How Syracuse’s Most Famous Pizza Style Was Born: The Story of Toss & Fire Pizza | Ep 62

Pizza in the Jungle to Latin America’s Top 50: The Story of Seba's Restaurant | Ep 68

How does a person go from working a soul-crushing corporate bank job to running one of the most celebrated, award-winning restaurants in the middle of the Costa Rican jungle 🍕? This episode of the Pizza Story Podcast uncovers the jaw-dropping journey of Sebastian Gallucci, the culinary force behind Seba’s Restaurant and Alma Cocina 🌴! Sebastian practically grew up inside his family's kitchens  from the age of four, soaking up an old-school hospitality education that no culinary school could ever replicate. But before finding his paradise, he took a few massive detours. From a college soccer scholarship in Texas to a corporate desk job that completely drained his spirit, Sebastian knew he needed to break free. Inspired by the movie Chef 🎬, he took a total gamble, bought a 50-foot food truck on a line of credit, and quickly exploded onto the Toronto food scene, winning best sandwich in the city and landing features on the Food Network and Vice! But the story takes its craziest turn when the pandemic hit. Right at the peak of running a massive Argentinian Supper Club in Toronto, the world shut down. Instead of giving up, Sebastian, his wife, and their three-month-old baby packed up just three luggages, gave away everything else they owned, and boarded a flight to Costa Rica the exact day the borders closed 🧳. From building an off-grid bamboo home to launching an intimate tasting menu in their jungle kitchen, Sebastian eventually opened Seba’s Restaurant. He added just six pizzas to the menu using local, farm-fresh ingredients, and the next thing he knew, Italy's prestigious 50 Top Pizza 🏆 came calling. Now a three-time Green Oven Award winner for global sustainability, Sebastian proves that when a person refuses to compromise on quality and passion, the world will find them, no matter how deep in the jungle they are. Listeners can grab a slice, settle in, and get ready for one of the most inspiring restaurant turnaround stories ever told on the show ♥️🙌🏽! 🎙 Episode Highlights ✅ 03:33 Tacos Over Textbooks: Chasing a soccer career leads to a full scholarship on the Texas-Mexico border, where authentic street food quickly beats out business class. ✅ 06:53 Buying a Food Truck on a Whim: Inspired by Hollywood, Sebastian risks it all, buys a massive mobile kitchen 🚚, and completely flips his life upside down overnight. ✅ 09:50 The Supper Club Era: Launching a red-hot Argentinian dining experience in Toronto that seamlessly transformed from a steakhouse into a late-night dance party. ✅ 12:46 Planting Roots from Zero: Building an eco-friendly bamboo home, planting 150 fruit trees, and building a brand-new local reputation through private jungle dinners. ✅ 15:06 An Unbelievable Invite: The shocking moment an elite international pizza committee tracked down a tiny jungle restaurant to rank them among the best in Latin America. 🔗 Connect with Sebastian & Seba’s Restaurant: Instagram: @sebgallucci [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.instagram.com/sebgallucci&authuser=2] Restaurant: @sebasrestaurant [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.instagram.com/sebasrestaurant&authuser=2] Lifestyle & Eco-Project: @almauvita [https://www.instagram.com/almauvita] 🇮🇹 About the Podcast  The Pizza Story Podcast dives into the intersection of heritage, artistry, and the perfect slice. Listen, subscribe, and comment. Website: https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/ [https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/]  Substack: https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza [https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza]  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/ [https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/]  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza [https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza]  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza [https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza]  A Story About Pizza Book: https://www.amazon.com/Story-About-Pizza-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/1917116993 [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/ [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 [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/ [https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Italian-Christmas-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/B0G2GQX78W/]  #pizza #costarica #latam

How a 3 AM Sourdough Obsession Created Hamilton’s Cult-Favorite: Cherry Ghost Pizza | Ep 67

