From Italy to LA: How Francesco Bacco Built Pizza Fling -...

What this episode covers

In this episode of Dine & Grind, Daniel Shemtob sits down with Francesco Bacco, founder of Pizza Fling. Francesco shares how setbacks became fuel, from losing his dream of becoming a professional basketball player due to injury, to moving to Los Angeles without speaking English, to losing work during the pandemic and the Palisades fire. Each challenge ultimately pushed him to take a leap and start Pizza Fling in Santa Monica. Francesco also breaks down his approach to making great pizza, from crust and sauce to toppings. 04:57 Finding Passion in Hospitality 07:11 Adversity, Grit, and Moving Forward 10:35 First Hospitality Job Experience 13:40 Pizza Entrepreneurship and New Opportunities 18:45 Unexpected Call from Police 19:58 Observing People at Work 22:37 Pizza Chef's Green Card Journey 28:33 Grateful Amidst the Fire 31:26 Starting Our Own Business 33:46 Resilience, Reinvention, and Pizza 37:55 Exceptional Ingredients, Unmatched Details 41:20 Celebrating Passion and Hustle 44:18 Gratitude, Pizza, and Snibbs 45:31 Warm Welcome, Great Pizza 🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or visit Dine & Grind for show notes and more inspiring chef interviews.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Dine & Grind Podcast?

This episode is 45 minutes long.

When was this Dine & Grind Podcast episode published?

This episode was published on December 23, 2025.

What is this episode about?

In this episode of Dine & Grind, Daniel Shemtob sits down with Francesco Bacco, founder of Pizza Fling. Francesco shares how setbacks became fuel, from losing his dream of becoming a professional basketball player due to injury, to moving to Los...

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