Francesco Marra is the co-founder of Marra Forni, and also the founder of Pizza University (in Maryland, near Washington DC), where some of the most famous pizza makers in the world teach hands-on classes for both professional and home pizza enthusiasts. In this episode, Francesco tells us of his journey from food service marketing, to creating world class ovens, and now to education, all in the service of advancing the quality and growth of pizza.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

Ed Zimmerman is a name not many people outside the pizza and food service industry know (though those of us in the pizza world all know him), but all of us, whether inside or outside of the profession, are impacted by the creative work he does. His company, The Food Connector, organizes the annual Real California Pizza Contest, on behalf of their client, The California Milk Advisory Board (the CMAB). This has turned into a major event for professional pizza makers, with serious prize money, and a great way for home chefs to find inspiration for new ways to make pizza by tracking the results and the recipes. Ed fills us in on this year's contest results and many other creative things he and his team do to help promote the pizza industry and its many products. He is a human bundle of creative ferment, as you will see during this stimulating conversation.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

Peter welcomes Oron Franco, co-creator (along with his wife Riki) of Prime-6. If you watch Shark Tank, where the Franco's landed a major "Shark," (Keven O'Leary, aka Mr. Wonderful), you already know that this is not ordinary charcoal and fire logs, but is made from 100% hardwood sawdust that has been compressed into logs without the addition of any binders. As you will learn during this conversation, the burning properties of this product change the whole equation of wood-fired cooking -- burning hotter, slower, with more intensity, and with lower emissions than conventional hardwood. With the help of their "Shark," Prime-6 firewood is now available to both the food service and the home consumer markets, and is primed to tip over big-time as a game-changing technology that is already being used in a number of major pizzerias and restaurants. You'll hear all about it, straight from its co- creator, Oron Franco, in this new episode of Pizza Quest!Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

Most culinary savants are familiar with Chef Wylie Dufresne, who, at his groundbreaking Manhattan restaurant, WD 50, brought modernist molecular gastronomy in the style and spirit of Heston Blumenthal, Grant Achatz, and Ferran Adria to NYC about 10 years ago. Since then, like so many other great fine dining chefs, Wylie has fallen under the spell of pizza and is now expressing his creative genius at Park Avenue's Stretch Pizza. Hear all about Wylie's journey, from his Rhode Island origins, to the global stage, and now finding his voice in the ultra-competitive pizza sector. The expectations are high, but so is his intent, as we'll discover on this new episode of Pizza Quest with Peter Reinhart.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

Korshak Bagels, nestled in the heart of Philadelphia's historic Italian Market Neighborhood, was like the mouse that roared. Producing only 1,000 hand-shaped sourdough bagels a day, Philip Korshak's love-child of a Bagelry garnered national press during its brief two-year run, and elicited deep mourning and lines two blocks long during its final week, even when folks were warned they could buy only two bagels per person. Was it Korshak's Instagram poetry posts, the original shmears and curated smoked salmon and pastrami lox, or simply the amazingly plump bagels themselves that cemented Korshak Bagels as an eternal star in Philadelphia's legendary food constellation? Find out straight from Phil's own mouth as he joins Peter for an enlightening and heartbreaking debrief in this week's episode of Pizza Quest.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

On this episode, Peter talks with Kyle Ahlgren, the producer/director of the Artisan Baking Center (ABC). A year ago, Peter and Kyle collaborated at the Artisan Baking Center, the educational component of Central Milling in Petaluma, CA. The two recorded a video pizza course based on Peter's most recent book, Pizza Quest. Kyle and his team chose four of the featured pizzas from the book, along with Peter's dough and sauce recipes, and created a dynamic, seven-part pizza course that is available now for purchase.If you choose to buy the course (or any other courses in their catalog), Kyle is offering a 35% discount for Pizza Quest followers when you use the discount code PIZZAQUEST at checkout. Could be a great holiday gift for friends or loved ones! Hear the behind-the-scenes stories of how Kyle Ahlgren created this and all their video courses on this episode of Pizza Quest.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

