploring Tokyo-style crusts, top-tier pizzerias, and why LA’s scene is thriving on community over competition.

✅ 16:03 – Pizza with the Cast of Beverly Hills 90210 | Blending pop culture and food history by sharing slices with TV royalty.

✅ 17:30 – Overcoming Pizza Rules (Corn & Omakase!) | Why pizza purism is dying and how unexpected toppings are redefining the slice.

✅ 19:48 – The Ultimate LA Pizza Guide | Where Peter takes New York and Jersey pizza lovers when they visit Southern California.

✅ 21:15 – What to Expect from the Documentary | The core message behind the film and where you can stream it today.

🎬 Watch Peter Ferriero’s Documentary: Look for his documentary The Best Pizza is in LA on Apple TV/iTunes, Amazon Prime Video, and your favorite VOD platforms!

🍕🇮🇹 About the Podcast

We dive deep into the world's greatest pizzerias and sit down with the passionate makers who turned their obsession into a lifestyle.

Website: https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/ 

Substack: https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/ 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza 

A Story About Pizza Book: https://www.amazon.com/Story-About-Pizza-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/1917116993 

Pietro’s Pizza Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Pizza-Story-About/dp/B0DTYZ15WB/ 

Pietro’s Pizza Toppings Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJM15W22/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0

Pietro’s Italian Christmas: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Italian-Christmas-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/B0G2GQX78W/ 

👉 What's your take? Could LA really have better pizza than New York or Chicago? Leave a comment below with your favorite slice spot👇! 

#pizza #thebestpizza #thebestpizzaisinla

What happens when you trade corporate boardrooms and business analytics for flour, fire, and a 100-year-old family legacy?

In this episode, I sit down with Chef Boris Berard, a true culinary innovator who just took the global pizza world by storm! Landing in the Top 8 for Best Cheese Slice and Top 25 overall at the 2026 International Pizza Challenge, Boris’s concept ORA 1929 is redefining craft pizza 🍕.

Directly from the South of France, Boris shares how he reconnected with his roots, blending ancient grains, a 72-hour wild sourdough fermentation, and a 100% solar- and battery-powered mobile kitchen towed by an EV. We talk about leaving the comfort zone, the emotional connection of sharing a meal, overcoming catastrophic first-bake disasters, and why true excellence requires jumping off the bridge into the unknown ♥️.

If you love food stories, innovation, sustainability, and authentic craft, this episode is for you!

🎙 Episode Highlights 

✅ 01:07 – Roots in the Riviera: Growing up around flour, fire, and family baking

✅ 02:18 – From Harvard & Tesla back to the dough: Why Boris left corporate life

✅ 03:10 – "Pizza is about connection": Reclaiming real human moments

✅ 04:58 – The ORA 1929 Concept: Combining French boulangerie with business analytics

✅ 05:45 – Ancient Grains & Wild Fermentation: The science of digestible, low-gluten dough

✅ 07:51 – The emotional first bake: Honoring a grandfather's legacy

✅ 09:04 – Mastering the foundation: Why dough always comes before toppings

✅ 12:25 – The 100% Electric Mobile Kitchen: Farm-to-table pizza on wheels

✅ 14:15 – First Bake Disasters: Broken ovens and frozen dough for 100 people!

✅ 16:21 – Cooking for 400 at Le Petit Futé food guide party

✅ 17:48 – Top 8 at the International Pizza Challenge (And the lost cheese panic!)

✅ 18:59 – The unconventional path: Competing before opening a brick-and-mortar

✅ 20:29 – The art & chemistry of dough consistency

✅ 22:08 – The ultimate litmus test: Margaritas & classic French cheese (Clauzou)

✅ 25:09 – "Put yourself in trouble to grow": Leaving the comfort zone & industry advice

✅ 28:05 – Why sacrifice leads to excellence

🔗 CONNECT WITH CHEF BORIS & ORA 1929

📸 Instagram: @ora1929_atelier_pizza

📺 YouTube: Follow Boris’s journey from corporate to craft on his channel!