Today on the show, we are heading over to Hamilton, Ontario to chat with the mastermind behind the area's most elusive slice and cult-favorite pop-up: Ethan from Cherry Ghost Pizza 🍕. Ethan’s journey isn’t your typical culinary school story. It’s a beautifully chaotic tale that spans skateboarding and local slice shops, playing in a band, fine-dining kitchens, and a 3:00 AM epiphany involving an orange, some wild bacteria, and a homemade sourdough starter 🫙. From "gorilla cooking" out of his apartment window during the pandemic to mixing 150 doughs entirely by hand in bus bins today, Ethan’s obsession with the perfect "reheat crunch" has taken Hamilton by storm 🇨🇦. We dive deep into the beautiful madness of the small-batch hustle, how a Wilco song birthed a business, and how a third date blossomed into a family affair. (Shoutout to his wife Haleigh, the ultimate Pizza Queen 👑!) Plus, Ethan gives us a mouth-watering breakdown of his rotating menu, including the famous "Marlow’s Cheese," the fresh and zesty "White Light," and a sleeper dill pickle pizza that draws instant lines. Grab a slice, hit play, and get ready to fall down the sourdough rabbit hole with us ♥️! 🎙 Episode Highlights ✅ [01:10] From Skate Rat to Pizza Lover: Ethan talks about growing up in Hamilton, his grandfather's Neapolitan roots, and how $20 used to buy an extra-large pizza, a two-liter pop, and an entire day of skateboarding. ✅ [03:26] The Twists, Tweezers, and Terribly Bad Dough: How a fine-dining sous chef playing with tweezers at work decided to try making pizza at home—and accidentally created the "worst batch of dough of all time." ✅ [05:45] The Sourdough Rabbit Hole: Ethan admits to pirating Tartine Bread as a broke kid and explains how he eventually birthed his very first successful starter using an orange and wild bacteria. ✅ [06:41] Apartment Window Hustle: Slinging Roman-style pizzas out of a James Street North apartment on cheap dollar-store sheet trays during the height of the pandemic lockdowns. ✅ [11:31] The Birth of Cherry Ghost: How a name change from "Retro Pizza" and a lyric from the band Wilco sparked an Instagram account that blew up into unexpected backyard pre-orders. ✅ [13:59] A True Family Affair: Ethan shares the heartwarming story of how his and Haley’s third date was a slammed pizza pop-up, proving she was the one. ✅ [17:03] Inside the Menu: A delicious breakdown of Cherry Ghost's staple pies, from the meticulously crafted Marlow’s Cheese to the Frank Pinello-inspired White Light, and the hand-shredded Windsor-Style Pepperoni. ✅ [22:31] What's Next & The Secret Pop-Up: Ethan reveals details about an upcoming secret pop-up in Hamilton, their growing catering side, and drops a massive hint about a future brick-and-mortar location. 🔗 Connect with Cherry Ghost Pizza: Instagram: @cherryghostpizza [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.instagram.com/cherryghostpizza&authuser=2] Website: https://cherry-ghost.square.site/ [https://cherry-ghost.square.site/]  Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review the Pizza Story Podcast. See you next week! 🇮🇹 About the Podcast  The Pizza Story Podcast dives into the intersection of heritage, artistry, and the perfect slice. Join host Erica D'Arcangelo as she sits down with the masters and makers keeping culinary traditions alive, one pie at a time. Website: https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/ [https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/]  Substack: https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza [https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza]  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/ [https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/]  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza [https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza]  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza [https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza]  A Story About Pizza Book: https://www.amazon.com/Story-About-Pizza-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/1917116993 [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/ [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 [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/ [https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Italian-Christmas-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/B0G2GQX78W/]  #pizza #ontario #canada

