Chef Renato Viola

The Game Changer

Owner of a pizzeria in Miami, Renato Viola is a world renowned chef known for his skills in the art of making pizza. By partnering with 1441 Pizzeria, he vows to change the way we consume the cheesy delight.



Interviewed by Rddhima Pillai
Photographed by Vijay Barathe

World Champion in Acrobatic Pizza, member of the Italian Acrobatic Pizza Team, one of Italy's Best Master Pizza Chefs in the World and more such prestigious accolades belong to Chef Renato Viola. Born and brought up in Italy, this chef has travelled the world, demonstrating his love for pizza everywhere he goes. To say that he is passionate about pizza is an understatement. Chef Renato lives and breathes it! How, you may wonder. "I constantly think about pizza," confesses Chef Renato, "even when I go to sleep at night I still dream about pizzas!! For me, pizza is not just a dish, it is the way of life."

So exactly when did the chef develop his love for the cheesy, round, crusty dish that we have all come to adore? "My obsession with food started when I was a child. I used to cook with my mother and you can say I was practically raised in the kitchen!" he laughs. "We used to make pasta together. Then one day, my mother taught me how to make a pizza, and I was hooked! Afterwards, I used to cook the pizza at least once in a week." Chef Renato was so charmed that he took up a job at a pizzeria at the young age of 11! "Initially I was hired as the cleaning boy, but I was just excited to be around pizzas!" he exclaims.

As years passed by, he received training in professional cooking and started learning the art of pizza acrobatics which, if you don't already know dear reader, is the act of throwing and spinning the raw base of the pizza as much as possible, at the same time making it larger and ensuring that it doesn't tear. By the age of 18, Chef Renato's pizzas had already started garnering awards. He won an award at the World Championship in Monte Carlo, 2004 for creativity and unique taste of his pizzas.

When your pizzas are so great, it is but natural that you would have a large number of fans, but have you ever heard of a government being a fan of pizzas? That's exactly what happened with Chef Renato! When he wanted to move to Miami in  2010, the US Government granted him the O-1 visa, which is given to 'individuals with extraordinary achievement or talent'. Chef Renato launched Mister O1 in Miami, an ode to the visa which brought him to the country. Soon, he made headlines for making the World's Most Expensive Pizza called Louis XIII. Costing around Rs. 77 lakh, this exotic pizza is only made for the lucky few who can actually afford it. Most of the ingredients for this pizza are shipped directly from France, Italy and a few other places. For instance, Mozzarella made from buffalo milk is imported from Italy, while pink salt is sourced from the Murray river in Australia. Other toppings of the pizza include lobster and three types of caviar from the Mediterranean, along with champagne and in the end, the whole pizza is flamed with cognac.The pizza is 20 cm in diameter and is perfect for two people to eat heartily. It is made on the spot, except for the dough which is made earlier.

Almost around the same time, Krishna Gupta, now the co-founder of 1441 Pizzeria, was developing the concept of a gourmet pizzeria where people can customise their own creations. He was looking for someone who could match his passion and enthusiasm towards food. An internet search introduced Krishna and his team to Chef Renato, and Krishna immediately reached out to him. The two men finally met in Miami and closed the deal. Chef Renato was to be the Consulting Chef for 1441 Pizzeria. Shares the chef, "I have had offers from various restaurants over the last few years to come and join their team. But there were always some factors that didn't fit. Krishna's love for pizzas won me over and I decided to become a part of the 1441 family."

Chef Renato developed the entire menu for 1441 Pizzeria and trained the new staff. Did you know that the tomatoes, flour and olive oil for the pizza sauce are imported from Italy? Chef Renato insisted on having the best quality of ingredients which can give the most authentic experience of eating a gourmet Italian pizza. Additionally, wood-fired ovens also play an important role in giving the pizza its smoky, earthy flavour, and hence, the wood-fired ovens at 1441 Pizzeria are made in Italy. Chef Renato makes it a point to visit all the outlets of the pizzeria in India at least twice in a year. During his visits, he plans promotional food festivals with the team, takes their feedback and looks into the appraisal of deserving team members. Additionally, he makes it a point to interact with guests directly to get their feedback. That's not all, when he is in Miami, he still keeps in touch with the team via WhatsApp and ensures that he is always reachable.

If you think Chef Renato is surrounded by pizzas to last him for a lifetime, then think again. In 2017, he launched his Miami Pizza School where he aims to train students in the art that is pizza making.

With his time divided between Mister O1, 1441 Pizzeria and his school, we think it's safe to assume that his life is as 'cheesy' as it can get!