The Hot Slice

Send us a textGeorge Peyton and Casey Conner never could have imagined their first year of business at Good Pizza Company in Swannanoa, North Carolina would unfold as it did. The pizzeria opened on August 15 and a mere six weeks later, the town of Swannanoa would become one of the hardest hit natural disaster areas in the aftermath of the devastating Hurricane Helene. The former pizzeria that the two spend months remodeling took on 10 inches of water forcing the team to pull out floors, walls and equipment that was damaged in the flood. George and Casey didn’t flinch and quickly started to rebuild their business so they could serve their community that still struggles to recover, while also helping their neighbors. When they were able to reopen, there was a huge outpouring of the community. Hear more of the heroin story.Good Pizza Company hit another high when George took second place in the Southeast of the World’s Best Cheese Slice Division at the International Pizza Challenge during Pizza Expo in Las Vegas in March. The brothers took that win back to their community to celebrate. We talk more about what has happened after the win.Read local news coverage: PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaeB68ZKL7pHVv4fuMuDYJjoVNf2NAmNXiojexznSWRDshQiTv3EPT5uPC9cNQ_aem_zAt46BmdQGI_hV_cmsXZbALearn more about Good Pizza Company on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/good.company.pizza/ 

Send us a textIsaiah Ruffin and Colleen Constant began their pizza business journey in a renovated school bus in Colorado, always envisioning a brick-and-mortar restaurant. After evaluating that Fort Collins, Colorado, wasn’t where they would open a brick and mortar, the couple began traveling to cities, researching areas in Chicago, Washington, D.C., Austin and others. Seattle stood out and after several visits, they took the leap. Within six months of moving to Seattle and doing popups, they found their first brick-and-mortar spot, Pizza by Ruffin “Savor the Authentic Taste of the Black Diaspora via Pizza al Taglio.” They pride themselves on being black-owned, women-owned and veteran-owned. Pizza by Ruffin opened in the Fairview Market Hall within South Lake Union. The two established the restaurant by identifying the work/life balance they wanted and built the business around their vision. Isaiah shares what they created with their pizzeria. We also talk:·         Foot traffic·         The current business environment·         Going with Roman style·         Sourcing ingredients locally·         Culinary focused on exploration·         The skill, art and science of dough making·         Transition from hand mixing dough to using a mixer·         Summer menu additions like sandwiches  Learn more about Pizza by Isaiah at https://www.pizzabyruffin.com/ and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pizzabyruffin/  

Send us a textThis week, we continue our Pizza Expo Interview Series from the show floor at Pizza Expo 2025. In this special edition of The Hot Slice Podcast, we talk to passionate franchisees and a dedicated pizza enthusiast. They are:Tyrell Reid and JR Lambert partners at Westshore Pizza in Brandon, Florida started out as employees of Westshore before becoming franchise owners. We talk Tampa’s competitive market, hurricane prep and response, and an eye towards tech solutions.Shean Taylor with 31DaysofPizza.com wanted to stop by and chat on how National Pizza Month inspired his pizza quest. He has been eating as slice a day and interviewing pizza pros since 2002. He even does an awards program called “The Slicies”.We’ll continue our regular interviewing format next week. If we missed you at Pizza Expo and you want to chat on The Hot Slice, reach out to me at dgreer@pizzatoday.com.Check out more news from International Pizza Expo, including pizza competition results, show floor takeaways and happenings in our Pizza Expo News Hub.

Send us a textThis week, we continue our Pizza Expo Interview Series from the show floor at Pizza Expo 2025. This special edition of The Hot Slice Podcast with operators who bring excitement and passion to the pizza business with their pizza ownership journeys. They are: Jimmy Casapizzaiolo from Casa Pizza in Western Massachusetts shares his passion for tinkering with pizza dough and making multiple pizza styles. We also talk about his fascination for a Montanara pizza. Brian Nittayo, owner of Rose City Pizza in Covina, California, road tripped to Pizza Expo with his mom Carol, the behind-the-scenes master at the pizzeria. They share all the new developments with their tech-savvy business.   Stay tuned as we continue our interviews from Pizza Expo 2025. Check out more news from International Pizza Expo, including pizza competition results, show floor takeaways and happenings in our Pizza Expo News Hub. 

Send us a textThis week, we continue our Pizza Expo Interview Series from the show floor at Pizza Expo 2025. This special edition of The Hot Slice Podcast with two operators who’s passion for the culinary experience surrounding a pizza business has catapulted their businesses to a well-defined dining experience. They are:Julia Duncan-Roitman owns Joy Hill Pizza Club in Denver, Colorado. We talk vision, revitalizing the space and creating the right vibe. Joy Hill serves sourdough Neapolitan-style pizza with an emphasis on supporting local purveyors. We chat about incorporating local grains into the pizza dough. Chef/Partner John Rae and Baker Sadie Paulsen of Via Farina in Omaha, Nebraska, talk leveling up the culinary scene. With the restaurant’s new location, the team looked to introduce an innovative new menu. We dive deep into sourdough pasta. John even gives us the skinny on the charcuterie island. Stay tuned as we continue our interviews from Pizza Expo 2025.Check out more news from International Pizza Expo, including pizza competition results, show floor takeaways and happenings in our Pizza Expo News Hub.

