From Front-of-House to 50 Top Pizza with Leña Pizza Bagels | Episode 49

Hey guys, welcome back to the Pizza Story Podcast! They say every great pizza has a story, but rarely does that story involve a transformation into a bagel shop at sunrise.Today, I am sitting down with the incredible Marisol Doyle, the heart and soul behind Leña Pizza & Bagels in Cleveland, Mississippi. Marisol has managed to capture the attention of the global culinary world, earning a spot on the prestigious 50 Top Pizza list and receiving glowing reviews from the New York Times—all from a small town in the Mississippi Delta ☀️.What makes Marisol’s story so inspiring is that she isn't a classically trained chef. After 20 years of working "front-of-house," she decided to take a leap of faith, travel to Naples, Italy, and learn the art of wood-fired pizza from the masters. Now, she’s bringing that authentic Neapolitan tradition (and some world-class bagels!) to her community 🥯.We talk about the "growing pains" of opening a restaurant, the magic of Italian family traditions, and how a chance encounter with a "kitchen angel" saved her opening week 🇮🇹.Episode Highlights✅ The Leap to Naples: How a one-week intensive course in Italy with Maestro Fabio Cristiano gave Marisol the confidence to go from restaurant manager to pizzaiola.✅ The "Kitchen Angel": The stress of being weeks away from opening with no one to work the oven, and the incredible story of the local cook who walked through the door at just the right moment.✅ A Tale of Two Doughs: Why Leña transforms into a New York-style bagel shop on Saturday mornings and the secret behind their 5-ingredient traditional recipe.✅ Mississippi’s Best Kept Secret: What it’s like to be recognized by the New York Times and 50 Top Pizza while operating in a small Delta town.✅ The Art of the Special: How Marisol uses social media to keep her community excited, including the "Truffle Ricotta Mushroom" pizza that was so popular it earned a permanent spot on the menu.✅ The Meaning of Leña: Why they chose a name that pays homage to the firewood that fuels their oven and their commitment to the hardest (but most rewarding) style of pizza making.✅ A Family Affair: The collaboration between Marisol and her husband Rory, whose professional photography skills make their pizzas look like true works of art.🍕 If you are ever in Mississippi, this is a MUST-STOP destination. In the meantime, follow their journey and see their beautiful creations here:Instagram: @lenapizzaandbagelsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LenaPizzaBagels/ Website: https://lenapizzabagels.com/ If you enjoyed this episode, please Subscribe, hit the Like button, and ring the bell so you never miss a story behind the slices 👱🏼‍♀️.🇮🇹 A Story About PizzaWebsite: https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza A Story About Pizza Book: https://www.amazon.com/Story-About-Pizza-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/1917116993 Pietro’s Pizza Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Pizza-Story-About/dp/B0DTYZ15WB/ Pietro’s Pizza Toppings Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJM15W22/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0Pietro’s Italian Christmas: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Italian-Christmas-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/B0G2GQX78W/ #pizza #podcast #pizzalovers