Where There’s Red Sauce, There’s a Story with Tony Mangia | Ep 66

If you want to understand what drives Anthony Scalia, you only need to know his motto: Where there’s red sauce, there’s a story. Better known to his Instagram community as @TonyMangia, Anthony has dedicated his life to chasing those stories across America visiting the hidden Italian markets, multi-generational family restaurants, and under-the-radar pizzerias that define our culture 🇮🇹. Tony joins the podcast to take us on a journey through what he calls "the 21st region of Italy" AKA Italian America. He shares his roots growing up in Lodi, New Jersey, running around his dad’s local deli as a kid, and how a passion for the arts led him from a college radio show hosting guests like Lidia Bastianich to filming a pilot for the Food Network. What makes Tony so captivating is his raw, unfiltered perspective on the food scene. He isn't out here playing a character for the camera; what you see is what you get. In this deep dive, he takes us inside his Monday night routine at the Belmont Tavern in Belleville, New Jersey, detailing exact dishes like Stretch’s Chicken Savoy with red wine vinegar, shrimp beeps, and cavatelli with pot cheese. We travel down to Brooklyn to talk about Bamonte’s, hit South Philly @bamontesrestaurant to uncover the cash-only, no-photos-allowed dining experience at the Palizzi Social Club @palizzisc 💚, and explore the massive street feasts of Boston's North End. Of course, we had to talk about pizza 🍕. Tony breaks down his own "pizza cognition theory,” the idea that the first pizza you eat as a child becomes the standard you judge every other pie against for the rest of your life. For him, that means the thin Sicilian pies at Lodi Pizza @lodipizzanj and the legendary highway stand vibes of Pizza Town @pizzatownusa1958 [https://www.instagram.com/pizzatownusa1958/#] 🙌🏽. We also get into the nuances of true Neapolitan style at Song' E Napule @songenapulenyc new-school spots like Casano’s in Rutherford @casanospizzaparlor and the overlooked Italian enclaves outside of the major hubs, stretching from Pittsburgh and Altoona all the way down to New Orleans. Ultimately, Tony delivers a powerful message about what it truly means to support a local business. It's about respecting the mind, body, and soul the owners put into their craft, and understanding the real sacrifices made behind the counter. Whether he’s helping cook a thousand pounds of bucatini for St. Joseph’s Day in New Orleans or mapping out a five-hour road trip to visit a new spot, Tony reminds us that our heritage is something we have to actively preserve, support, and celebrate before it’s gone ♥️. 📖 Episode Chapters ✅ 00:00 - Tony’s background, growing up in Lodi, NJ, and his early days in New York food media. ✅ 15:40 – Inside the Belmont Tavern, defending Mulberry Street, and uncovering Philly’s hidden Palizzi Social Club @palizzisc  ✅ 32:11 – A deep dive into classic Jersey pizzerias, Neapolitan style, and exploring food enclaves. 🔗 Connect with the Guest Follow Tony Mangia on Instagram: @TonyMangia [https://instagram.com/tonymangia] 🎧Join the Conversation If you enjoyed this deep dive into Italian history, please Like this video and Subscribe to the channel. We’re traveling the country to talk to the legends, the people keeping the traditions alive, and you won’t want to miss our next stops. 🇮🇹 About the Podcast Website: https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/ [https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/]  Substack: https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza [https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza]  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/ [https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/]  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza [https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza]  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza [https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza]  A Story About Pizza Book: https://www.amazon.com/Story-About-Pizza-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/1917116993 [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/ [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 [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/ [https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Italian-Christmas-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/B0G2GQX78W/]  #pizza #italian #italianhistory #italianamerican

The Secret History of Sally’s Apizza: 90 Years of New Haven Legend | Ep 65

In the world of pizza, there is "pizza," and then there is New Haven "Apizza" 🍕.  Since 1938, one name has stood as a titan of the craft, drawing pilgrims from across the globe to a narrow stretch of Wooster Street. Sally’s Apizza isn't just a restaurant; it’s a living, breathing time capsule of Italian-American history 🇮🇹. In this episode, host Erica D'Arcangelo sits down with Bret Lunsford of Sally’s to pull back the curtain on nearly a century of coal-fired excellence. The story begins not with a business plan, but with a family feud. After a fallout at Frank Pepe’s in the late 1930s, Salvatore "Sally" Consiglio and his brother Tony found themselves out of work. With $500 of their mother Philomena’s jewelry money and a dream to feed their neighborhood, they opened a small bakery-turned-pizzeria just down the road. Bret shares the intimate details of those early days, explaining how Sally’s signature style, a tomato-forward sauce, high-hydration dough, and a specific "shredded moots" technique, was born out of a desire to create something distinct from their famous Uncle Frank. Beyond the dough and the fire, this episode explores the cultural gravity of Sally’s 🔥. We discuss the legendary "Red Phone," a secret hotline used by locals and celebrities alike to bypass the notorious two-hour lines. You'll hear about the night Frank Sinatra had pies delivered to New York, the first date of Bill and Hillary Clinton, and why the 100-year-old coal ovens produce a "char" that is often misunderstood by outsiders but cherished by connoisseurs ♥️. 🎙 Episode Highlights:  ✅ 01:17 – The history of the Amalfi Coast immigration movement that turned New Haven into a culinary destination. ✅ 01:59 – The great family fallout: Why Sally and Tony left Uncle Frank Pepe to start their own rival shop. ✅ 03:32 – The technical breakdown of Apizza, focusing on sauce-forward builds and the shredded mozzarella distinction. ✅ 05:20 – Respecting the canvas: Why Sally’s refuses to change its core process or hydration levels after nine decades. ✅ 06:21 – Seasonality on Worcester Street: The cult following behind the Fresh Tomato Pie and the back-garden tradition. ✅ 09:01 – The "Pied Piper" of the neighborhood: Sal’s commitment to keeping kids off the streets and in the kitchen. ✅ 10:44 – Facing the "One Bite" fame: How social media turned a local secret into a global viral phenomenon. ✅ 18:25 – The science of the char: Why coal-fire heat creates a flavor profile that can't be replicated. 🔗 Connect with Sally’s Apizza If you want to keep up with the latest from the ovens or see behind-the-scenes footage of their expansion, make sure to follow the team online. They are currently sharing the "Apizza" love across several locations and counting, bringing that signature New Haven crunch to a whole new generation of fans. Follow on Instagram: @sallysapizza [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.instagram.com/sallysapizza&authuser=2] Official Website & Locations: sallysapizza.com [https://sallysapizza.com/] Find them on TikTok & Facebook: @sallysapizza 🇮🇹 About the Podcast  The Pizza Story Podcast dives into the intersection of heritage, artistry, and the perfect slice. Join host Erica D'Arcangelo as she sits down with the masters and makers keeping culinary traditions alive, one pie at a time. Website: https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/ [https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/]  Substack: https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza [https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza]  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/ [https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/]  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza [https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza]  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza [https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza]  A Story About Pizza Book: https://www.amazon.com/Story-About-Pizza-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/1917116993 [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/ [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 [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/ [https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Italian-Christmas-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/B0G2GQX78W/]  #pizza #sallys #sallysapizza #newhaven