🍕🇮🇹 About the Podcast

This is where we dive deep into the world's greatest pizzerias and sit down with the passionate makers who turned their obsession into a lifestyle. From secret family recipes to the wild journeys of building a pizza empire, we share the authentic, messy, and delicious stories behind every perfect slice.

🎧 Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode with the world's most passionate pizza makers ♥️!

Website: https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/ 

Substack: https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/ 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza 

A Story About Pizza Book: https://www.amazon.com/Story-About-Pizza-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/1917116993 

Pietro’s Pizza Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Pizza-Story-About/dp/B0DTYZ15WB/ 

Pietro’s Pizza Toppings Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJM15W22/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0

Pietro’s Italian Christmas: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Italian-Christmas-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/B0G2GQX78W/ 

Enjoyed this episode? Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE to the channel for more inspiring culinary stories and insider conversations!

#ora1929 #pizza  #southoffrance 

If you’ve read my book, you already know that my heart belongs to the East End of Windber, Pennsylvania. You also probably know about the legendary cornerstone of my childhood where my family spent almost every single Saturday morning: Leone’s Italian Market 🇮🇹.

Literally my entire life, Saturday morning started with my grandmother saying, "Call Rhoda and go down to Leone's and get a sub." Decades later, nothing has changed. When I go home today, my dad still looks at us on Saturday morning and asks the exact same thing. That is the magic of a truly generational business, and today, I am sitting down with the incredible Vicki Hiteshew, the woman keeping that 104-year-old legacy alive and thriving ❤️.

In this episode, Vicki takes us behind the counter and back in time to 1922, sharing the deeply moving, gritty history of how her family built an empire on hard work, love, and community. We talk about her legendary grandmother, Rhoda Leone, who holds the record as the store's longest-running employee, working an unbelievable 78 years from the age of 17 until she passed away at 95. Vicki shares the heartbreaking and inspiring pivot points of the business, including how Rhoda was widowed tragically young and how she and her sister clung together to make the market survive because it just had to work 🙌🏽.

We also laugh about how the world-famous sub business actually started completely by accident in the late 1950s (selling just five sandwiches on day one!), how the East End businesses like Leone’s, D'Arc's Pizza, and Rizzo's share a beautiful neighborhood camaraderie.

If you love family traditions, small-town history, and food, you are going to absolutely love this episode 🍕🇮🇹.

🎙 Episode Highlights

✅ 00:01 - Erica introduces Vicki and the legendary childhood staple that is Leone’s Market.

✅ 00:30 - A Lifetime of Saturday Traditions: Erica and Vicki talk about the generational handoff of the Saturday morning sub ritual.

✅ 01:18 - 104 Years and Counting: The origin of the store, shifting from a general store in 1900 to family hands in 1922.

✅ 02:04 - How Leone’s, D'Arc's Pizza, and Rizzo’s all evolved from neighborhood markets into local institutions.

✅ 05:18 - 78 Years Behind the Counter: Remembering Rhoda’s unbelievable work ethic, working 12-hour days, 6 days a week.

✅ 06:39 - The First 5 Subs: The accidental, late-1950s origin story of Leone's world-famous sandwiches.

✅ 16:47 - Cutting a Hole in the Wall: The incredible, spontaneous story of buying the old Marinelli Hardware building to create a new seating area.

✅ 22:19 - Remembering Erica’s grandpa making his famous (and incredibly hot!) peppers.

✅ 23:15 - The Candy Corner Destination: Tearing down the old Anderson building, bringing back nostalgia for adults, and making Windber a true destination.

✅ 27:05 - The "World Famous" Sign: The 30-year-old lighted sign that still draws in truck drivers from states away.

🔗 Connect with Leone's Market

Instagram: @leonesmarket

Facebook: Leone's Market 

(The best place to follow Vicki's nostalgic posts, check out historic photos, and send a message!)

