PIZZA-MAKING legend Pinuccio Falivene made more than a million pizzas before he retired in 1996.
Now he is set to make a comeback to celebrate 25 years of family business.
Pinuccio is the brother-in-law of Salvatore Dammone who established Salvo's in Headingley in 1976.
Salvatore died in 1993 but his two sons, John and Geppino, still run the family business.
Over the years the restaurant has expanded and has kept winning awards for its Southern Italian food keeping its reputation as one the best restaurants in the city.
The restaurant regularly features in respected publications including the Good Food Guide.
Pinuccio, 72, was famous for bursting into Italian-style song.
He is set to return on Monday, December 3, for a special birthday celebration dinner.
Pinuccio, whose personal favourite pizza is marghareta with a little garlic, said: “I am looking forward to the celebration. It will be good fun.”
Although Salvo's has been open for 25 years the food has continued to evolve. John said: “We opened at a time when any food with garlic was unpopular in Leeds and when eating Spaghetti Bolognese was adventurous.”
He added: “Pinuccio is a master pizza chef who has cooked over one million pizzas. He worked at Salvo's from the start in 1976 and is famed for his spontaneous operatic outbursts into song while he was busily making pizzas.”
During the celebration evening Pinuccio will assist in baking some of the classic pizzas that earned him a near legendary reputation over the years.
Before Salvo's opened, Pinuccio worked as a pizza chef in Italy along with his brother-in-law Salvatore. Bookings are been taken for the evening, which will feature a three-course meal with classic dishes. |
