Pizza Palooza with Chef Luca Donofrio and Polly-O Cheese at Our Test Kitchen
Quick Summary ⮕ Recap of our January 15th Pizza Palooza
Christian Hernandez
NJ's Restaurant Equipment Expert
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Our recent Pizza Palooza was a culinary celebration of all things pizza that brought together flavors, techniques, and a community of pizza enthusiasts. At the heart of this flavorful affair was Chef Luca Donofrio, a seasoned culinary maestro and the former Pastaio at Eataly Flatiron in NYC, now holding the position of Culinary Director at RCN Imports.
Chef Luca took center stage, crafting pizzas that left an indelible mark on our taste buds. The star-studded lineup of ingredients included Molino Passini flour, La Dolcissima tomatoes, and SolSal salt, all coming together harmoniously in the heat of the Pizza Group Dragon. This high-refractory stone conveyor oven not only showcased its cooking prowess but also added that distinct hearth-baked crust that pizza aficionados cherish. You don’t get that with conventional conveyor ovens.
Adding a cheesy twist to the event, Frank Buttadauro, the regional manager of Polly-O Cheese, led an engaging mozzarella stretching demo. With Nate from GFS Broker assisting, the duo made sure the cheese stole the spotlight, bringing an extra layer of indulgence to Chef Luca’s pizzas.
These pizza’s couldn’t be laid out on just any ordinary surface; they graced Linea Dori display boards, elevating the visual appeal of each slice. These boards provided the perfect showcasing to the culinary creations.
Amidst Pizza Palooza was Chris Dibella, a seasoned pizza chef from The Nice Slice PA. We’re thrilled to announce our sponsorship of Chris for the upcoming International Pizza Challenge in Las Vegas. He was with us in our booth at the 2023 Northeast Pizza Expo and left such an impression with his angry vodka pizza that we knew he needed to compete in Vegas! We’re really looking forward to March 😁
Chef Dimas, a curious culinary mind, dove into mozzarella stretching, expressing his excitement at working with Molino Passini flour and appreciating its unmatched quality. Other curious customers came to see the pizzas going through the Dragon and were impressed at how fast and well the oven can bake a pie. It’s truly an industry game changer. To sweeten the experience, attendees enjoyed a 5% discount on our top-notch ovens and refrigeration.
Pizza Palooza was more than an event; it was a communal feast, a testament to our love for quality ingredients, cutting-edge equipment, and the simple joy of sharing a slice together. We hope to see you at our next event! 🍕✨
