The Wood-Fired Blog
2021 Summer Photo Contest Honorable Mentions – Fantastic Food Photos
Oct 29, 2021Pizza, pizza, and more pizza! There were so many great shots of our favorite food to choose from in this year’s contest that we decided to make a special honorable mention category for just food photos. It covered pizza (of course,) but there were beautiful shots of other types of foods too, like lamb chops, chicken, and even an octopus dish! Enjoy these photos. They will make you yearn to... Read More
Restaurateur Spotlight – Father and Daughter Duo Thrive at Giannina’s Pizza and Catering
May 30, 2019Born in Sicily, and raised on his grandparents’ farm and vineyard, Salvatore Cicciarella grew up surrounded by hard work, good food, and strong family ties. At 77, with over 50 years in pizzerias and restaurants, he still shares those values with his daughter, Giovanna (Gio), as they work side by side in their business, Giannina’s Pizza and Catering. Salvatore makes the dough daily and Gio is the pizzaiolo and owner.... Read More
Forno Bravo and Pizza Quest Renew Partnership
Jul 27, 2016Pizza oven manufacturer promotes destination website hosted by Peter Reinhart. Salinas, CA July 27, 2016 – Forno Bravo (www.fornobravo.com) and Pizza Quest have announced a renewal of their collaboration on the pizza-themed website, www.pizzaquest.com , that began in 2010. “Pizza Quest with Peter Reinhart” is a destination website for pizza enthusiasts that contains video and blog content as well as recipes and guest columns from chefs and personalities in... Read More
A Girl and Her Dragon – Quest Night #2: The Re-Cheesening
May 19, 2016Yes, I have gone to the dark side of cheesy (haha) blog titles. Last time it was an incomprehensible pun, this time it’s some sort of movie rip-off. The Re-Cheesening sounds like last year’s failed horror reboot, but hey, I like it. Humor aside, this was my second Quest night with the pizza oven, and it went amazingly! I learned from my mistakes last year, and got the fire up... Read More
Bad Weather and Pizza Ovens
Feb 04, 2016As a resident of California for the past 17 years, I believe that I can officially claim the title of spoiled summer child. As much as I would like to deny it, I simply can’t take the cold. A brisk breeze sends me running in search of a coat (much to my Virginian father’s amusement), and I adamantly believe that the best way to experience a snowstorm is inside one’s... Read More
If you’re in Singapore and Hungry for Pizza
Dec 04, 2014If you happened to be in Singapore and you’re a little hungry for pizza….It might look like this. Read More
Wood-Fired Croatia (or more accurately, Istria)
Aug 29, 2013We just returned from a very nice trip to Croatia. I have wanted to explore the Dalmatian coast for years, and the timing was right this summer. Our older daughter spent the summer working on campus in Boston (a very cool research project on pre-fab building using 3D modeling software and CNC laser equipment) and she had two weeks off before the start of school. And we put it to... Read More
Pizza Making Should be Simple
Jun 24, 2012This photo of Del Popolo Pizza a new wood-fired Food Truck in San Francisco from The Bend Bulletin really struck a cord with me. While the company has been getting a lot of attention in the press for, among other things, the sheer size of the food truck itself (it is based on a 14 ton, 20-foot shipping container that holds the pizza oven), what I like about this photo is how... Read More
Bread Baking and Oven Temperature
Jun 01, 2012We received an email question today from a member who has bee following my bread quest who was interested in hearing more on bread baking temperature. It’s a really good topic; one that deserves a lot more attention. One of the habits I have developed over years of wood-fired bread baking is a general (and probably misguided) disregard for oven temperature accuracy. Pizza ovens (and all wood-fired masonry ovens) are... Read More