Ajith Dharmawardhana (aka Ajith Dharma) is the owner of Fire Within, the leading manufacturer of mobile wood-fired oven rigs. In this episode, Ajith describes how Fire Within trains the growing number of oven owners at their Wood-Fired University to achieve maximum success by providing detailed business plans, strategies, and training on the many uses of their mobile ovens. Learn all about this uniquely American success story right here on this week's episode of Pizza Quest with Peter Reinhart.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

Jason Rosenthal started making pizzas in his apartment for a few lucky locals as a way to maintain his sanity and explore his creativity while exiting a job he didn't love. Soon, he started doing successful pop-ups, then he found a couple of kindred pizza-obsessed spirits, and lo and behold, they teamed up to open Brick+Dough in Montclair, NJ, where the locals are going mad for their inventive, neo-traditional wood-fired pizzas. Based on the buzz, their restaurant seems destined for Razza status in the ever-growing New Jersey pizza renaissance (yes, New Jersey is undoubtedly having its moment!). Hear all about it in this week's episode of Pizza Quest.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

Los Alamitos, California is not known as a pizza haven. That is about to change thanks to Landon Pietrini of Pietrini Pizza Napoletana. Landon is now an international pizza star, having placed 5th at the recent World Championships, and is putting his town on the map.Pietrini's is no longer a local roadside secret, as the Pietrini family has staked out their own slice of the Orange County dream not too far, actually, from Disneyland. Big crowds are now lining up for Landon's wood-fired beauties and the sky is the limit. Hear all about it right here, on this week's episode of Pizza Quest.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

Chef Roy Elam learned how to cook in the cornfields along the borderland between St. Louis and Illinois, and then paid his culinary dues with some of the country's finest natural foods chefs. But when he decided to open a plant-based restaurant of his own, dedicated to his mom, Donna Jean, Southern California was the logical place to do it. First in San Diego (2017) and, more recently in LA, Donna Jean is drawing big, happy crowds at both locations with its all natural, super inventive vegan cuisine and plant-based cheeses, including pizzas that break all the rules but deliver so much flavor that customers (many of them not vegans or vegetarians) simply don't care about the so-called "rules."Join Peter in this inspiring conversation with rising star chef, Roy Elam, who was cited a few years ago by The Huffington Post for making the "Best vegan mac & cheese ever!"Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

Two internationally known pizza stars are part of the ever-growing cadre of pizza makers putting Texas on the global map. Nicole Bean, award-winning pizzaiola and president of Houston's Pizaro's Pizza, and three-time World Pizza Champion Derek Sanchez, co-founder of Mia Marco's Pizza in Selma (just outside of San Antonio), join Peter to discuss the state of pizza in Texas, and entertain the notion of what a Texas-style pizza would and should be.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

Welcome Back to Pizza Quest! There is no question that Ooni Ovens have taken the world by storm, even eclipsing their worthy competitor RoccBox, which had a nice head start. How have they done it? Fortunately, Scott Deley, who just published a book called The Ooni Pizza Project, joins the show to tell us all about it. The book is loaded with inspiring recipes created by Scott (but inspired by his many pizza heroes), who has been on his own personal pizza quest for quite a while. He is now an official Ooni Brand Ambassador, posting regularly on social media to help establish Ooni as a brand to reckon with. In out conversation, Scott tells us all about what a "Brand Ambassador" means, and gives us an insight into Ooni managed to break from the pack and become a global marketing phenomenon.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

On this week's episode of Pizza Quest, Peter talks with Peyton Smith of Mission Pizza in Winston-Salem, NC. Peyton found his calling, his life's mission if you will, when he fell in love with real Neapolitan pizza in Italy and decided to bring the experience home to the city of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. After nearly ten years, Mission Pizza Napoletana has become a pilgrimage point for pizza freaks near and far, and has been recognized as having one of the best pizzas in the country.Note: On Sept. 10th, 2023, Peyton will be hosting Peter for a Sunday Pizza Brunch at Mission Pizza, where Peter will be signing copies of "Pizza Quest: My Never-Ending Search for the Perfect Pizza."  If you're in the area, here is the link to the ticket information: https://www.exploretock.com/missionpizzanapoletana/event/431227/pizza-quest-brunch-with-peter-reinhartClick here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

