I had to make an executive decision. I realized at the 11th hour that my kitchen at Tony’s of North Beach in the Graton Casino would not be able to handle the original menu I planned for it prior to opening. Simply put, we would not be able to execute it perfectly due...
Three restaurants opening within 10 days — How am I going to do it? I am literally 10 days away from opening two new restaurants in Northern California at a casino called Graton. This is one of the biggest tribal casinos in the U.S. and we were selected to be there....
When I opened Pizza Rock II in Las Vegas, I tailored the menu very much like I did in the first store in Sacramento. However, I did add a few new styles. You see, I have a restaurant in San Francisco where my Neapolitan line is the busiest and my Margherita pizza is...
Honestly, I have never been a fan of a certain nationally known food distributor. Early in my career I disliked their approach and practices when it came to their reps. Over the last 23 years I have always bought from independent Italian distributors. And I still do....
Q: What are some ways to properly preserve and store tomato sauce? A: In order to make a great tasting tomato sauce you always want to use the best and freshest tomatoes you can find. Although choosing to use the freshest and best ingredients can be costly, you will...
How social media prevented us from opening for two weeks Like most new restaurants, the opening of our Pizza Rock II in Las Vegas had to be delayed beyond our initially planned opening date. As we scrambled to get our final inspections passed, we realized something...
Recently, in every course I have had at least one or two students who have been interested in the concept of mobile ovens. Here are a number of pros and cons to keep in mind if you are thinking about investing in a mobile oven: Pros: It is a minimal original...
Q: Is it better to have a full liquor license, a wine and beer only license, or none at all? A: Years ago when I was traveling a lot, Todd King, a VP for Green Mills in Minnesota, told me to always have a full liquor license if possible. Originally, I came from a fast...
Q: Should I buy a wood-burning oven when I open my pizzeria? A: I get this question almost every day. I just had a course at the end of summer with three students, and all of them were in a frenzy over which oven to buy. Our course was based on two specific styles:...
The best prosciutto on the market is not necessarily prosciutto di Parma, although it is one of the top ranked. It comes down to personal preference. The attention to detail, care and tradition that goes into making prosciutto di Parma are just some of the reasons why...
Not too long ago I was in Parma, Italy, for the Campionato Mondiale della Pizza with a few members of The World Pizza Champions and Pizza Today magazine. While there, we had the pleasure and privilege to take a tour of a dairy that produces Parmigiano-Reggiano. Upon...
Tony Gemignani answers pizzeria operators questions Q: Why compete in food competitions at International Pizza Expo or anywhere else? A: As an owner everything is done to my specifications and wants. It is rare that I am tested and that I am out of my element. There...
