Today we’d like to introduce you to Giannina Cicciarella.
Giannina, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
The Cicciarella family has been working in the restaurant business since 1967, when my parents moved from Sicily to Brooklyn, New York. My father, Salvatore, taught me how to “fly” pizza dough when I was only 9 years old! My family was the previous owner of Luigi’s Ristorante & Pizzeria, which proudly served Houston families for over 25 years. We now have a catering business and recently opened our new store front in Cypress, Texas. We can bring our portable wood-fire pizza oven to your event, so you can enjoy a slice of Italy in your own back yard. We are proud to cater the old style Italian artisan pizza directly to your home or business.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As there can be challenges when opening a business, we were faced with introducing again our authentic Italian style food to Cypress and the surrounding Houston areas. We have found many of our old customers and have made an impression on our new customers as well. We try to promote that we offer more than just Wood Fired Pizza, we have a full menu of specialty items as well. We also continue to give to our local community when possible from sponsoring the local Towne Lake Swim Team to supporting Shield Bearers Counseling Centers charity events.
Giannina’s Pizza & Catering – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We are most proud of our company because it is family owned and operated. We are real Sicilians running the store. My parents are from Sicily and we all speak Sicilian and Italian. This is our 4th restaurant and we work hard every day to ensure that the quality of our food is excellent.
We provide a Mobile Pizza Catering business that can be served in your own backyard. There is no one in the Houston or surrounding areas that does this. We also cater children’s parties and teach them to make and fly pizza. Adults can do it too! They get their own mini aprons and chef’s hats! We cater to all kinds of events, weddings, birthdays, block parties, graduations, and much more.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The proudest moment of my career is successfully creating my mobile catering business and that I opened by 1st restaurant with my family’s help. I would not have been able to open my restaurant without my family’s participation, experience and hard work ethics. I am grateful to them.
Pricing:
- Casual Dining ranging from $6.00 to $15.00
Contact Info:
- Address: 9740 Barker Cypress Rd,
Cypress, Texas 77433 - Website: www.gianninaspizza.com
- Phone: 832 GO PIZZA or 832 467 4992 — Catering Business Cell 832 963 8008
- Email: gianninaspizza@gmail.com
- Facebook: Giannina’s Pizza & Catering
- Yelp: Giannina’s Pizza & Catering
Image Credit:
My Father – Salvatore
Mother – Frances and
Brother – Angelo
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