Johnny Di Francesco
Who is Johnny Di Francesco?
Johnny Di Francesco A.K.A the World Pizza Champion, (born 25th August 1977) is the founder of world-renowned Italian restaurant 400 Gradi (Grey, 2015). Johnny is an Australian-born pizzaiolo with an Italian background, who had passion and experience in the pizza industry from a very young age.
Opening the doors to the first 400 Gradi restaurant in Melbourne’s Brunswick in 2008, Johnny has since made the name synonymous with world-class pizza and cemented its position as a Melbourne institution. He has since expanded to create the Gradi Group, with restaurants across Victoria, Adelaide, Kuwait, New Zealand, Texas and aboard P&O’s Pacific Explorer Cruise Ship. He has also moved into the gelato market with the launch of Zero Gradi.
Biography
Born in Melbourne, Australia, to loving parents, Johnny had a memorable and traditional Italian childhood. From the tender age of 12, Johnny started working his way up the ranks in a local pizza restaurant, developing a deep appreciation for the food he was creating.
After graduating from high school, Johnny felt pressured to go to university and took up an engineering degree. From his first lecture, he found himself daydreaming about the physics of pizza dough and realised he was taking notes on the wrong subject. Johnny politely excused himself and never returned, commencing his life as a restaurateur.
Johnny learned a lot in that one university lecture – namely, go after what you want, and work hard for it. Fast-forward through a few burnt slices, an extended trip to Italy, thousands of tomatoes with the right amount of basil, to the launch of 400 Gradi Brunswick in 2008.
Today, with 14 restaurants and more in the making, Johnny is a regular on Australian television, featuring on multiple morning shows, the 2017 season of MasterChef Australia and on The Mentor in 2018.
Johnny is also regularly invited to judge key pizza events around the country and the world. His dedication to making world-class pizza has awarded him the coveted position of Australasian Principal of the V.P.N, an international association dedicated to protecting and promoting authentic Neapolitan Pizza (Di Francesco, 2018). Only two chefs in Australia have been awarded this honour.
When he’s not judging pizza overseas, Johnny can be found working the pizza ovens at his restaurants, holding pizza masterclasses/ cooking demonstrations and working on expanding his business. He has published two cookbooks, the first World’s Best Pizza selling out in multiple countries, and his second book, Food of Naples, released in October 2017 (Australian Handyman Magazine, 2018).
References
Australian Handyman Magazine. (2018). 8 Questions With Former World Pizza Champion Johnny Di Francesco. [online] Available at: http://www.handyman.net.au/8-questions-former-world-pizza-champion-johnny-di-francesco [Accessed 18 Nov. 2019].
Buckley, N. (2019). 400 Gradi Crowned Best Pizzeria in Oceania for the Second Time. [online] Broadsheet. Available at: https://www.broadsheet.com.au/melbourne/food-and-drink/article/400-gradi-crowned-best-pizzeria-oceania-second-time [Accessed 18 Nov. 2019].
Di Francesco, J. (2018). Johnny Di Francesco - Chef Profile and Recipes. [online] Chef's Pencil. Available at: https://chefspencil.com/chefs/johnny-di-francesco/ [Accessed 18 Nov. 2019].
Booktopia. (2017). Food Of Naples. [online] Available at: https://www.booktopia.com.au/food-of-naples-johnny-di-francesco/book/9781742577296.html?source=pla&gclid=CjwKCAiA_MPuBRB5EiwAHTTvMeUsvN6PkYJ5D-kcv8z0M6R02X4Appr67Ngmwtu96G7x3TJPeMccphoCUDQQAvD_BwE [Accessed 18 Nov. 2019].
Gashparac, B. (2018). ALERT: You Can Now Get Gradi Pizza At Rod Laver Arena. [online] Hit.com.au. Available at: https://www.hit.com.au/story/alert-you-can-now-get-gradi-pizza-at-rod-laver-arena-96850 [Accessed 18 Nov. 2019].
Grey, T. (2015). The World's Best Margherita Pizza: A Recipe. [online] Broadsheet. Available at: https://www.broadsheet.com.au/melbourne/food-and-drink/broadsheet-cookbook-400-gradis-margherita-pizza [Accessed 18 Nov. 2019].
McNevin, H. (2016). Just Open: Zero Gradi gelateria, Brunswick East. [online] Good Food. Available at: https://www.goodfood.com.au/eat-out/news/just-open-zero-gradi-gelateria-brunswick-east-20160421-gobzqy [Accessed 18 Nov. 2019].
Suggitt, C. (2019). Check out the cheesiest pizza ever topped with 154 varieties. [online] Guinness World Records. Available at: https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2019/4/check-out-the-cheesiest-pizza-ever-topped-with-154-varieties-567744/ [Accessed 18 Nov. 2019].
Booktopia. (2015). World's Best Pizza. [online] Available at: https://www.booktopia.com.au/world-s-best-pizza-johnny-di-franceso/book/9781742577227.html [Accessed 18 Nov. 2019].
References[edit]
Johnny Di Francesco Biography[edit]
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