Tony
GEMIGNANI
Bay Area native, Tony Gemignani is a 13-time World Pizza Champion, four-time Guiness World Record holder, author of PIZZA BIBLE, prolific philanthropist, and renowned San Francisco restaurateur. A steadfast supporter of North Beach, Gemignani’s flagship restaurant, Tony’s Pizza Napoletana, and eateries such as Capo’s, Slice House, Toscano Brothers Bakery, and Giovanni’s Italian Specialties, are rooted in San Francisco’s historic Italian neighborhood. Gemignani continued his investment in the community by launching San Francisco’s first-ever Pizza, Bagel and Beer Festival to a sold-out crowd spanning Filbert & Stockton Streets; the annual event will continue for its second year in 2024. In 2023, Gemignani launched a franchise program for Slice House by Tony Gemignani, which has since grown to nearly 150 locations open or under development across the country and was recently honored as 2024’s #1 Overall Brand by Pizza Marketplace’s Top 100 Movers & Shakers. In 2024, Gemignani debuted an exclusive culinary collaboration with Princess Cruises to create five unique pizzas, offering the Best Pizza at Sea. Over the years, Gemignani has worked closely with charities such as Family House, George Mark Children’s House, the Marin Food Bank, the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club, Slice Out Hunger, the Salesian Boys & Girls Club, and more. In 2023, he donated over $140,000 as a part of hosting fundraising events. A staple of the Bay Area culinary scene for over 30 years, Gemignani is proud to boast partnerships with the Golden State Warriors, San Francisco 49ers, and the San Francisco Giants to bring his delicious pizza to sports fans throughout their stadiums.
Originally from Fremont, Calif., Tony grew up cooking alongside his mother, who taught him how to prepare fruits and vegetables harvested from the family farm. This philosophy of creating recipes around fresh, seasonal ingredients has stayed with him throughout his culinary career and is reflected across his menus. After graduating from high school, Tony worked as a pizza maker at his brother’s acclaimed Pyzano’s Pizzeria in Castro Valley, where he quickly began growing his impressive skills.
Tony’s career continued to evolve and resulting in his earning a variety of awards and accolades for his pizza making and throwing skills. He is the founder of the World Pizza Champions, the first and only Triple Crown winner for baking at the International Pizza Championships in Lecce, Italy, and his most prestigious title to date, the 2007 World Champion Pizza Maker at the World Pizza Cup in Naples, Italy, where he was the first American and non-Neapolitan victor.
Tony has been inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records four times for most consecutive rolls across the shoulders, largest pizza in the world, longest pizza in the world, and most people tossing pizza at once. In 2016, he became the first American to win first place in the Pizza In Pala division at the World Pizza Championships in Parma, Italy. In 2021, Tony’s Pizza Napoletana was awarded first place in the United States in Italy’s 50 Top Pizza Competition and was awarded tenth worldwide in 2022. Most recently, Tony’s newest vegan pizza, The Mission Impossible, took home the title for #1 Pizza of the Year by the 50 Top Pizza USA 2024, while Tony’s Pizza Napoletana was awarded 2nd place and Pizza Rock was awarded 28th place. Additionally, Tony’s Pizza Napoletana was named 19th on the worldwide list, and the only pizzeria in California.
In addition to receiving many prestigious awards, Tony has also appeared on a variety of popular TV shows and networks, including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Good Morning America, The Food Network, and more. To share his talent and passion with aspiring chefs, he collaborated with acclaimed cookbook writer, Diane Morgan, to write his first cookbook, PIZZA, which was showcased on Emeril Live and The Rachael Ray Show. He also wrote his first children’s book, Tony and the Pizza Champions, his definitive book on pizza, The Pizza Bible, in collaboration with acclaimed cookbook writer Susie Heller and Steven Sieglman, and The Pursuit of Pizza: Recipes from the World Pizza Champions, which he co-authored as one of four profiled champions. Most recently, Tony appeared as an expert instructor on the Master Class GOAT series, which highlights the greatest individuals of all time, as they dig into their craft in a never-ending search for perfection.
Tony lives with his wife and their son just outside of San Francisco in Alamo. When he’s not making pizza, he enjoys playing soccer, badminton, swimming, pickle ball, and golf. The highlights of his weekend are watching his son play soccer, kung fu, and basketball. Tony is also an avid collector of sports cards, toys, comic books, and vintage cars. He has a 1950 Chop Top Mercury, a ‘50 Oldsmobile Rocket 88, and a ‘58 GMC truck, which he shows at a variety of car shows in the Bay Area. To celebrate his Italian American heritage, Tony is a member of the Fratellanza, Colombo and San Francisco Italian Athletic Clubs. At home he enjoys gardening and farming. He grows tomatoes, rosemary, peppers, Genovese basil, and arugula in addition to Merlot, Cabernet, and Sangiovese grapes that he plans to start bottling in the coming year.
@tonyspizza415
Tony’s Pizza Napoletana
1570 Stockton St
San Francisco CA 91433
Scuola Itala ina Pizzaioli USA
International School of Pizza
United States School of Pizza
1570 Stockton St
San Francisco CA 91433
Capo’s
San Francisco,CA
Tonys Coal Fire Pizza & Slice House
San Francisco, CA
Slice House by Tony Gemignani
2 locations Giants AT&T Park San Francisco, CA
Graton Casino Ronhert Park, CA
GVR Casino Las Vegas, NV
Walnut Creek, CA (coming soon)
Pizza Rock
Downtown Las Vegas, CA
GVR Casino Las Vegas, NV
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