This episode features a conversation with Chef John Ash, who for the past 40 years has been known in Sonoma and Napa as the Godfather of Wine Country Cuisine. His restaurant, John Ash & Company, helped to define what became known as California Cuisine back in the 1980's and 1990's. John, along with chefs like Alice Waters, Jeremiah Tower, Joyce Goldstein, and Michael McCarty, changed the way people cooked and ate across the entire country. Chef Ash has also written a number of award winning books, including the 1996 IACP Cookbook of the Year, From the Earth to the Table, and has just published a beautiful new book called The Hog Island Book of Fish & Seafood.On a personal note, John was the first important chef to serve Peter's bread in his famous restaurant, way back in 1988, which helped launch Brother Juniper's Bakery's successful run and paved the way for Peter's own writing career. He owes a deep debt of gratitude to John, not only for his early support and friendship, but for some of the most memorable meals Peter and his wife ever ate at John Ash & Company. You'll learn even more about this remarkable culinary influencer as he and I reconnect and reminisce in this  very enjoyable conversation, here on Pizza Quest.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

Chefs Thomas McNaughton and Ryan Pollnow,  the creative minds behind San Francisco's award-winning Flour + Water, join Peter to discuss their newest restaurant, Flour + Water Pizzeria. Located in the heart of the city's North Beach neighborhood (aka Little Italy), Flour + Water Pizzeria will switch the focus from the Neapolitan style that earned them their legendary status in SF's Mission District, towards a Neo-Neapolitan New York Style. Why the change? Tune in to find out all about it.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

On this episode of Pizza Quest, we catch up with the biggest rock star in the pizza universe, multi-world pizza champion Tony Gemignani. Tony is the owner of Tony's Pizza Napoletana and Pizza Rock, along with many other restaurants, bakeries, pizza schools, and even a new bagel shop in San Francisco called Dago Bagel. He tells us about his biggest project ever, the launch of dozens of Slice Shops by Tony Gemignani franchises across the country.Despite all that, the main focus of today's conversation is to tell everyone about the upcoming San Francisco Pizza, Beer, and Bagel Festival on August 19th in North Beach, the "Little Italy" of San Francisco. There are only a few tickets left for this day long blow-out, so if you are planning to attend or want more details, the event page can be found here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sf-pizza-bagel-and-beer-festival-tickets-643914444437Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

Lars and Cristina Smith must be doing something right. Their restaurant, State of Mind Public House and Pizzeria, is killing it in Los Altos, California, just south of San Francisco. Lars is also competing on the USA Pizza Champions Team and is a fast-rising star in the American pizza community. They are joined in this episode by Lars' former mentor and previous Pizza Quest guest, Leah Scurto, who is having similar success on the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge at her popular restaurant, Pizza Leah, in Windsor (Sonoma County). Join us as they swap stories of how they elevated each other's game over the years and all became major players in the pizza world.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

On this episode of Pizza Quest we take a tangential detour away from pizza (as we often do in our ever-expanding celebration of artisanship wherever we find it) with one of our longtime, favorite guests, Meathead Goldwyn.  Meathead (yes, that's his name, the origins of which he explains in this conversation), is the creator and host of the hugely popular website, AmazingRibs.com, where for many years he has provided an encyclopedia's worth of free knowledge on everything related to cooking over wood, charcoal, gas, and even electric. His best-selling book, Meathead: The Science of Great BBQ and Grilling, provides both techniques and recipes, but also clearly explains the science behind why and how you should do it.In this entertaining conversation, he demystifies some of the most common false myths about BBQ and grilling, and you will leave this episode with some brilliant, perhaps even life changing takeaways, and might even be compelled to join Meathead's Pitmaster Club for additional perks. Hold on for a great ride as Peter talks with the legendary Meathead Goldwyn.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

Join Peter as he meets with three of the leading voices in the USA pizza movement: Laura Meyer, Stephanie Swane, and Alexandra Mortati. As more and more women take the helm of their pizza businesses, they encounter similar but also different challenges than their male counterparts, and bring new creativity to the craft. You will hear all about it on this week's enlightening episode of Pizza Quest.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

