Controlling labor costs: a matter of planning and monitoring Andy Lanz runs Figaro’s Pizza in Verona, Wisconsin, an eight-year-old shop with carryout, delivery and a 35-seat dining room. He calls his eatery a “modest one” that doesn’t churn �...

Control pests before they control your pizzeria The lower 48 states experienced one of the mildest winters on record. News services across the country have reported that the easy winter has made way for an above average bug filled summer. Dr. Zia Sid...

Q: We are planning to open our first store soon and we want to do something that will help to set us apart from the local competition. A: There are a number of things that you can do to set yourself apart from the other pizzerias in your area, here a...

Balsamic vin­egar became the vinegar of choice for the gourmet cook in the United States in the early 1980s. Nevermind the fact that this marvelous vinegar has been around since 1046. According to Waverly Root (The Food of Italy), it was in 1046 tha...

From time to time I am asked a question about a term that I’ve used in one of my articles. As a result, I’ve come to discover that a lot of operators are not familiar with the terms that I just take for granted. To help bring everyone up ...

If you plan to utilize secret shoppers, be sure they answer the following questions: • Were you greeted with a friendly smile when entering the pizzeria? • Was the restaurant clean? • How long did it take for the food to be served? &bu...

Rather than flipping new staff a book for their self-study or allowing a new bartender to learn the poor habits of a shoddy veteran, integrate these key elements into bar staff training for maximum effectiveness: Engaging and Interactive: creating a ...

It’s February, and that means the folks in the International Pizza Expo offices are putting the finishing touches on the annual event that brings more than 6,000 pizzeria operators under one roof. Slated for Tuesday, March 1, through Thursday, ...

Stromboli is a second cousin to pizza and a first cousin to the calzone. Which brings us to this question: how, precisely, does a Stromboli differ from a calzone? Well, in a nutshell, there is not much difference. A stromboli starts with a rectangula...

Many operators have asked me questions about opening a second unit. Going from one store to two was one of the hardest moves I ever made. Going from two to three was much easier. I caution operators that if your current store is running better when y...

The way these two forming methods affect the dough and finished crust characteristics is quite significant. The sheeter tends to both put a lot of work/energy into the dough, sometimes even causing the dough to become tough and elastic like during th...

Just when you thought you’d caught up with the new wave in technology-style ordering, the big boys have gone one step further than Web sites to introduce text messaging. Yes, you can now order via cell phone — without actually using it to...