Pizza Story Podcast
Pizza Story Podcast
Podcast Description
There are more than 50,000 family owned pizzeria's in America. Each one has their own unique story. Join our host Erica D'Arcangelo as she interviews this group of real American hero and learn their pizza story. This podcast encompasses everything that is unique about food, family and Italian culture. Most of all, you'll get to find how about the best pizza and were to get it.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
Focuses on family-owned pizzerias across America, emphasizing individual stories, culinary traditions, and personal anecdotes. Episodes delve into topics like unique pizza recipes, generational family recipes, and cultural ties, with examples like Ranger Joe's emphasis on simplified menus for quality and D'Arc's family legacy in pizza making.
There are more than 70,000 family-owned pizzeria’s in America, and even more across the globe. Each one has their own unique story. Join our host Erica D’Arcangelo as she interviews this group of real American heroes, and learns about their pizza stories. This podcast encompasses everything that makes you fall in love with food, family, Italian culture, and tradition. Most of all, you’ll get inside information on the best pizza in the world, and where to get it, from award-winning pizzaiolo’s and chefs, to influencers and opinion leaders on pizza and Italian culture.
On this episode of the Pizza Story Podcast, I’m joined by the incredible Chef Jenny Messing, the brilliant mind behind SoCal's The Little Gem Kitchen ❤️. Jenny is redefining the art of outdoor cooking with her stunning California-style sourdough pizzas and live-fire dining experiences, but her path to the culinary world was anything but traditional 🍕.
Jenny takes us through her inspiring journey, from dropping out of high school and navigating a successful corporate marketing career at Oakley, to finally stepping away from the daily grind to pursue her true passion for food. We talk about how a simple COVID-era side hustle, baking sourdough bread and delivering homemade pizza kits at 3 a.m., accidentally laid the foundation for her thriving catering business 🍞.
We also dive deep into the craft behind her food, including how a Gozney oven transformed her pop-up setup, her secret to making her famous Carolina Gold mustard BBQ chicken pizza, and how she sources fresh, hyper-local ingredients from nearby farms. Plus, Jenny shares why she intentionally chooses to keep her business small and hands-on, staying right at the oven to share the pure, nostalgic joy of pizza with every single guest 🙌🏽.
🎙 Episode Highlights
✅ 00:43 – Jenny’s SoCal upbringing, big family roots, and early love for food
✅ 02:07 – Walking away from action sports marketing to start a home supper club
✅ 04:17 – Inside The Little Gem Kitchen: Live-fire cooking & remote outdoor events
✅ 06:10 – The COVID sourdough pivot: Waking up at 3 AM to deliver pizza kits
✅ 08:20 – The game-changer: How Gozney ovens transformed her catering business
✅ 09:50 – Farm-to-table pizza: Sourcing seasonal ingredients from The Ecology Center
✅ 11:19 – Menu deep-dive: The crowd-favorite Carolina Gold BBQ chicken pie
✅ 13:26 – Finding fresh culinary inspiration on an upcoming trip to Italy
✅ 16:04 – Spreading soul-nourishing joy through simple, humble food
✅ 17:19 – Why Jenny chooses to stay a hands-on, boutique owner-operator
🔗 Connect on Instagram with Our Guest & Host
@chefjennymessing
🍕🇮🇹 About the Podcast
Step behind the counter and into the craft with the people who turned a passion for pizza into a lifestyle. We're sharing the untold stories, deep-rooted traditions, and authentic history behind the best pies in the world, one slice at a time.
🎧 🔔 Subscribe to the Pizza Story Podcast for more stories behind the dough, sauce, and ovens ♥️!
Website: https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/
Substack: https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza
A Story About Pizza Book: 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/
Pietro’s Pizza Toppings Children’s Book: 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/
#pizza #chef #littlejemkitchen
Disclaimer
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