Chef Ryan Hardy has been killing it in the Lower East Side of New York City with his wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas and other fire-cooked menu items at Pasquale Jones. And now, a few yards away, he has opened a hot new Sicilian-themed cafe called Bar Pasquale, where sfincione-style pan pizzas reign. Ryan describes his vision for both places and shows us the difference between these two classic styles of pizza. His description of Pasquale Jones' Clam Pizza will be enough to make you want to head over there, as so many others have, as soon as possible. It's all here on this week's episode of Pizza Quest with Peter Reinhart.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

One of the recent paradigm shifts in the pizzeria world is that customers are now familiar with and in search of many styles of pizza, be it classic Neapolitan, New York and New Haven, thin-crusted parlor and bar pizzas, Detroit and Sicilian thick crusted, and all of the variations in-between. In response, a number of popular pizza experts have expanded their repertoires to include pizza styles that were not part of their original menu.In Denver, Colorado, Mark Dym has long been known for his award-winning Neo-Neapolitan-style pizzas at Marco's Coal-Fired Pizza; while Giulio Adriani has been a go-to teacher, trainer, consultant and trail blazer in the wood-fired Naples-style pizza realm. In this conversation with Peter, they discuss  shifting customer demands and how they are expanding their own repertoires to stay one step ahead of the curve.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

Welcome back to Pizza Quest! We recently did a show that we called Bourbon 101 (June 11), and have done other shows that celebrate artisanship in subjects adjacent to our usual focus on pizza (olive oil, mezcal, tomatoes, and various types of cheeses). But, when Joe Salonia, co-host of HRN's podcast series, Cutting the Curd, offered to take me on a journey of his personal specialty cheese category, Swiss, it was impossible to resist. Joe is a national sales and marketing rep for Gourmino Cheese, makers of some of the finest Swiss-style cheeses in the world. To most Americans, the term "Swiss Cheese" is very confusing, so I asked Joe to take me by the hand and walk me through a tasting that would lift the veil and make me a semi-dangerous Swiss cheese expert. Taste along, if you'd like, and join us on a deep dive into the wonderful world of Swiss cheese!Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

Over twenty years ago, Jonathan Goldsmith fell in love with traditional Napoletana wood-fired pizza while living in Italy, and then became a mid-life apprentice to the local pizza masters.  He then decided to bring the experience back to his hometown of Chicago, where this style was still a new thing. Spacca Napoli was thus born on the North Side, and has become a pizza pilgrimage destination ever since, even in pizza-crazed Chicago, loaded with every style of pizza known to man.  There's something about the inner connection that Jonathan has with his pizza roots, a genuine soulfulness, that is experienced by his patrons, who view him as the padrone of Spacca Napoli and as their own link to the authenticity he so clearly honors. Jonathan returns to Pizza Quest  in this episode to elaborate on his unexpected journey in becoming one of the pizza community's most beloved ambassadors of the true craft.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

In our never-ending celebration of artisanship wherever we find it, this week's episode turns our lens onto one of the truly great American crafts, distilled whiskey, most notably, bourbon. On the show to explain it all is Peter's long-time friend, culinary educator, and award-winning author Albert Schmid, whose newest book, Bourbon 101, was just recently released by The University Press of Kentucky.In this episode, Albert takes us through a tasting of four distinct versions of corn mash whiskey, and explains what qualifies some as "bourbons" and others as, well, moonshine, Tennessee or Canadian whiskey, Scotch, Gin, and the dozens of other variations of hootch. Most importantly, though, he opens up a whole new level of appreciation for how to savor that essence -- the spirit -- that distinguishes one brand from another and makes bourbon such a beloved part of the great artisan story of America. Feel free to taste along, as Albert Schmid expertly guides us through Bourbon 101.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

Central Milling Flour has emerged as one of the most highly sought premium brands for artisan bakers of all types of products, but especially for breads and pizzas. We caught up with managing partner and baking phenomenon, Nicky Giusto, a long-time favorite here at Pizza Quest, the day before the doors opened at the International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas in March, 2023. He was putting together his signature high-hydration, sprouted focaccia dough, which would then be baked throughout the event the following day with all sorts of inventive toppings. You should be able to hear the dough slapping around the mixer and almost be able to smell the aromatic fermentation and flavor esters as Nicky takes us deep into his creative process.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

