Matthew Cutolo of Gargiulo’s in Brooklyn, New York, joins PEEL: A PMQ Pizza Podcast to discuss preserving one of New York’s oldest Italian-American restaurant legacies while introducing new generations to authentic Neapolitan pizza. A third-generation member of the family that has owned Gargiulo’s since 1965, Cutolo shares how he became the sole keeper of the restaurant’s century-old cannoli recipe and why passing down traditions requires far more than simply handing someone a recipe card.
In this episode, Cutolo reflects on learning to make pizza as a toddler alongside his grandfather, explains how the restaurant’s seasonal Sorrento Pizza Garden brings a taste of Southern Italy to Coney Island with a wood-fired oven imported from Naples, and discusses why simplicity makes Neapolitan pizza one of the most demanding styles to master. He also shares practical advice for operators looking to build their brands through social media, explains why storytelling has become as important as the food itself, and reveals how preserving family traditions continues to shape both Gargiulo’s future and his own.
