🍕 Welcome to another delicious episode of the Pizza Story Podcast! Today, host, Erica D'Arcangelo sits down with the one and only Scott Wiener from the renowned @ScottsPizzaTours a true icon in the pizza industry. Get ready for a deep dive into Scott's incredible journey, his passion for pizza education, and the unique experiences his tours offer 🗽.
In this engaging conversation, Scott shares the origin story of his love for pizza, a feeling many of us can relate to – the pure joy of a pizza box arriving! He recounts how his passion evolved from casual pizza outings with friends to the realization that exploring pizzerias could be an exciting form of entertainment and adventure. This very idea sparked the creation of Scott's Pizza Tours in 2008.
Erica and Scott reminisce about growing up in the Northeast, bonding over their shared appreciation for the region's rich pizza culture, from South Jersey boardwalk slices to the legendary pies of New York City 🏙️. Scott shares his New Jersey roots and how, surprisingly, pizza adventures weren't a childhood staple, making his later immersion even more impactful.
Hear the fascinating distinction Scott draws between casual "pizza crawls" and his structured, educational "pizza tours," offering a deeper understanding of pizza styles and the inner workings of pizzerias. He recounts the pivotal moment when a large pizza crawl with friends and family in 2007 led to the overwhelming encouragement to turn his passion into a full-time career, culminating in his first official tour in April 2008.
Interview Highlights:
✅ The Pizza Passion: Scott describes how the joy of traveling to different pizzerias with friends sparked the idea for his unique tour company.
✅ From Crawls to Tours: Learn the key differences between a casual pizza crawl and the guided, educational experience of Scott's Pizza Tours.
✅ The Birth of a Business: Hear the story of the epic 2007 pizza crawl that convinced Scott to turn his passion into a career.
✅ Inside a Pizza Tour: Get a virtual taste of a Scott's Pizza Tour, from meeting at a pizzeria to the in-depth discussions about pizza styles, ingredients, and techniques during transit.
✅ Understanding Pizza Nuances: Scott explains how his tours go beyond just eating pizza, focusing on unraveling the "why" behind different pizza characteristics.
✅ Early Marketing Hustle: Discover Scott's resourceful early marketing strategies, from press releases and flyers in Times Square to even donning a pizza suit!
✅ Favorite New York Slices: Scott shares some of his go-to New York pizza spots, emphasizing that the "best" depends on the mood and the desired style.
✅ Beyond the Meal: The Pizza Experience: Understand Scott's philosophy that dining, especially a pizza tour, is about the complete experience, not just the food itself.
Connect with Scott's Pizza Tours and Dive Deeper into the World of Pizza:
Official Website: scottspizzatours.com - Explore the public tour schedule, inquire about private tours for groups, and learn more about Scott's incredible nonprofit, Slice Out Hunger @sliceouthunger 🙏🏼 which raises funds for hunger relief through pizzerias here: https://linktr.ee/Scottspizzatours
Stay Updated on Social Media:
https://www.instagram.com/scottspizzatours/
https://www.facebook.com/NewYorkPizzaTours
Scott's passion for pizza is infectious, and this conversation is a testament to the fact that there's always more to learn and appreciate about this beloved food. Whether you're a casual pizza lover or a dedicated foodie, you'll gain a newfound appreciation for the art and craft of pizza making 💫.
🍕 Don't forget to subscribe to the Pizza Story Podcast for more insightful conversations with pizza experts! Like this video if you like pizza 🎙
#pizza #pizzapodcast #nypizza #scottspizzatours #sliceouthunger #pizzaparty #pizzatour #pizzacrawl #nyc
Full Episode
YouTube: https://youtu.be/G3GtcCiQzKc