Welcome to this special Memorial Day edition of Pizza Quest, with our special guest, Steven Raichlen, author of The Barbecue Bible, now celebrating its 25th anniversary with a new, updated edition.Memorial Day signifies many things important to us all as we honor those who have made our freedom possible. It also instinctively compels us to break out the BBQ grills and charcoal. In this episode, Steven shares with us his long journey from Reed College, to writing for an underground newspaper in Boston, to landing in south Florida where he has since authored 32 books and won numerous James Beard Awards -- all driven by his global quest in search of every known iteration of cooking with fire. His books have sold millions of copies and his public broadcasting cooking shows have inspired us all and opened a world of international flavor possibilities. I often refer to our Pizza Quest followers as members of a tribe of kindred spirits we affectionately call "fire freaks." So, prepare to meet the tribal elder and current godfather of the fire freak movement, as Steven Raichlen shares his inspiring story in this "break out the grills" episode of Pizza Quest.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

On this week's episode, join Peter for an illuminating conversation with the team that brought L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele to California, and now, to New York City. How do they recreate, re-imagine, and live up to the over-hyped expectations of the legendary pizzas from the original "mother house" in Naples? With a lot of hard work, as you will learn when you listen to this latest episode of Pizza Quest, recorded at the 2023 International Pizza Expo.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

On this episode of Pizza Quest, we meet Meghan Murphy-Gill, aka The Reverend Meghan Murphy-Gill, an Episcopal priest who also happens to be a serious baker of bread and, most importantly, a fabulous writer who has authored a new book, The Sacred Life of Bread. The subtitle of her book is "Uncovering the Mystery of an Ordinary Loaf."  As we continue our back and forth exploration between "pizza" and "the quest," you can see why this book and its author are of great interest to Pizza Quest. Join us as Peter and Rev. Meghan discuss the many layers of meaning in a simple loaf of bread. You may never again look at your sandwich -- or your pizza crust -- the same, after listening to this episode.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

Daniele Uditi is a pizza rock star, establishing his uniquely personal Neapolitan pizza technique (along with his signature Cacio e' Pepe pizza) at Pizzana, his destination Los Angeles restaurant (with more locations popping up around the country, as you will hear). Daniele is also the head judge for the popular Hulu competition show, Best in Dough. He shares his journey and all the Pizzana news with Peter on this new episode of Pizza Quest, recorded at the recent International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

In this episode, we continue to expand the scope of Pizza Quest to include a focus more on the quest than on the pizza.Bread is the big umbrella in Peter's own quest, of which pizza is a delightful sub-set. Lately, more and more authors have added their own words and thoughts to the multi-dimensional levels of meaning embodied by bread. Kendall Vanderslice (oh what a perfect name) is one of them.A theologian based in Durham, NC, Kendall shares with us here her own complex journey, as well as her reflections on bread as an iconic window into better understanding hunger, longing, and the goodness of God.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

Michael Goldfarb is an accomplished journalist and political author, and one of Peter's oldest and best friends. Michael has produced several award winning documentaries on NPR and the BBC, and published books on the Iraq War (Ahmad's War, Ahmad's Peace) as well as the 1,000 year old modern Jewish Diaspora (Emancipation). More recently, he started a podcast called FRDH, where he examines current events through his unique journalistic lens from his ex-pat home base in London, England.After interviewing Peter on NPR, things have come full circle; Peter now interviews Michael on Pizza Quest. Hear all about Michael's amazing journey as he and Peter catch up with each other, yet again, in this new and special episode of Pizza Quest.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

Steve Dolinsky is a legendary, multi-James Beard Award winning broadcast journalist who is also Mr. Chicago when it comes to food (especially pizza). Steve joins us from the International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas, along with Pizza Quest’s longtime “Pizza Yodi,” Brian Spangler of Apizza Scholls, and Justin DeLeon, owner of Apollonia's Pizzeria in Los Angeles (whose Detroit-style “Crown Pizza” provides the cover shot for Peter’s recent book, “Pizza Quest, “My Never-Ending Search for the Perfect Pizza”). Together, they discuss the upcoming LA Pizza Festival and all sorts of other things that pizza freaks love to obsess over.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

