Take a journey through the rich pizza culture of Los Angeles and beyond. Alex Koons, owner of Hot Tongue Pizza in Los Angeles, sits down with fellow pizza shop owner/operators to talk about their unique struggles, successes, and ultimately what drives them every day. It’s a pod that you can put on while you wait for your dough to rest, or make a quick trip to the store. Our mission is to highlight some new voices, learn, grow, and better this community we all love so much.
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For more info on the fire recovery in Altadena visit: https://recovery.lacounty.gov/altadena/ This week, we're taking a break from the Bay Area pods to sit down with Zak from Prime Pizza LA and Jamie from Pizza of Venice to discuss the impact of the Eaton fires— Jamie lost his pizzeria and Zak lost his home to the fire. While the flames may be out, the recovery process has only just begun. It's important to remember that long after the news coverage fades and social media moves on, the cleanup and the healing continues. Disasters like these don't come with a playbook, and as business owners, we're often figuring things out as we go. This conversation gets heavy at times, but there were also plenty of laughs—because sometimes, that's the only way to get through it. A huge thank you to Jamie and Zak for sharing their experience. The love and support in this industry are real, and when times get tough, we come together. Here's hoping LA can cut through the red tape and help the Palisades and Altadena rebuild, stronger than before.
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Get George's book: https://amzn.to/47FlWrL This Episode's Sponsors→
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In this episode, Alex sits down with Domenick Calise of Bucky's Pizza from New Jersey. Domenick shares his journey from corporate America to pizza entrepreneurship, discussing his pop-up experiences, plans for a brick-and-mortar location, and the intricacies of his pizza-making process. The conversation covers everything from dough fermentation to flour choices, offering insights into the challenges and rewards of running a pizza business. This Episode's Sponsors→
In this special episode of PIE 2 PIE, host Alex Koons sits down with the two managers of Hot Tongue Pizza, Michael Hiller and Andrew Alvarez. Alex, Michael and Andrew dive deep into their experiences working together for over a decade across multiple restaurants. They discuss the challenges of being in management, from walking the line between friendship and leadership to learning to delegate effectively. Michael and Andrew share valuable insights on creating a positive work culture, handling difficult customers, and adapting to changes in the restaurant. Alex reflects on the importance of trust, respect and open communication in their working relationship. This intimate and revealing conversation highlights the behind-the-scenes dynamics that have enabled Hot Tongue Pizza's success and Alex's own growth as a leader. A must-listen for anyone in the restaurant industry or interested in the power of strong leadership and teamwork. - Effective management involves striking a balance between being hands-on and allowing staff autonomy. Learning to delegate tasks, listen to feedback, and let employees make mistakes are crucial for growth and building trust. - Creating a positive restaurant culture requires a combination of open communication, respect for staff as individuals, and making work fun. Sarcasm and joking should be balanced with clearly communicating expectations and feedback.The customer is not always right. - While hospitality is about serving people, managers need to know when to draw the line and stand up for their team in the face of rude or abusive customer behavior. Enabling this behavior ultimately hurts staff morale. This Episode's Sponsors→
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