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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.

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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.

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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 [email protected]. 

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

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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/

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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/

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Happy Pizza Expo Week — the best week of the year!!! We hope you are having an amazing show experience and if you’re not at Pizza Expo, you can stay connected with show updates at https://pizzatoday.com/topics/industry-news/pizza-expo-2024-all-news-from-the-worlds-largest-pizza-show/.

While we’re in Las Vegas together, we’re sharing a favorite episode. Enjoy this Replay of Dough Talk with Peter Reinhart. Peter Reinhart is an instructor at Johnson & Wales University, founder of the Pizza Quest video and blog site, American baker, educator and author of numerous books, including “Bread Upon the Waters: A Pilgrimage Toward Self Discovery and Spiritual Truth”; “Crust and Crumb: Master Formulas for Serious Bread Bakers” and “American Pie: My Search for the Perfect Pizza.” Most notably, four of his books have been nominated for James Beard Awards, with three of them winning, including the “Book of the Year” in 2002 for The Bread Baker’s Apprentice.

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This week, we talk with co-executive chefs and partners Thomas McNaughton and Ryan Pollnow at San Francisco-based Flour + Water to get the skinny on the direction their taking their highly successful pizza concept. Check out more details provided by Flour + Water:

Thomas McNaughton, Co-Executive Chef & Founding Partner, Flour + Water Hospitality Group (Flour + Water, Flour +Water Pizzeria, Penny Roma, Flour + Water Pasta Shop)
Thomas McNaughton, founding partner, co-chef and CEO of Flour +Water Hospitality Group, grew up in Southern New Jersey. He graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, then gained valuable experience working for Bay Area restaurants La Folie, Gary Danko and Quince. On his culinary journey, he also worked at a number of Michelin-rated restaurants in France, Germany and Italy, falling head over heels in love with the hand-rolled pastas of Bologna and the nonne that produce them. Thomas is relentlessly driven by the community of farmers, craftsmen and “creatives” that call the Bay Area home.

Ryan Pollnow, Co-Executive Chef & Partner, Flour + WaterHospitality Group (Flour + Water, Flour + Water Pizzeria, Penny Roma, Flour + Water Pasta Shop)
Ryan Pollnow, co-chef and vice president of the Flour + WaterHospitality Group, discovered a love for cooking and the micro seasons of the Bay Area while growing up in Northern California. Ryan completed culinary school in Sonoma County while working at restaurants and wineries to further develop his acumen in the field. He continued his education abroad at renowned restaurant Mugaritz in northern Spain before returning to the Bay Area. Traveling for culinary inspiration has always been an important part of his growth, and his time in Italy left a significant imprint on his love for seasonal cooking. Ryan led each FWHG kitchen individually as Chef de Cuisine before transitioning into his current role overseeing all culinary operations as co-executive chef.

Flour + Water Pizzeria | Flour + Water Pizza Shop

Flour + Water Pizzeria, 532 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133

Flour + Water Pizza Shop, 1533 Stockton Street, San Francisco, CA 94133

Co-Chefs: Thomas McNaughton, Ryan Pollnow

Beverage Director: Samuel Bogue

Director of Operations: Amanda Flores

General Manager: Paige McNeil

Hours: 11:30am to 10pm, daily

fwpizzeria.com | @flourandwaterpizzeria

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This week on The Hot Slice Podcast Jeremy sits down for a one-on-one interview with pizza legend John Arena. The co-founder of Metro Pizza in Las Vegas will deliver the opening day keynote address at the 40th Pizza Expo later this month.

During the discussion, John touches on his feelings about tinkering with dough formulas and pushing the industry forward through trial and error. He teases his keynote ("from Me to We," he says) and even talks about his favorite style of pizza to eat (hint, he grew up on it), as well as his favorite style of pizza to make.

This year's Pizza Expo is set to shatter records, and you aren't going to want to miss Arena's keynote. Learn more about the 40th annual Expo at www.pizzaexpo.com. Read more about Metro pizza here https://pizzatoday.com/topics/people-pizzerias/pizza-today-on-the-road-metro-pizza-las-vegas-nv/.

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This week on The Hot Slice Podcast we are going behind the judges’ curtain at this year’s International Pizza Challenge at Pizza Expo in Las Vegas. Jeremy and Denise get the inside scoop on IPC judging from longtime judges Hassi Sadri, Scott Wiener and Scott Anthony.

The International Pizza Challenge has long been the premier pizza competition and it’s getting even better. IPC has always held high standards and code of ethics for judging. This year, judging has become even more transparent. Our three esteemed guests outline new initiatives to aid in transparency and training the 50 judges who will evaluate entries to help them be on the same page and make sure that every pizza is judged fairly and consistently.

Pizza Expo will host nearly 500 competitors. The International Pizza Challenge consists of 5 divisions: Traditional, Non-Traditional, Neapolitan/STG, Pan, & World’s Best Cheese Slice. The International Italian Sandwich Competition returns. Partner competitions include the California-Style Competition, hosted by the California Milk Advisory Board; Ooni Pizza Throwdown, hosted by Ooni; and Plant-Based Competition, hosted by Daiya.

Special thanks to Michael LaMarca, Jeremy Galvin and the team at Master Pizza who runs IPC and show director Bill Oakley for their continued efforts and improvements to the competitions.

Learn more about the International Pizza Challenge at https://pizzaexpo.pizzatoday.com/giveaway-rules-regulations/international-pizza-challenge/

Read more about the Rules and Regulations for Competitors at https://pizzaexpo.pizzatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2024-IPC-Rules-and-Regs_FINAL.pdf

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The 40th Pizza Expo is less than one month away. Jeremy, Josh and Denise dedicate this episode to all things Pizza Expo. From the show floor, competitions and demos to seminars and special events, there’s so much to look forward to this year.

Pizza Expo 2024, commencing at the Las Vegas Convention Center, March 19-21, is expected to be biggest and best Pizza Expo yet. Attendees and exhibitors can expect fanfare and celebration of our four decades.

Listen as the team shares some highlights and favorite events happening at the Las Vegas show.

Get a Preview of Pizza Expo 2024: https://pizzatoday.com/topics/industry-news/2024-pizza-expo-preview/.

What’s Pizza Expo?

The annual International Pizza Expo remains unchallenged as the industry’s largest event. Thousands of pizzeria professionals convene in Las Vegas, Nevada each year for 3 days dedicated to all things pizza. Suppliers from across the globe, networking and educational sessions led by top industry professionals, and national competitions round out this unrivaled event. Visit https://pizzaexpo.pizzatoday.com/ for more information.