🍕🇮🇹 About the Podcast

This is where we dive deep into the world's greatest pizzerias and sit down with the passionate makers who turned their obsession into a lifestyle.

Website: https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/ 

Substack: https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/ 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza 

A Story About Pizza Book: https://www.amazon.com/Story-About-Pizza-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/1917116993 

Pietro’s Pizza Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Pizza-Story-About/dp/B0DTYZ15WB/ 

Pietro’s Pizza Toppings Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJM15W22/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0

Pietro’s Italian Christmas: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Italian-Christmas-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/B0G2GQX78W/ 

#italian #italianamerican #italianmarket 

You probably know him from your social media feeds as "Vinny from South Philly," but Vincenzo Manetti is so much more than a viral video. He’s an award-winning filmmaker, a gritty actor, and the host of the incredible podcast Inside Hollywood with Vinny ⭐️.

In this episode, we are throwing it back to where it all began: the pavement of Washington Avenue and the heart of the South Philly Italian Market. Vince opens up about his childhood as a first-generation kid with Calabrian roots, eating everything from fresh-market mussels to traditional tripe 🇮🇹. We track his journey from the East Coast all the way to Beverly Hills where he accidentally fell into the Hollywood restaurant scene, serving everyone from Schwarzenegger to Stallone, and caught the storytelling bug.

But you can't have a South Philly guy on the show without talking about the real fuel behind the art: the food. We get into the ultimate Philly pizza debate. Vince breaks down why he’ll always love a thick, doughy, bakery-style square slice, and we swap stories on a local phenomenon putting white American cheese on a pizza 🍕. Turns out, my family's secret pizzeria recipe and the legendary Philly "Pizazz" pie have a whole lot more in common than you'd think! From the legendary giant slices at Lorenzo’s to neighborhood institutions like Vetri and Stogie Joe’s, this episode is a love letter to the evolution of the Philly food scene.

❤️ This conversation is authentic, hilarious, and guaranteed to make you hungry. Grab a slice, hit subscribe, and let’s dive in!

🎙 Episode Highlights: 

✅ 00:01 – Welcome Vince Minniti ("Vinny from South Philly")!

✅ 02:35 – Celebrating the international success of Washington Avenue.

✅ 04:34 – Nostalgic childhood eats: Five-dollar mussels and Sarcones bakery bread.

✅ 06:45 – Vince's definitive South Philly cheesesteak spots.

✅ 08:53 – Using social media to launch a movie & the hustle behind a heist film.

✅ 12:44 – The Philly Pizza Debate: Thick dough, proper sauce, and no oregano.

✅ 14:40 – The American Cheese Secret: The "Pizazz" pie vs. the Diarc’s original.

✅ 19:15 – Checking out the local checklist: Badilla, Vetri, and Stogie Joe’s.

📢 About Our Guest

Known to hundreds of thousands of loyal fans across Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok as @vinny_from_south_philly Vince Minniti is a dynamic, multidimensional force in the entertainment industry. While his viral social media presence is undeniable, Minniti’s footprint extends far beyond the digital screen. As an actor, screenwriter, producer, and independent filmmaker, he is a serial creator who has built a career grounded in gritty authenticity and premium storytelling.

His creative vision was cemented with his acclaimed short film, Washington Avenue, which took the festival circuit by storm and secured 12 first-place awards worldwide. Building on that momentum, Minniti is currently developing the highly anticipated crime drama series, The Old Guard, alongside veteran actor and producer Joe Cortese.

Beyond his work behind and in front of the camera, Minniti seamlessly bridges the gap between audiences and industry veterans. As the host of the popular YouTube show and podcast, Inside Hollywood with Vinny, he sits down with industry heavyweights for candid interviews, offering viewers an unfiltered look into the business of entertainment. His episodes with Antonio Sabato Jr., Brandi Roderick, Louis Lombardi, Gianni Russo, George Gallo, Joe Cortese, Larry Namer, Frank Stallone, and the late Michael Madsen.

