Getting the phone call

Well we got the phone call today.....

......the one that told us we were selected to compete in the Gourmet Pizza Contest at the Food Expo in Atlanta where first prize is $1000!!

After much deliberation, we have selected the Jamaican Jerk Chicken pizza to enter. We sampled a pizza similar to this on a past vacation and loved it. When we got home, we tweaked the recipe and came up with a wonderful version -- one that was 1000times better than the one we had sampled.



Of course the hardest part of this competition is the logistics of having to take our ingredients on the plane with us. It's not fun having to transport dough, cheese, fresh basil, chicken, etc. Shall be an interesting trip indeed.

Secondly on this topic -- I just have to give my husband a big standing ovation and thumbs up. When I was hesitant to get into this business stuff, he kept telling me not to worry. He said that he would make the best pizzas and everyone would come.

It's not that I doubted him......it's just that I was scared of jumping off the bridge. Scared of losing that "guaranteed" income that we had.

But after almost 12 years.....he was right! Well done Paul! He's done a wonderful job of making good food and making sure that we are always providing great service.

When I first started in this business I knew nothing. I now have to say that I am totally immersed in it myself. I read all the pizza magazines, articles, or talk to other operators and try to absorb all the information that I can. We will eat at other pizza restaurants and critique the store, the menu, the food, and their service. I think I am now a 100% full blooded pizza girl.

But I have to honestly say -- it really is fun working together with Paul. There are some days we have to sit and "pow wow" together and get ideas and then there are other days where he is out doing his things and I'm left at home tackling my own things. But this business is our life and we devote 24/7 to it.

I can't think of anyone else that I would rather spend my life with and be a business partner with and really and truly, even with all the crap we have to deal with and all the work there is -- we are really lucky to have a successful business and we should be proud of our achievements!



Now we need to win $1000!