As you know, we've been putting a lot more emphasis on the "Quest" aspect of Pizza Quest these days and this episode is a great example.In 1971, I was a founding member of a restaurant collective in Boston called Root One Cafe, one of the early organic food restaurants in the country. One of our members was a young student from Antioch College, Steven Shore, who had decided to do his work-study internship at our cafe, and so he lived with us for a number of months back in 1972. He and I became good friends and stayed in touch over the years. We last connected after he contacted me from Israel, where he had moved to become a rabbi and was working on a book about his journey.Join us as Steven, now Rabbi Shmaria Shore, and I catch up and fill in the blanks of his long and winding quest for self-discovery and a meaningful life. As you read this, at this very moment, Shmaria and our mutual friend and fellow Rooter, Alan Cahn and I are planning a 50th anniversary Zoom reunion in May for anyone who worked at Root One.  So, if you are one of them, or know anyone else who was there, please write to me at [email protected] and I'll send you the details.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

At the 2022 Northeast Pizza Expo held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Peter sat down with Pizza Quest favorite, Scott Wiener, the founder of Scott's Pizza Tours in New York City and the driving force behind the philanthropic movement, Slice Out Hunger. Scott's knowledge of pizza is encyclopedic and insightful, as you will hear during this far-ranging conversation about all things pizza.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

In addition to hosting Pizza Quest, Peter Reinhart is also the Executive Director of the Johnson & Wales University International Symposium on Bread where, for a number of years, he has hosted many of the world's foremost thought leaders on the subject, who gather to explore the future of bread. In this presentation, delivered at the 2022 Artisan Bread Expo in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Peter provides an overview, to a live audience, on the key takeaways from the most recent International Symposium on Bread, including his predictions of upcoming trends and products, not only regarding bread, but also its implications for pizza.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

Join Peter at the Northeast Pizza, Pasta, and Baking Expo as he spends time with Traci Rennaker, President and CEO of Lloyd Pans. Lloyd Pans is the leading manufacturer of every kind of pizza pan known to mankind, whether square, deep, long and thin, round, perforated, Sicilian or Detroit-style -- you name it, they make it. You'll learn more than everything you need to know about pans in this fun and engaging episode.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

Listen in as Rachel Wyman, Bryan Ford, and Serhan Ayhan, three rising stars in the baking and pizza community, swap stories of their unique journeys finding their distinctive voices in this big, yet small world.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

Peter is joined by Michael Fox, the coordinator of Clubhouse's audio community sector known as Pizza Club. Throughout the week pizza freaks of all types gather in the virtual clubhouse to share all manner of pizza obsession. Michael explains how it all works and how you can be a member.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

Peter presented, and HRN recorded, his seminal exploration of bread baking as a multi-dimensional journey of self-discovery and transformation at this year's Northeast Pizza, Pasta, and Baking Expo. Hear it all in this week's episode of Pizza Quest.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

Brooklyn pizza legend Paulie Gee delivered the keynote address at this year's Northeast Pizza, Pasta, and Baking Expo in Atlantic City. He recaps for Peter (and for us) what he told his audience, and shares his journey and mid-life transformation from working in an unfulfilling mainstream job to becoming a pizza legend and mentor to dozens of others.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

Fred Mortati and his family grew a third generation New Jersey food importing business into one of the most important companies in the American pizza and restaurant industry. Hear how they did it, and how they introduced Caputo Flour and other Italian products to America, in this week's episode of Pizza Quest with Peter Reinhart.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

In this episode Peter takes us "behind the curtain," of the Young Pizza Makers competition at the Northeast Pizza, Pasta, and Baking Expo in Atlantic City. He speaks with three of the judges, who describe what they look for in a championship pizza and how the future looks bright as the next generation of pizza makers prepares to step to the plate.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

