Tony Gemignani - Pizza Superstar

Tony Gemignani is driven by passion. His love of the pizzioli craft (pizza making) is overshadowed only by his love of life. Watching this pizza maestro in action is not only entertaining, but also inspiring. Tony's enthusiasm for life, and pizza, is contagious. His spirit fills the room whether he is competing for a world record or teaching young fans how to toss a pie.

Tony was 18 when his brother, Frank, convinced him to become his partner in a pizza shop. These Italian-American boys knew a little something about food since they grew up on their family farm in Fremont, California. Fresh, quality ingredients were a part of their daily lives. A solid family foundation taught them that preparing a meal was just as rewarding as eating one, and that they should always put their best into everything they do.

Armed with a love of food and sound advice, Tony and Frank opened Pyzano's Pizzeria in Castro Valley, California. Tony had no idea at the time that he would become a pizza legend.

Tony's talent for making pizza developed quickly, as did his flare for pizza acrobatics. In 1995, he won his first World Champion Pizza Acrobat title, and in 2006 and 2007, Tony made pizza history. He was inducted into the Legends of Pizza in 2006 after breaking two records in the Guinness Book of World Records: "Biggest Pizza in 2 minutes continuously spinning," where he produced a crust measuring 36.5 inches, and "Most Consecutive Rolls Across the Shoulders in 30 seconds," rolling the dough 37 times.

Winning the "Biggest Pizza in 2 minutes continuously spinning" category was a shock to Tony. His teammate, Michael Shepherd, was expected to claim the title. "For some reason, something came over me, and I wasn't as nervous as in other competitions. Everything felt right that day. Tomorrow, it could have been one of the other guys. It could have been anyone's day, really," he said.

Tony was grateful for his blessings that day, but he felt that he still had something to prove. He wanted people to know that not only can he toss a record-breaking pie, but that he also can make one. With his family's encouragement, Tony continued perfecting his talents.

Tony Gemignani loves his craft!

Credit: Tony Gemignani

Copyright: Tony Gemignani