My Dream of opening a pizzeria

[Mikeylikezit]

Down, but not out!

Made some good progress on the home front and taking care of some pressing matters, so I opened back up today after about a month & a half off.

I was kind of hoping to ease back into it, I only posted a re opening a few days ago on insta and my Facebook page but it was busy from the jump! So I just tried to go with the flow. Felt a little rusty at first but muscle memory kicked in and the dough was great all night and actually was at its best when it was slightly on the over-proofed side! It felt good to be back. I'm going to try the approach Walter used and has suggested in the past and open for Dinner service 4:pm to 8:30Pm
I think that will be more manageable for my circumstances and with the benefit that it gives me more time to geek out on my dough making process! 🤓

A few pies made for the crew after we closed. 

[waltertore]

I am glad you are back open.  We made more money per week after closing lunch service and moving to 4 days a week. It was steady busy from open to close every day from then on, and eventually got to where you had to order before we opened as dough ran out - took calls from 3pm and sold out by 4:30.  We opened at 5.  That made things as easy as it can get for me in a pizzeria as it was all scripted before we opened.  The down side was new customers could get pretty upset that we were out of dough before opening. That part I don't miss....

[TXCraig1]

The down side was new customers could get pretty upset that we were out of dough before opening. That part I don't miss....

A problem very few businesses have ever experienced.

[Mikeylikezit]

A problem very few businesses have ever experienced.

That's a great problem to have Walter! A testament to the quality of your pizza.

We sold out Wednesday and basically today as well, I still had dough but not enough time spots to keep taking orders. People got tired of Dominos, Caesars and Pizza Hut 😝 🤷

I only had time to take a pic of the last pizza from tonight, you can tell the dough ball was a lil dry and tight. The pie kinda had an Al Santillo vibe to it.

Btw: I started using the "Perfect crust" liners and they really do help to keep the crust from getting soggy totally recommend them.

[Mikeylikezit]

Fun day at the shop tonight. Had some close  friends visit and dine in, The dough was great and the oven kept up! Feels good to be back. 

[Jersey Pie Boy]

Looking great, Mike..welcome back!

[Mikeylikezit]

Looking great, Mike..welcome back!

Thank you brotha! 

[PapaJawnz]

Awesome pies bro!  Your pies are hard to miss, always hitting that mark 

[Mikeylikezit]

Awesome pies bro!  Your pies are hard to miss, always hitting that mark 

Ayyyye!! My guy PapaJ! Thank you bro! ❤️

[Mikeylikezit]

Sunday funday.   🤙🏽🍕

[TXCraig1]

Some fine looking pizza there. Good times.

[Mikeylikezit]

Some fine looking pizza there. Good times.

Thanks Craig! 

[Decoy205]

Great to see you slinging pies again!  They all look fantastic.  I bet your customers were glad to have you back!

[Mikeylikezit]

Great to see you slinging pies again!  They all look fantastic.  I bet your customers were glad to have you back!

Thanks John! 
Absolutely, our Customers have been great so grateful for them.

[Mikeylikezit]

Like 26 years ago I went on a surf trip to Baja Mexico with a group of friends, These guys were animals. They were always mountain biking all over the Santa Barbara mountains, Malibu, Ventura, Ojai. Anyway at least half of the guys were also doing a 50 mile bike race from Rosarito beach to Esenada beach during the trip. 

The first day we scored epic waves at "La Fonda" beach due to a tropical storm off the coast of Cabo, 15 foot glassy, barreling waves! it was awesome. So after a second day of great surf, on day 3 the guys got up and started setting up their bikes for the race. They had been inviting me to join them.. but I was like nah'.. I'm good 🤙🏽.  

I don't know.. why I changed my mind, maybe because I was so stoked and at peace due  the good surf.. Killer Margie's.. the pretty girls at Papas & Beer the night before or the  cold Cervesas! But I agreed to borrow someone's spare bike and do it. 
They were like it's fine man!  you're in great shape you'll be fine.

So Fast forward to the last 8 miles of the race.
No-one told me that although the race started on the coast and finished on the coast...that in between that were hills and a mountain!
There was this winding grade that just kept going.. you'd be pumping and pumping to get to the top at least 5 or 6 times I got to the top! Only to see another peak around the bend..
The biggest mistake I made was to finally after like an hour of this.. stop peddling. I got off my seat stood up for a moment before both legs locked up! I saw muscles convulsing like angry snakes, muscles I didn't know I had! And had never seen! It's funny now.. experienced bikers riding by started chucking bananas and water bottles at me out of pity. I was on my back both legs up in the air grabbing at both of them desperately hoping the muscle spasms would stop.. it was a nightmare.

Eventually they did.. and after some stretching, I got back on the bike and started pedaling to the top. A few more peaks later I was finally there...
It was a beautiful view of the coast, very similar to the PCH Hwy 1 in Malibu. It was almost all downhill the last 6 miles or so to the finish line.

Sometimes life feels like that zig zagging grade. You just keep pushing! Only to see another hill to climb, but you just keep pushing thru it, thru the pain, the exhaustion, and you learn not no get off the seat, whatever you do don't stop pedaling And lay down! 🤣

Anyway, 
today was a good day of pizza making.
 And if there's one group of people who can appreciate a good pizza making day.  it's you guys, on this forum. 🤙🏽❤️😘

Much love to everyone, Mikey.

[roumin]

Sometimes the view from the top—and the coast downhill—is worth every cramp along the way.
Cheers to a good pizzamaking day!

[TXCraig1]

Lovin' those pepperoni and green chili pies. 

[Mikeylikezit]

Sometimes the view from the top—and the coast downhill—is worth every cramp along the way.
Cheers to a good pizzamaking day!

Cheers Nick! Thank you. 

[Mikeylikezit]

Lovin' those pepperoni and green chili pies.

Thanks Craig,
That's for sure the local favorite. 

[Blang1]

Haven't been on here but made sure and pop in and check out how things are going.

Sorry about the family stuff. Happy to see you're still plugging away. Pizzas look wonderful, of course <3