What happens when a random birthday gift changes your life?

Hey, Pizza Fans! Welcome back to another episode of the Pizza Story Podcast! I had an absolutely incredible chat with the one and only Scott Deley from Scott's Pizza Project—and trust me, this is one journey you need to hear!

Scott is the master behind those perfectly round, symmetrically topped, absolutely stunning pizzas you see all over Instagram. But here's the kicker: he only started making pizza five years ago during the COVID lockdown! His story is the ultimate inspiration for anyone who just bought their first pizza oven (or is thinking about it!).

We dive deep into how he unexpectedly became a master pizzaiolo, a celebrated UK Pizza Champion, and the author of The Ooni Pizza Project book. Whether you're a devoted follower of his work or just a pizza enthusiast looking for some incredible tips, you are going to love this conversation!

Believe it or not, Scott never asked for a pizza oven. His whole journey started when a surprise Ooni oven showed up in his living room in 2020! Find out how that unexpected gift ignited a passion he didn't know he had and became his perfect escape from the stress of lockdown. Hear about his very first bake—a simple Margherita—that was so good he immediately canceled all future pizza takeout orders!

Episode Highlights

✅ It wasn't all perfect, folks! Scott shared a hilarious, high-stress moment where he tried to get too fancy with his dough hydration, leading to a sticky, tearing, non-symmetrical disaster.

✅ Scott's #1 Advice: He shares the golden rule he learned the hard way: don't let the "online pizza gods" dictate your process. Learn to work with the dough at a pace that's comfortable for you.

✅ Scott breaks down his current pizza routine, from why he moved past sourdough to his current favorite dough: a long, 2-to-3-day cold ferment that results in an incredibly relaxed dough that stretches like a dream.

✅ Beyond Neapolitan: Find out which pizza styles he's obsessing over now, including massive New York pies (inspired by his pizza trips to the US!) and rich, thick Sicilian slices.

✅ Family Favorites: You'll want to know what his family eats! His daughter's favorite pizza is a great contrast to Scott's own preference for simple, classic pies!

✅ Scott talks about the intense, high-pressure experience of competing in the UK's Best Amateur Pizza Maker live cook-off.

✅ Hear what it was like to make the perfect Margherita and a creative "Dough Stopper" while judges were watching his every move! A truly inspiring story for any competitive baker!

📖 The Book You Need: The Ooni Pizza Project

Scott shares the wild story of being contacted by a US publisher to write an unofficial guide to mastering the Ooni oven. He describes his book as the ultimate resource for any home pizza maker, packed with tips on accessories, oven use, and all his favorite recipes—from Detroit to New York styles!

Get the Book: Search for The Ooni Pizza Project on Amazon or find links on his website: scottspizzaproject.com

🔗 Follow @scottspizzaproject

🎙Like, follow, and subscribe to The Pizza Story Podcast to watch Erica D’Arcangelo interview some of the most awesome and talented people in the pizza industry 👱🏼‍♀️.

🇮🇹 A Story About Pizza

Website: https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/ 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza

A Story About Pizza Book: https://www.amazon.com/Story-About-Pizza-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/1917116993

Pietro’s Pizza Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Pizza-Story-About/dp/B0DTYZ15WB/

Pietro’s Pizza Toppings Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJM15W22/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0

Pietro’s Italian Christmas: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Italian-Christmas-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/B0G2GQX78W/