2007: A Strange Year for Pizza News

Its been a strange year filled with Pizza News and Weird Pizza Mis-Adventures.

The year started with a phone call from Chris Bianco, of Pizzeria Bianco, who had just been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

It seems like I kept having more unusual pizza adventures, in 2007.

I was contacted by Jimmy Kimmel's staff and for about 5 minutes, I thought I was on my way to Hollywood to make pizza. No kidding!

I took Nine Time World Pizza Champ, Tony Gemignani to lunch in Honolulu...

Legends of Pizza Volume 1 and 2 was released as an e-book. That was good news.

The Big Green Pizza Truck shared a Recipe for Pizza and other pizza secrets. More good news.

I had a very revealing Interview with Jay Vogler from Pizza on Earth in Vermont...

I reviewed Rachael Ray's pizza smackdown as she took on the pizza fanatics of Chicago and New York.

I got into this incredible controversy about Vino's vs. Gino's in Little Rock, Arkansas.

I announced how Nine time World Pizza Champion, Tony Gemignani, blew away the Italians at their own pizza game...in Naples, no less!

I discovered a secret pizza petition for a National Pizza Party, started by Matt Baldwin. The party would be held every Leap Year.

Let me explain: Matt's proposal is that everyone would get the day off. Pizza would be served in local community centers. Each citizen would be entitled to three slices of pizza and a soft drink. Remember, 2008 is a Leap Year. It may not be to late to revitalize Pizza Party U.S.A.

I also discussed Cono-Pizza. Really, don't ask. This is a show and don't tell!

I review all this pizza news and more pizza happenings, at this page:

Pizza News 2007

pizza on earth, good will to all...

Albert Grande
http://pizzatherapy.com/
http://albertgrande.com/
http://grandepublishing.com/
http://hawaiisecret.com/
http://bimwah.net/

"I'm Going to Hollywood, Baby...": Jimmy Kimmel Wants My Pizza...

I was shocked when I read the email. C'mon: Things like this only happen in movies and on TV, but not in real life.

Here is the email that made me fall out of my chair:

"Hi Guys

We're the writer's on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live. Just saw you on the Travel Channel. Best looking of all the pizzas they showed. We're constantly debating the best pizzas. Any chance you guys ship your pies? Would love to hook Jimmy up with some.

Thanks and great work!

Tony Barbieri"

I read the email in total disbelief.

Now first of all, these guys saw me on the Travel Channel. "Amazing," I thought, "simply amazing. I don't even remember being on the Travel Channel, but if these TV guys saw me, well, it must be true!"

Secondly, I had the best looking pizza!

Finally, they wanted me to ship a pizza to Jimmy Kimmel. Now, I can't say I watch Jimmy Kimmel all of the time, but I do know who he is. If he wants me to ship him a pizza, well, no problem! I mean, really: my pizza is good, but I didn't think it was that good.

However, I am more than happy to make pizza for Jimmy Kimmel and "hook him up!"

Or maybe, Jimmy Kimmel and his staff, had seen my article about Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King, where I offered to make Gayle a pizza. No matter, I was ready. (Read about the Gayle King pizza here.)

I started to make my pizza. I was in pizza overdrive mode!

As I was letting the dough rise, I decided to check my email. There was another message from Tony Barbieri:

"Subject: disregard last email
Just saw you guys are not affiliated."

Wait, there had to be some mistake. You mean to tell me, I was NOT on the
Travel Channel?

I fired off an email..."Say it ain't so, Tony! You're telling me, I wasn't on the Travel Channel? You don't want me to ship my pizza to Jimmy Kimmel? Who were you trying to get in touch with?
Was it Sally's, Pepe's or some other pizzeria?"

Tony responded:

"Albert
Easy, pal. It's all good. It was the one in New Haven. Already contacted them.
Thanks
Tony B"

I was devastated. I went from being on the Travel Channel and having my pizza debut on national television, to being a nobody. Just another lonely pizza maker, silently kneading my dough.

From hero to zero, in one little email...

Well that's OK. I finished making my pizza, and let me tell you, it wasn't that bad.

Who knows, maybe my next pizza will show up on the Today Show, or Jay Leno or David Letterman... I know Rachael Ray likes pizza and so does Emeril...

Of course, I do have that standing offer to Gayle King to make pizza for her and Oprah...

Maybe it's time for Doctor Phil to tackle a couple of slices of pizza... Possibly Judge Judy is a pizza fan...

pizza on earth,

Albert Grande
http://pizzatherapy.com/
http://www.pastatherapy.com/
http://pastatherapy.com/forum/index.php
http://grandepublishing.com/
http://bimwah.net/
Legends of Pizza e-Book
Legends of Pizza, Volume 1 and 2