*|IF:FNAME|* *|TITLE:FNAME|, *,*|ELSE:|* LDP Family, *|END:IF|*when I started making pizza 5 years ago, I had no idea that Women were underrepresented in the Pizza industry. As a young girl watching the movie, The Last Dragon (my muse/inspiration for Last Dragon Pizza), seeing Daddy Green’s Pizza in the film really resonated with me; Little did I know how much that movie would change my life.
Now, that pizza is my life, I, too, am realizing the importance of representation.
A couple of nights ago, I had the pleasure and opportunity to meet Master Pizzaioula, Giorgia Caporuscio, the 2013 Youngest Woman Pizza Maker Champion; and Pizza Historian, Scott Wiener of Scott's Pizza Tours and Slice Out Hunger.
What a night! 👏 🏿 👏 🏿 👏 🏿
Scott hosted a wonderful symposium called, "Women In Pizza" at the 92nd Street Y. He did an indepth presentation of the history of Women in the Pizza featuring prominent entreprenuers, innovators and the overall origin of the product we call pizza today. He followed the presentation with a one-on-one interview with Giorgia.
Giorgia Caporuscio, daughter of acclaimed pizzaiolo Roberto Caporuscio, learned traditional Neapolitan pizza making from both her father and her father's teacher, Antonio Starita. She's now Partner and Head Pizza Maker of the family venture, Kesté Pizza & Vino here in NYC.
As a fellow Woman Pizza Maker and Pizza Enthusiast, it was both refreshing and exhilarating to hear a woman’s perspective; inclusive of all the commonalities we so passionately share.
As Giorgia spoke, I admired how humble she was. Though she was clearly a traditionalist, I could tell that she wasn't authoritative -- as some Neapolitan Pizza experts and afficianados can be. She seemed open to new pizza concepts and innovation. That was really cool to me.
Giogia is also dedicated to teaching the art of pizza making and plans to form an association of women pizza makers.
On the drive home, navigating through the nightmare of this new era of all day, everyday Manhattan traffic, with one hand, and chomping down on my Margherita sample slice from Kesté Pizza (really good, by the way) with my other hand, I thought a lot about how absurd it was that the Pizza industry was so male dominated. I mean, no offense, but when you see a woman making pizza you don't say to yourself, " Hey, look at that professional Pizzaiola/Pizza Expert." She's often looked at as just a worker, a cook, or a soulless proprietor of a Pizzeria that's family owned and/or has been handed down to her.
Yet, how can this be? I don't know of many women who don't put love, intention and detail into everything that they do. I'd like to see more women pizza makers lauded for their passion and dedication to the craft of pizza making. Afterall, pizza literally saved and changed my life forevermore.
Welp, that's my two cents.
Much love to Serhan Ayhan to reaching out to me via social media to share this event with me. I'm so inspired!
❤ 🍕
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