WORK • Wednesday Routine
TONY GEMIGNANI • chef/pizzaiolo • Tony’s Pizza Napoletana, Slice House, Capo’s, Dago Bagel
Neighborhood you live in: Fremont, CA
It’s Wednesday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
I try to start the day with a walk or jog around 430-5a before checking emails and working out. I get a lot of emails, not just for business, but from people all over the world asking questions about recipes and dough. Then I check on the fruit trees, vines, and anything else growing and in season on my property. I usually hit the road by 730a.
What’s on the agenda for today?
I’ll begin with a stop at my bakery, where we make the dough for our North Beach restaurants. I’ll also check on the sourdough bread before making my way to Tony’s Pizza Napoletana. There, I’ll meet with chef Oscar to go over operations and any new recipes I have in mind for the restaurant. After some Zoom calls, it’s time to get behind the line and start on the wood-fired oven where we make Neapolitan pizzas. I also stop at Capo’s, where I meet with my chef and management team before the restaurant opens for dinner. I’ll stay in North Beach until about 7p and finally head home to see my son before he goes to bed.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
In San Francisco, Tadich Grill. It’s an old-school spot that my wife and I love to go to. I always get the octopus salad with an extra slice of garlic bread. My North Beach favorites: Tony Nik’s Cafe and Gino & Carlo’s for cocktails; Sotto Mare for fish, especially the sand dabs; Original Joe’s for cocktails and dinner; Firenze by Night for house-made pasta; Caffe Trieste for my morning espresso or latte; Victoria’s for pastries; and Liguria Bakery for focaccia in the morning.
How about a little leisure or culture?
I have Warriors season tickets, and we love going to Giants games when we can bring my dad, who’s 83, and loves baseball. I’m in a car club called Satan’s Angels, and show cars all over the area, from Nevada City to Santa Rosa. You’ll also find me at the Goodguys Car Show in Pleasanton.
Any weekend getaways?
We like Sausalito, Napa, and Petaluma for day trips. In Petaluma, we’re going to Keller Winery and are staying at Metro Hotel & Cafe, where you can spend the night in an Airstream camper. Strike Zone has sports memorabilia and comic books, and Nostalgia Alley is a cool retro video game store and arcade with OG video games. For food, we like the old-school diner Sax’s Joint and Della Fattoria Cafe.
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
A 1941 Cadillac LaSalle.
What store or service do you always recommend?
Davidson & Licht in Walnut Creek for jewelry and watches. They have an amazing staff who are extremely professional and courteous and go out of their way to find what you’re looking for.
Photo: Mark Fiorito/Gamma Nine Photography