🔗 Connect with Vinny from South Philly 

👉 YouTube Show "Inside Hollywood with Vinny": https://youtube.com/@VinnyfromSouthPhilly?si=aK5YpWT278RBkiD5

🎬 Watch Vinny’s award-winning short film "Washington Avenue" free: https://youtu.be/WXbghicK7zM?si=gRUSP_NV7cixlLbT

📸 Instagram: @vinny_from_south_philly 

👤 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vince.anthony.980?mibextid=LQQJ4d

🎵 TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@vinnyfromsouthphilly

🎥 IMDb: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm15372159/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Every once in a while, you meet someone whose story reminds you that life’s biggest left turns usually lead exactly where you’re supposed to go. For me, as someone who grew up watching my grandfather turn a life in the coal mines into a family pizza business back in 1960, I’ve always known that pizza is so much more than just food. It’s legacy, it’s comfort, and sometimes, it's a lifeline ♥️.

That is exactly what I felt talking to today’s guest, the brilliant mind behind Square Pie Guys and the creative curator of the Internet’s most iconic food page @pizza Marc Schechter 🍕.

Long before Marc was feeding the West Coast or dictating viral food trends to millions of followers, he was just a kid from New York with a marketing degree and a completely blank roadmap. His path to the kitchen wasn't paved with culinary school or family recipes; it was forged in the fires of cold calling. Marc spent years in the brutal trenches of software sales, dialing the phone 100 times a day, weathering a relentless storm of "no."

Little did he know, learning to navigate that constant rejection was the ultimate training camp for entrepreneurship.

But the true spark didn't ignite until Marc moved to California. On a casual moving day, a close friend handed him a pizza cookbook, a stone, and a peel with a challenge: “You can’t make restaurant-quality pizza at home.” Those words unlocked an obsession. Soon, Marc was spending hours watching dough rise, throwing backyard pizza parties, and finding a deep sense of joy in feeding people. When his tech startup vanished overnight, Marc didn't look for another corporate desk. He chose the kitchen 👨🏻‍🍳.

The empire we know today as Square Pie Guys actually started by complete accident. Armed with only three Detroit-style pans he was using to test recipes, Marc was put on the spot to feed a couple scouting a wedding venue. They fell so madly in love with the thick, crispy square pies that they hired him on the spot. That single quote paid for his first 30 pans, launched a wildly successful pop-up, and eventually led to opening his first brick-and-mortar shop in downtown San Francisco in July 2019.

In this beautiful, candid conversation, Marc pulls back the curtain on the magic and the grit of his journey. We talk about how he literally slid into the DMs of a major media company to take over the @pizza brand, the "algorithmic luck" that allowed his business to survive and thrive through a global pandemic, and the deeply personal way pizza healed him after a painful life transition 🙌🏽.

🔗 Connect:

Follow Square Pie Guys on Instagram: @squarepieguys

Follow the ultimate pizza community: @pizza 

🍕🇮🇹 About the Podcast

This is where we dive deep into the world's greatest pizzerias and sit down with the passionate makers who turned their obsession into a lifestyle. From secret family recipes to the wild journeys of building a pizza empire, we share the authentic, messy, and delicious stories behind every perfect slice.

🎧 Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode with the world's most passionate pizza makers ♥️!

Website: https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/ 

Substack: https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/ 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza 

A Story About Pizza Book: https://www.amazon.com/Story-About-Pizza-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/1917116993 

Pietro’s Pizza Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Pizza-Story-About/dp/B0DTYZ15WB/ 

Pietro’s Pizza Toppings Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJM15W22/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0

Pietro’s Italian Christmas: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Italian-Christmas-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/B0G2GQX78W/ 

Subscribe to the channel for more incredible stories from founders who took their hobbies to the big leagues!

#pizza #squarepieguys