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July 2004
King of Pizza By Stephen Millar

In Northbridge, if you want to experience a little taste of Italy, you have to visit “The King of Pizza.” Who is that? None other than Nunzio Nici, owner of Il Padrino’s Caffé & Pizzeria.

This restaurant/café has captured the true ambience of Italy with the walls pasted with people that Nunzio has met or have dropped into his little slice of Heaven. Add the décor with the sounds of Dean Martin, Julio Iglesias and Tom Jones singing in Italian and the mood is set. The visitors, ranging from pop stars to diplomats to locals, are all people who have heard this is one of the best places for pizza and atmosphere. The moment you enter you are greeted with a warm and caring staff that finds no trouble in catering to any request.

The night we went to Il Padrinos there was a packed house. It was standing room only in the place. All around we could hear loud, muffled conversations of people enjoying themselves, clattering plates and Nunzio weaving his magic on every wood-fired pizza or seafood dish he cooked in the wood-fired oven. His little decorations of herbs on every departing pizza was a beautiful touch.

Nunzio is a man that has endless energy and such a full-on personality that you cannot help but feel as if you have known him forever. He is a magician when it comes to food and seems to be a natural conversationalist when talking to everyone who comes in. In the midst of all of the actions, he is aware of every order that is going out. He is more than happy to tell you of his achievements.

History

He purchased the shop a few years after he arrived in Australia for $20,000 and set it up for $7,000 with the help from family and friends. Nunzio is an immigrant who came to our shores at the age of 16 (in 1988) and couldn’t read or write English. His reputation around Perth and the world has grown with a number of media and press constantly asking him for interviews about winning the “King of Pizza, Sicilian Pizzaiolo.”

Pizzas and Food

Pizzas are made in the true Roman style, having a thin base with only small amounts of quality toppings. The crust is very light and has a tasty texture that isn’t oily. The pizzas are cooked directly on a brick-floored wood-fired oven, giving the perfect golden brown cook with light crust.

His bruschetta and garlic breads are made in the same way as his pizza—in the wood-fired oven. The garlic bread is made in a Focaccia style. The secret to all his pizzas is the base that he uses, which he claims come from a secret recipe handed down through his family.

Mobile Pizza Kitchen

Nunzio has another business that is flourishing too. It is the mobile wood-fired pizza oven he takes all over Perth. This also makes him the “Pizza King of the Road.” You can check his Mobile Pizza web site out at www.nunziosmobilepizza.com. He is now looking at franchising such a successful idea. Having five operational units on the road, he finds that this part of the business is just growing and growing as he is servicing events such as fundraisers, 21st parties, business and corporate events. This man has more energy than a truckload of Energizer batteries.

Nunzio has been known to let his hair down on the weekends and entertains his guest at Il Padrino’s with the traditional Italian love songs. The party atmosphere really feels like you are in the back streets of any Italian city.

Marketing

Nunzio is very supportive of the local junior sports and human interest groups. He supports the Childrens’ Hospital and Italian Food Fair and caters to various local underprivileged organizations by donating his time and product to raise money.

He uses the mobile oven to create awareness for his Northbridge pizzeria/café. He has also been invited to big outdoor shows like José Carreras’, Pavarotti and other big names to feed the hungry crowds. The outside cook-offs are very successful for him.

It is not unusual to see stars and personalities visiting his establishment when they come to town. Personalities that he has served at Il Padrinos include: José Carreras, Franco Nero (actor), Nelson Pichet, Alex Lloyd and others too numerous to mention.

Nunzio is a man that gives so much back to the community that knows him. A tradition that he repeats every Christmas is taking his mobile pizza oven to the main Perth parks and giving free pizza away to the homeless. “And why not?” he says. “I have done very well in business, and I just love it when I can give something back to my community.”

I strongly recommend if you make it to Perth that you make it a top priority to drop in and experience a real-life character who has more passion than I have ever seen for pizza. Ask him about his business and you will see what I mean.

Il Padrino Café & Pizzeria

198 William Street

Northbridge

Western Australia

(08) 9227 9065

http://www.nunziosmobilepizza.com

-- PMQ –

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