Send us a textThis week, we start our Pizza Expo Interview Series from the show floor at Pizza Expo 2025. We kick off this special edition of The Hot Slice Podcast with two operators who were inspiring speakers at this year’s show. They are: Eric Redfield, co-owner of Camporosso in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky. We caught up with Eric a day before he gave a powerful keynote address on his Purpose-driven business that had the room in tears. Watch his entire keynote address. Camporosso was Pizza Today’s 2024 Pizzeria of the Year.  Jonathan Fell and Zachary Black, along with Jonathan’s father Marty who founded Jason’s New York Style Pizza in Bangor, Maine, 1997. Jonathan and Zachary brought fresh energy as new speakers this year with a session called “Innovate to Elevate”. We talk business, longevity and continuing the legacy.  Stay tuned as we continue our interviews from Pizza Expo 2025. Check out more news from International Pizza Expo, including pizza competition results, show floor takeaways and happenings in our Pizza Expo News Hub. 

Send us a textAlaska native Beau Schooler has been on the James Beard Foundation’s radar for years. This spring, Schooler is nominated for Best Chef in the Northwest and Pacific region, and he’s cooking at the James Beard Award after party on June 16 in Chicago.When he’s not rubbing elbows with a who’s who of the restaurant industry, Schooler is executive chef at Juneau, Alaska-based In Bocca Al Lupo, which serves Alaskan cuisine “through the lens of an Italian restaurant.” The dinner menu at In Bocca Al Lupo includes nine or 10 wood-fired pizzas at any given time, though Schooler says getting kiln-dried wood to run the oven can be a challenge since the restaurant is in a coastal rainforest. Other challenges include receiving fresh produce by barge and balancing local expectations with dreams of global cuisine. You won’t want to miss Schooler discussing how he blends the cuisines of Alaska, Calabria and the Philippines to create a one-of-a-kind menu that draws diners from across the globe and across the street.Learn more about In Bocca Al Lupo at https://www.inboccaallupoak.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/juneaulupo.

Send us a textIn June, Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana turns 100. The iconic New Haven pizzeria continues the legacy of Frank Pepe, who opened New Haven-style "abeetz" restaurant on the now famous Wooster Street in New Haven, Connecticut in 1925. On this week’s episode, we chat with Kevin Gagliard, Vice President of Operations for Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana.He shares how the family has maintained the culinary heritage and legacy of the century-old pizzeria, while strategically growing the business. Today Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana has 17 locations in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Virginia, and South Florida. See how the legendary pizzeria plans to celebrate the momentous occasion. Find out how the century-old pizzeria has stayed relevant in a changing pizzeria landscape. Get insights on the operations of an extremely high volume pizza business.Pepe’s success story includes: A Legacy of Quality: The iconic, 14-foot coal-fired ovens, signature white clam pizza, and commitment to authentic, high-quality ingredients.Family-Run Resilience: How generations of the Pepe family have navigated changing times, from the Great Depression to the rise of modern restaurant operations.Cultural Impact: Pepe’s helped put New Haven-style pizza on the map, influencing America’s love affair with pizza while maintaining its artisanal roots with its crispy yet chewy, slightly charred crust.National Appeal: Frank Pepe’s has amassed a legion of fans around the country and is a beloved brand of celebrities, including actor Paul Giamatti, former president Bill Clinton, Henry Winkler, and more.  Learn more about Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana at https://pepespizzeria.com/ and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/frankpepepizza/ .

Send us a textMark & Kira Zabrowski left the teaching profession to pursue their passion for pizza. They had a vision to open a mom-and-pop pizza business. That vision has been realized in Much Ado About Pizza in Pleasanton, California. They found more success than what they had dreamed of. They are creating systems to fine-tune the pizza operation.But now Much Ado About Pizza has hit max capacity. They are at a crossroads of when and how to grow the business. We talk about the opportunities in front of them. We also chat about the roles of their partnership, community growth, third-party delivery and more.Don’t miss Mark and Kira’s advice on what they learned at Pizza Expo to start their pizzeria. We also talk about competing on the international level as well as being named one of Yelp’s Top 100 Restaurants two years in a row. Learn more about Much Ado About Pizza at https://www.muchadoaboutpizzaca.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/muchadoaboutpizza/. 

Send us a textLynn’s Chicago Pizza began with Lynn Humphrey and Brandon Bruner, Sr. trying to solve a problem. They couldn’t get pizza delivered to their Southside Chicago neighborhood so Brandon, a trained chef, began experimenting with making a Chicago Deep Dish pizza. Soon, they started making pizza for friends and family. The two started selling pizza at a nearby bar and the virtual pizzeria was born doing popups.  They ventured into a brick-and-mortar restaurant partnership but soon realized that they wanted to create their own vision in their Woodlawn neighborhood that was in need of restaurant options. Landing the location that the two had their eye on came with an application process. After great strides, Lynn’s Chicago Pizza opened serving up deep dish and Chicago thin crust pizza.  Lynn and Brandon opened more than a pizzeria. Lynn’s serves as a community hub with events and special nights for people to gather.  Their efforts have drawn local and national attention. Brandon and Lynn share how they’ve built momentum for their young business. Learn more about Lynn’s Chicago Pizza at https://lynnschipizza.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/lynnschicagopizza/