Did you know that penne alla vodka, fettuccine alfredo, and chicken parm technically don’t exist in Italy 🇮🇹?

In this episode, I sat down with Daniela and Daniele, the passionate husband-and-wife duo behind Apulia Risto Pizza 🍝 in Sussex County, New Jersey. Daniela’s father immigrated from Corato (Bari, Apulia) in 1958 without knowing how to read or write, yet went on to build 19 pizzerias across New Jersey before retiring back to Italy ♥️.

Daniela swore she would never set foot in the grueling restaurant business. But when her 85-year-old father suffered a near-fatal illness, she and Daniele made an audacious decision: leave Italy, move to small-town Franklin, NJ, and honor his legacy with 100% authentic, slow-crafted Apulian cuisine 🥘.

From shipping seasoned iron pans straight from Bari to baking real Focaccia Barese, pulling warm fresh mozzarella daily, serving fiery Spaghetti all’Assassina, and slinging 80% hydration contemporary thin-crust pizza out of a live-flame Italian dome oven, this isn't your average slice joint 🍕. It’s an edible masterclass in what happens when you refuse to compromise on tradition.

Grab a slice, slow down, and join us for a conversation about family, grit, and the healing power of a real homemade meal 🌿🍅🍷.

🎙 Episode Highlights

✅ 01:03 – From 1958 immigrant to 19 pizzerias: The father’s legacy

✅ 03:45 – Meeting in Italy & opening ”New York Pizza” in Corato

✅ 05:16 – Italian vs. Italian-American: The food myths we all believe

✅ 07:06 – A leap of faith: Saving the family dream after a near-fatal illness

✅ 09:48 – Bringing Bari to New Jersey: Real Barese pans, olive oil, and stracciatella

✅ 12:50 – Authentic Carbonara (No peas, no cream!) & Spaghetti all’Assassina

✅ 15:24 – The pizza secret: 80% hydration, biga mother dough & imported dome oven

✅ 17:17 – The gourmet pies: Mortadella, pistachio, and flaming crusts

✅ 19:32 – Catching the eye of Italy’s famous pasta makers & global invites

✅ 21:38 – Why Apulia refuses to open a second location

✅ 23:37 – Food as the last true human connection

🔗 Connect with Apulia Ristorante Pizza

Location: Franklin, Sussex County, New JerseyFollow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apulia_risto_pizza/ Website: https://apuliaristopizza.com/

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🍕🇮🇹 About the Podcast

Step behind the counter and into the craft with the people who turned a passion for pizza and food into a lifestyle. From local artisans and celebrities to legendary pizzerias keeping Italian culture alive, we're sharing the untold stories, deep-rooted traditions, and authentic history behind the best pies in the world, one slice at a time.

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