PIZZA FOR THE PEOPLE · At Brooklyn’s iconic Luigi’s Pizza, owner and chef Giovanni Lanzo shares why quality pizza starts with family, passion, and staying true to his Calabria, Italy roots. With his 9-year-old son Luigi by his side, he reflects on finding joy in making pizzas, even when his first -generation immigrant father hoped he would choose a different career path. Giovanni shares the importance of being present at meals without phones, and honoring tradition through authentic ingredients (Mutti tomatoes!). Even through celebrity visits, movie sets, and changing times, Luigi’s has remained a neighborhood gathering place where regulars come first. This conversation with Giovanni uplifts the fact that a pizzeria can transcend the role of a restaurant and be so much more as a home for connection, values, and community. And for our Hawaiʻi listeners, he leaves us with one final rule: no pineapple on pizza.🍍 Eat some great pizza: https://www.luigispizzabrooklyn.com/ Instagram @luigispizzaparkslope Episode Highlights 00:00 — The story behind Luigi’s Pizza 🍕 00:41 — Meet Giovanni and his son Luigi, carrying on a family legacy 01:02 — Pizza is joy 03:07 — Put the phones away and be present 03:54 — Keeping Italian traditions alive 04:41 — The Mutti tomato ritual behind every sauce 06:32 — Love what you do 08:17 — Celebrity guests and loyal regulars - the heart of the neighborhood 09:42 — Lessons from Luigi 10:35 — No pineapple on pizza 🍍
PIZZA FOR THE PEOPLE · At Brooklyn’s iconic Luigi’s Pizza, owner and chef Giovanni Lanzo shares why quality pizza starts with family, passion, and staying true to his Calabria, Italy roots. With his 9-year-old son Luigi by his side, he reflects on finding joy in making pizzas, even when his first -generation immigrant father hoped he would choose a different career path. Giovanni shares the importance of being present at meals without phones, and honoring tradition through authentic ingredients (Mutti tomatoes!). Even through celebrity visits, movie sets, and changing times, Luigi’s has remained a neighborhood gathering place where regulars come first. This conversation with Giovanni uplifts the fact that a pizzeria can transcend the role of a restaurant and be so much more as a home for connection, values, and community. And for our Hawaiʻi listeners, he leaves us with one final rule: no pineapple on pizza.🍍
Eat some great pizza: https://www.luigispizzabrooklyn.com/
Instagram @luigispizzaparkslope
Episode Highlights
00:00 — The story behind Luigi’s Pizza
00:41 — Meet Giovanni and his son Luigi, carrying on a family legacy
01:02 — Pizza is joy
03:07 — Put the phones away and be present
03:54 — Keeping Italian traditions alive
04:41 — The Mutti tomato ritual behind every sauce
06:32 — Love what you do
08:17 — Celebrity guests and loyal regulars - the heart of the neighborhood
09:42 — Lessons from Luigi
10:35 — No pineapple on pizza 🍍