National Cheese Pizza Day

It's Sunday.  Sunday makes a good pizza day.  Then again every other day of the week is also good for this ancient treat.  Thinking about National Cheese Pizza Day makes me think of my friend Franco. 

Franco Licciardi, a native Napolitano, is the chef/owner of San Carlo - an authentic Italian restaurant. Franco makes the best cheese pizza I've ever tasted. By ever, I mean, EVER (all caps intentional).  He honors his patron's tastes and will make the pizza to your specifications; I prefer a thinner, crispier crust with light sauce. I get a confection that's just unbelievable...crunchy crust with the slightest tug to the teeth when you bite into it, home-made sauce (yes, Franco makes it himself) that's so fresh you can still taste the sunshine on the tomatoes, and perfectly melted oooey-gooey cheese.

Cooking is Franco's passion and has been since he was a little boy.  For many years he worked under the direction of chef Raffaele Illiano. At a young age, Franco began working as a chef throughout much of Italy, picking up new recipes along the way. He moved to the US (Atlantic Beach, NC) in 1985 where he opened with his former wife an Italian restaurant called "Trattoria da Franco's."

After eight years he moved to Raleigh, North Carolina and with his business partner opened "San Remo Italian Grill" in Cary, North Carolina.

One year later they opened "San Carlo Italian Bistro." One bite of his delicious cuisine and you can taste both Italy and his devotion to his craft. Throughout Franco's entire life he has believed that the success of a good restaurant comes from having a good relationship with his patrons and serving the freshest, best quality food at a good price.

All of the meals at San Carlo are prepared to order by Franco himself, many of which are old family recipes.

So, Franco, today's blog honoring National Cheese Pizza Day just wouldn't be complete if it wasn't about your pizza! 

You have got to try this place out; tell him Cathy sent you! 

San Carlo Italian Bistro
9660 Falls of Neuse Road
Raleigh, NC 27615-2474
(919) 676-3262


PS:  There is a wine tasting dinner on Septermber 16th that you won't want to miss!  Here's the menu.

See you there!

Until Tomorrow.......

"They eat the dainty food of famous chefs with the same pleasure with which they devour gross peasant dishes, mostly composed of garlic and tomatoes, or fisherman's octopus and shrimps, fried in heavily scented olive oil on a little deserted beach."  ~  Luigi Barzini, 'The Italians' (1964)