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Meet Penny Warring of Authentic Pizza Ovens in Scottsdale

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Penny Warring.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Penny. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My Dutch brother-in-law always wanted a pizza oven. On his travels through Portugal he found exactly what he wanted, the problem was how to get it back to Los Angeles where he lived with my sister. It was outrageously expensive to ship so he trucked it to his native Amsterdam. My sister is one of the largest importers of mid-century modern furniture out of Holland so he simply put the oven on one of her containers.

Months later he was celebrating a milestone birthday at his home with the pizza oven being in the middle of the festivities. I was amazed by what a simple item did for ambiance and socialization. It was by far the hit of the party. Of course, the pizza and other foods coming out of the oven is delicious but fire just does something to create an atmosphere that can’t otherwise be replicated. Later that evening we were gathered and talking about how everyone just loved the oven, being near it and participating in the traditional cooking.

We thought, there has got to be an easier way. That is how Authentic Pizza Ovens was born. We now bring in containers monthly that are beautifully handcrafted by a generational family business four hours north of Lisbon. We have a showroom and warehouse in Scottsdale where we ship daily nationwide with a 100% customer satisfaction. Traditional family style cooking is so popular now and there are memories being made all over the country with families and friends using our ovens.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I have started several different businesses and have always put the customer first. I have built steadily but never at the risk of the customer. I would say that importing never goes without challenges. Arrival dates are never guaranteed, customs can be tricky and expensive.

When dealing with triple insulated brick ovens, each one weighs between 1000 and 1700lbs so a container full can sometimes be overweight which creates delays, expenses and havoc at the port. The Portuguese are wonderful people but there is the language barrier and so there can be difficulties explaining technical details. The upside is that these things are always better spoken in person so trips to Portugal are welcomed with open arms.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Authentic Pizza Ovens story. Tell us more about the business.
Authentic Pizza Ovens is your connection to time-honored traditional cooking. We import the finest quality, artisan made ovens, each handcrafted in the rural village near Rio Maior just north of Lisbon Portugal. Nothing brings a family and friends closer together than family style cooking. From kneading the dough, preparing the toppings and ultimate creating piping hot, wood-fired pizza your way.

The flavors of naturally cooked wood-fired pizza are unmistakable and the crispy base is a hallmark of our ovens where the fire is set directly on the cooking surface. The quality and freshness of expensive restaurant pizza can be yours at a fraction of the price, and a wood-fired pizza is an investment which adds value well beyond the fun and memories you serve up.

We typically sell our ovens for residential use but have supplied many cafe’s and food truck operations around the country. We sell direct as well as through online retailers such as Houzz, Wayfair, Amazon and smaller e-commerce businesses.

I am a firm believer in customer service, it is the essential key to success and I’m proud to say we have a 100% customer satisfaction. I build a rapport with my customers and truly care about their experiences. Whether they are installing quickly for a family wedding, birthday, or a Friday night pizza night. We are building memories and I love to be a part of that.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t feel luck either good or bad has played a part.

Pricing:

  • Our handmade authentic ovens range from $1150-$2600

Contact Info:

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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