Lafayette didn’t always know what pizza was, and Alesi’s Pizza helped change that. We sit down with the family behind one of the oldest Italian restaurants in Lafayette, Louisiana to follow a story that starts in Sicily, passes through Ellis Island, and lands in Acadiana in the most unexpected way: a WWII posting at an old Army air base and a chance meeting with a “little Cajun girl” at a downtown lunch counter. The result is a restaurant legacy that’s about more than food, it’s about how families put down roots and how communities adopt new traditions.

We talk about the early days when locals asked what fruit went in a “pizza pie,” and how Alesi’s eased Lafayette into Italian food by starting with diner staples and slowly clipping on the Italian menu. You’ll hear why the pizza became the anchor, why fresh dough and fresh sauce still happen daily, and how a simple crust-and-sauce combo can outlast every trend. Along the way, we get into the Johnson Street move, the iconic neon sign, the mid-century feel, and the behind-the-counter moments like learning to toss dough and earning your way up through the unglamorous jobs.

The conversation also gets real about the restaurant business today: the nights, weekends, holidays, and the feeling of never being fully off. With Alesi’s nearing 70 years, we discuss why selling the business is on the table as an option, what kind of reaction that sparked across Lafayette, and the advice they’d give anyone dreaming of opening a restaurant in Cajun country. If you care about Lafayette food culture, family-owned restaurants, and the history behind the best pizza in Lafayette, this one’s for you.

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The podcast was made possible through partnerships with Rouses Supermarket, Logic Refrigeration HVAC, Ounce of Hope, Cajun Table, Vermilionville, Soul Haus Kitchen, Chris Logan Media, and Sunday Soda Fountain – proving that when a community rallies around celebrating local food culture, amazing things happen. Subscribe now to join this delicious adventure and become part of the movement that's transforming Lafayette's food scene one bite at a time!

learn more: foodiesoflafayette.com

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