My two uncles, Dominic and Paul, with my father, Benny, and their first Italian bar and restaurant concept called the Starlight Inn in Decatur, Illinois when post WWII non-Italians in the Midwest are first introduced to “pizza.”
Hanging out at the Starlight Inn in 1957.Family business moved to Maffit Street and became Romano’s Pizzeria in 1958. It was my after school destination all through grade school. Took my first pizza phone order at age 12.
My father square cutting fresh Romano’s pizza in 1962.
Fast forward to 2012 on our VR Green Farms in San Clemente, California. We grew five varietals of tomatoes including Cherry, Heirloom, Beefsteak, San Marzano, and Roma.Thanks to my ancestral family in Tricarico, Italy who sent us seeds from their home gardens, we grew a special crop of tomatoes we could call our own family heirlooms! Talk about going full circle!Fresh homemade family heirloom “secret sauce” keeps the tradition alive!Perfect homemade pizza calls for perfect dough. We’ve both simplified and mastered the process.Other fresh produce harvested on our original farm inspired more pizza variations.
Now creating fresh homemade pizza recipes born from our Italian roots.
New recipes tested daily in our Studio Kitchen in southern California.
studioromano.art 