Lasagna is such a staple in the landscape of Italian restaurants and in many pizzerias across our great land. We traditionally see lasagna offered one of two ways –– cheese lasagna or meat lasagna, both layered with noodles, sauce and a blend of ...

It’s an essential component of restaurant operations, affecting everything from menu size to seating. Yet its importance often goes unrecognized — until the squeeze is on. We’re talking storage space, the bane of many pizzeria operators.“Stor...

Friends, I’m here to tell you that it’s time to stop talking about adding some new items to your menu and just do it. Putting it off is no longer an option. You’ve probably been talking about menu changes or additions for a year now. Sure, our ...

The secret’s out: Detroit style pizza is delicious. It’s not news to people in the Motor City, but the rest of us are only now being introduced to the burnt cheese goodness over 60 years after its first appearance. This year’s Pizza Expo saw mo...

Building a sauce with wine is a wonderful way to add acidity, body and flavor. Italian dishes with wine as an integral ingredient are aplenty — from risotto deglazed with white wine to Bolognese slow-cooked with red wine and stock. The challenge is...

When I decided to open my first pizzeria, I knew exactly what style of pizza I wanted to make: Roman style — the thin, crispy crust with a small gum line and just enough sponge for the guest to taste the flavor of the crust but not have it overwhel...

There has been a continued interest in developing more foods containing whole grains over the past several years. Part of that interest stems from the fact that whole grains are now a part of every school-age child’s life, so children are becoming ...

You would never guess that just three basic ingredients lay the foundation for a high-end classic Old World dish. But that’s exactly the case of chicken or veal Marsala, which relies on cutlets, wine and mushrooms. In it’s simplest incarnation, a...

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 s...

Many of you have contemplated adding pasta to your menu but may still be reluctant. Well it’s time to cast your worries aside. I’ve written about pasta in the past and have even lead demos at International Pizza Expo. My goal now is to bring you ...

Chorizo is one famous sausage with many forms and variations around the globe. In the States, it has been often overlooked as one of the most flexible and flavorful toppings to grace a pizza. This Spanish sausage –– with its unique ruby color and...

Q: We are planning to offer a party size pizza that will be baked on an 18-inch x 26-inch sheet pan. What is the best way to figure out how much dough and toppings we will need to use? A: The best way to calculate dough, sauce and cheese amounts for ...