The 100-Year Diner With Soul: Reviving the Art of Pizza With Emily’s Hearth | Ep 64

In this episode of The Pizza Story Podcast, Erica D'Arcangelo steps inside the 100-year-old Silk City diner in Northern New Jersey to sit down with Emily Downs, the founder of Emily’s Hearth ♥️. Emily Downs is a baker, artisan, and the owner of Emily’s Hearth in Sussex County, NJ. With a background in sculpture and documentary film, Emily shifted her focus to the "edible arts" after a chance encounter with Alice Waters at Chez Panisse. She has worked across the country and in Italy, honing her skills at Sullivan Street Bakery and Kesté, before returning home to revive a historic diner and build a community around wood-fired bread and pizza. This isn't just a story about opening a pizzeria; it’s a story about the "mimicking of spirits” 🍕. Emily shares the incredible discovery that her diner was originally owned a century ago by a female humanitarian named Sadie Weed. A woman who used these same four walls to feed the community and provide work for drifters passing by on the local train tracks. From her Irish-Italian roots in rural Sussex County to apprenticing with the legends of the industry including Alice Waters and Jim Leahy, Emily discusses her journey as a single mother who used her craft to build a life of independence. We dive into the science of a two-week cold ferment, the grit of mobile pop-ups, and why some of the best lessons in baking happen on a dairy farm at 4:00 a.m.👩🏻‍🍳 🎙 Episode Highlights  ✅ 00:00 – The Legacy of Sadie Weed: Emily shares the history of her 1920s Silk City diner and the "woman-owned" spirit that still haunts the hearth. ✅ 04:45 – From Documentaries to Dough: A chance meeting with Alice Waters at Chez Panisse that changed Emily’s career path forever. ✅ 09:40 – Best in Show: The story of Emily’s father winning the county fair with a simple white loaf and the "bread and butter" philosophy. ✅ 12:15 – The Edible Schoolyard: How Alice Waters redefined food as a direct correlation to health, longevity, and community power. ✅ 14:50 – "No Girls Allowed": Emily’s struggle to get hired in male-dominated pizzerias before finding her first "fate moment" at Pizzeria Delfina. ✅ 18:50 – Serving Thomas Keller: The high-stakes moment Emily unknowingly served the most famous chef in the world. ✅ 22:30 – The Six-Foot Oven: Learning traditional wood-burning methods at Bobolink Dairy and the rhythm of a 12-hour fire. ✅ 26:10 – Apprenticing with Jim Leahy: Designing specialty equipment and mastering the "No-Knead" method at Sullivan Street Bakery. ✅ 27:30 – The Two-Week Ferment: A deep dive into the sourdough science behind the Emily’s Hearth pizza crust. ✅ 29:40 – Motherhood as Motivation: How becoming a single mom gave Emily the "gusto" to stop waiting tables and start her own business. ✅ 41:00 – Visiting Emily’s Hearth: Live music, fresh bread, and where to find the best pizza in Sussex County. 🔗 Connect with Emily’s Hearth: 📸 Instagram: @emilys.hearth [https://www.instagram.com/emilys.hearth] 📍 Visit: Emily’s Hearth on Friday & Saturday in Sussex County, NJ @ 4 Hamburg Ave 🇮🇹 About the Podcast  The Pizza Story Podcast explores the intersection of heritage, artisanry, and the “slice.” Hosted by Erica D'Arcangelo, we sit down with the people keeping traditions alive one slice at a time. Website: https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/ [https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/]  Substack: https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza [https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza]  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/ [https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/]  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza [https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza]  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza [https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza]  A Story About Pizza Book: https://www.amazon.com/Story-About-Pizza-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/1917116993 [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/ [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 [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/ [https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Italian-Christmas-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/B0G2GQX78W/]  #pizza #podcast #njpizza #sourdoughpizza