News

Hot Italian is a healthful Italian

June 24, 2016

Hot Italian Pizza is not only "hot" but healthful, according to a national body that certifies restaurant products that meet benchmarks for nutritional and environmental stewardship. The chain  became the nation's first and, as of now, only pizzeria to achieve the Responsible Epicurean and Agricultural Leadership — REAL certified food award from the U.S. Healthful Food Council. 

Hot Italian uses organic, house-milled flour and sustainable locally sourced ingredients for its pizza. In fact, pizzaiolo Fabrizio Cercatore spent more than 20 years, according to a company news release, perfecting the ingredients and creation of an easily digestible crust. He now sells his pizza dough and flour nationally.  

Cercatore, along with the restaurant's co-founder, Andrea Lepore, created the Northern California Neopolitan pizza brand with a deliberate emphasis on environmentally responsible design and business practices. The chain accomplishes this through programs to reduce waste, recycle, conserve water and energy and prevent pollution. All those factors contributed to the brand's achievement of the REAL award, according to a news release. 

Aside from the REAL Certified Food award, Hot Italian Pizza was awarded the LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council as well as a Sacremento area Business Supporter of the Arts award.

Hot Italian has three Northern California locations.