Pizza Quest returns with a new season of episodes, kicking off with the first in a series of presentations and interviews by Peter Reinhart recorded at the Northeast Pizza, Pasta, and Bakery Expo held in October, 2022, in Atlantic City, NJ. This week's episode is entitled "Tinkering With Your Dough," with Peter and guest panelist, pizza master John Gutekanst of Avalanche Pizza in Athens, OH,  fielding questions from an audience of over 100 professional and amateur pizza makers from across the nation. You might even find some questions of your own answered in this entertaining and informative session, and you will definitely learn some things about dough that you didn't know before.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

This week on Pizza Quest we return to Ann Arbor, Michigan for a second visit with another member of the Zingerman's Community of Businesses, this time with Amy Emberling. Amy is the managing partner at the world-famous Zingerman's Bakehouse, where NY-Style rye bread meets San Francisco-style sourdough, and "Old School Apple Pie" gets reinvented using Michigan-grown apples with a crust made with the highest quality leaf lard. Amy shares with us the unique vision and philosophy that has made Zingerman's an iconic brand and also template for entrepreneurs in all types of businesses; where the values of artisanship converge with a unique vision of ethical business practices, and something special can, and does, happen.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

We welcome back Mark Todd, The Cheese Dude, to Pizza Quest. This is Mark's third visit in what will continue as an ongoing series of master sessions (which makes him our "Cheese Yoda") on the fathomless world of cheese. In previous episodes we explored Pasta Filata, which is the category of mozzarella and other pulled cheeses, followed by an episode on the very diverse world of cheddar. This time around, Mark guides us through the realm of hard, aged cheeses, such as Parmesan, Romano, Asiago, and aged Gouda. Peter will be your portal, your vicarious taster, as Mark leads us though the subtleties and complexities of these amazing cheeses, here on this new episode of Pizza Quest with Peter Reinhart.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. HRN is home to transformative exchanges about food. Our 35+ member-supported food podcasts empower eaters to cultivate a radically better world. This month, we’re asking you to join us. Become a monthly sustaining member at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

Leah Scurto was born to be a food star, not just a pizza star, as you will learn in this entertaining conversation with host Peter Reinhart. Half Mexican, half Italian, born into a family of food lovers who shared wonderful family meals during her early years, Leah's current success was simply meant to be. You'll hear all about her award-winning pizzas and culinary vision for the future of Pizza Leah, located in the heart of Sonoma County's wine country, in this latest episode of Pizza Quest.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. HRN is home to transformative exchanges about food. Our 35+ member-supported food podcasts empower eaters to cultivate a radically better world. This month, we’re asking you to join us. Become a monthly sustaining member at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

Michael Kalanty was my faculty colleague when I taught at the California Culinary Academy back in the 1990's. Since then, he and I have been on parallel tracks, both as educators, bread book authors, and as product developers. In this episode, Michael shares his long and winding road including pastry chef, bread expert and educator, product developer for major food companies, and even how he became a "Certified Master Taster." All of which brings us to his most recent project, developing a new kind of bread for Craig Stoll at San Francisco's popular, award-winning Delfina Restaurant and Pizzeria Delfina. I got a sneak peek taste of this wonderful new, light as air, addictively delicious bread on a recent trip to SF, and Michael fills us in on its back story and takes us through the creative process of how a new product develops from an idea into full manifestation. It's a fascinating journey and you will hear all about it here, just days before the new Pane di Pala, hits the menu at Delfina. Remember, you heard about it here first, on Pizza Quest.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.

Three years ago, Eidref Laxa started a podcast in San Jose, California as a way to learn everything he could about pizza so that, maybe, one day he could open his own pizzeria. Over 150 episodes later, "What's Good Dough" has become a goldmine of pizza knowledge, culled from the giants in the industry who have generously shared their knowledge with Eidref, who then shares it with his listeners. In this episode of Pizza Quest, Eidref describes his journey of self-discovery with host Peter Reinhart, including some of the highlight moments of his many interviews with pizza luminaries like Tony Gemignani, John Arena, Dan Richer, Will Grant, and many others, while he continues his own never-ending quest for the perfect pizza.Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.