Pizza from the Heart - by Paulie Giannone & Mary Ann Giannone (Hardcover)

About the Book

This cookbook is a love story between Paulie, Mary Ann, and pizza. In 2010, at the age of 56, Paulie left a career to turn his backyard culinary passion into his retirement plan. Now that hobby is Paulie Gee's--a thriving pizzeria business with restaurants and slice shops in cities all over the US. In this highly anticipated first cookbook, Paulie and Mary Ann share their secrets not only for making their inventive, addictive pies at home, but also the lessons they've learned during their 40-year marriage. This book features over 100 recipes for their insanely popular pizzas, family recipes from their home kitchen, a selection of drinks, and desserts.

Book Synopsis

An essential pizza book from Brooklyn's beloved Paulie Gee's pizzeria that reveals the secrets behind their most celebrated pies, alongside heartwarming stories from their decades-long culinary adventure.

This cookbook is a love story between Paulie, Mary Ann, and pizza. In 2010, at the age of 56, Paulie left a career in corporate IT to turn his backyard culinary pursuit into his retirement plan. Now that passion is Paulie Gee's--a thriving pizzeria business with restaurants and slice shops in cities all over the US. In this highly anticipated first cookbook, Paulie and Mary Ann share their secrets not only for making their inventive, addictive pies at home, but also the lessons they've learned during their 45-year marriage and 15-year restaurant partnership. (In both food and love, watch the salt.) This book features over 100 recipes for their insanely popular pizzas like the Hellboy (a soppressata pie topped with hot honey), the Mo Cheeks (a tomato and pecorino pie with guanciale), and the In Ricotta da Vegan (a ricotta pie made with vegan sausage and cheese). There are also family recipes from their home kitchen (including their famous vegetarian French onion soup and Paulie's signature Penne a la Jack Daniels), and a selection of drinks (including the restaurant's famous limoncello) and desserts. Also included are recipes featuring collaborations with some of New York's other beloved institutions, such as the Brisket-Five-O, a pizza collaboration with a local BBQ spot. The pizza recipes include instructions for cooking in a conventional home oven as well as a wood-fired pizza oven.   

Level up your pizza night with this debut book from Brooklyn's famous Paulie Gee's, featuring over 100 recipes that bring their innovative combinations and time-tested techniques to home kitchens everywhere. More than just a pizza cookbook, this collection weaves together their 45-year love story with hard-won restaurant wisdom, featuring both beloved menu items from Paulie Gee's and cherished family recipes that showcase the couple's culinary journey from backyard experimenters to celebrated restaurateurs.

Review Quotes

"The Giannones' distinctive culinary point of view, as well as their philosophies of life and love, shine through in this entertaining and informative debut, making a strong case for its place on cookbook shelves."
--Library Journal

"Paulie and Mary Ann Giannone open their hearts and their extensive recipe collection and invite us into their delightful, delicious universe. Their back-and-forth commentary reveals a loving, collaborative partnership that infuses every bite of their inventively named pizzas and recipes with the true spirit of hospitality. Welcome to their world!"
--PETER REINHART, author of Pizza Quest

"Paulie and Mary Ann share their warmth, creativity, and inspirational journey in this one-of-a-kind cookbook filled with iconic recipes and killer playlists!"
--DAN RICHER, chef-owner of Razza, and New York Times bestselling author of The Joy of Pizza

"When I first met my now old friend Paulie Gee, it was to hear about his soon-to-open pizzeria in Brooklyn. From that first conversation, I knew he had two of the most important ingredients: a sincere passion and the desire for not only great pizza but great hospitality. No one works a room like him . . . You're in his house and by the time you leave, you are family."
--CHRIS BIANCO, chef-owner of Pizzeria Bianco and author of Bianco

"I've never experienced a book like this before. Reading it feels like sitting at the table with Mary Ann and Paulie. The stories are great, the food is inventive yet classic, and the banter is hilarious. I've never laughed this hard while reading a cookbook."
--SCOTT WEINER, founder of Scott's Pizza Tours

About the Author

Paulie Gee and Mary Ann Giannone opened their pizzeria, Paulie Gee's, in Brooklyn, in 2010. They have since helped others do the same across the country, all under the Paulie Gee's name. They are members of the Culinary Council of the Food Bank for New York City.