Billy Manzo, owner of Federal Hill Pizza, recommends keeping these four tips in mind to master the art of the COVID-era pivot.
Tom Lehmann: In Lehmann's Terms
How to Achieve the Perfect Dough Mix
To make sure your dough has been properly mixed, use the dough’s appearance as a guide. There are exceptions, though, for emergency dough and frozen dough. Related: Try this recipe for a Crispy Pepperoni and Egg Breakfast Pizza Question: How do I know when my dough has been properly mixed? Answer: The … More
News
Gas vs. Electric Oven? Here Are the Pros and Cons of Both
It’s a discussion that has scored space in PMQ’s Think Tank for more than a decade: Gas or electric? Tom Lehmann, consultant for Dough Doctor Consulting in Manhattan, Kansas, notes that gas ovens, being much more popular in the United States, often receive the brunt of manufacturers’—and operators’—focus. But … More
Food & Ingredients
Should I Add Eggs to My Pizza Dough?
Eggs can improve browning in your pizza crust, but does the cost outweigh the benefits? Although adding egg whites can yield a crispier crust, simply baking the pizza for a minute or so longer will usually give you the same results. Related: How to achieve the right dough temperature for … More
Chef’s Corner
Chef’s Corner: Michael Kalanty and the Art of Sourdough Creation
Creating a sourdough starter is a simple 10-day process involving equal parts water and flour. Using sourdough in your pizza changes the flavor profile and the texture, making the dough more tart or “sour.” Related: How to improve your pizza crust’s flavor with minimal effort If you live long enough, … More
Billy Manzo
10 Tips for a 5-Star Restaurant Bathroom
A little “clean bacteria marketing” goes a long way in creating a positive customer experience at your restaurant.
Dough Information Center
A Newcomer’s Guide to Pizza Dough Equipment
For smaller pizzerias looking to expand or newcomers to the pizza business, consider creating a checklist of the equipment you need and why you need it. Everything starts with choosing the right dough mixer, and several different types are available, depending on your needs. Every farmer needs a tractor. Every … More
Tom Lehmann: In Lehmann's Terms
How to Create a Crispy Pizza Crust
The secret to a more crispy pizza crust is probably not what you think. You might assume that less water will result in a crispier crust. But you’d be wrong. To achieve a more crispy crust, you’ll need to add more water to the dough formula. This allows the dough … More
Archives
Video: How to Effectively Manage Your Pizza Dough
In this video from 2015, the late, great Tom Lehmann, the pizza industry’s most respected and renowned pizza dough expert, talked to PMQ’s Brian Hernandez about effective dough management. The Dough Doctor shared his expert tips and techniques for making dough balls, cross-stacking your dough trays and getting them ready … More
Food & Ingredients
Finishing Touches: How to Enhance Your Pizza’s Flavor
By Tracy Morin Flour, water and yeast may comprise the cornerstones of any successful pizzeria, but it’s difficult to imagine any menu truly shining without the aid of must-have flavor enhancers like oils, vinegar and spices. From a zigzag of balsamic glaze across a pizza fresh out of the oven … More
News
Mario Caputo, Owner of Bell’Italia Pizzeria, Dies at 64
Born in Tolve, Italy, pizzaiolo Mario Caputo and his family moved to Waterbury, Connecticut, when he was 11 years old, and he soon embarked on a life of entrepreneurship. When his sister, Evelina, and childhood friend Paola decided to find Caputo a wife, he surprised them both by asking Paola … More
Technology
Improving Your Pizza Dough With a Water Filtration System
For some operators, the quest for the perfect water results from wanting to perfectly copy a specific region’s H20, often with the aim of creating a “true” New York-style product. “I know some people say it’s not true that water makes a difference, but when you’re making a bread product, … More