Meet Karen Pisciotto of ELLAY PIZZA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen Pisciotto.

Hi Karen, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey started in Italy, where I got my first job as a pizza chef in Ancona, a small coastal gem overlooking the Adriatic Sea. That was where my passion for traditional Italian food culture and the craft of pizza making really took root. Over the years, I explored different paths, and right before moving to the United States, I worked in the luxury leather goods industry, preparing high-end handbags for some of the most prestigious Italian and French fashion brands. That experience taught me an immense appreciation for craftsmanship, quality, and attention to detail.

The real turning point came in 2016 when I won the Green Card Diversity Visa, giving me the opportunity to move to Los Angeles and pursue my dreams.

Starting over in LA as an immigrant and a female entrepreneur in a male-dominated industry was not easy. I began working in local restaurants and honed my skills in several pizzerias across Hollywood and West Hollywood, navigating the fast-paced LA dining scene and learning the ins and outs of the local market. Later, I had the incredible opportunity to serve as head pizza chef at Party Beer Co., a vibrant craft brewery in Crenshaw.

Working through those kitchens reinforced my vision, and combining my artisan background with my passion for authentic Neapolitan pizza, I made the leap to found Ellay Pizza. I started by sharing my love for dough craft, traditional techniques, and pre-ferments like biga and poolish. Over time, I expanded into private pizza catering, hands-on masterclasses, and live events across Los Angeles. Today, Ellay Pizza provides an authentic, high-quality catering experience, bringing live, fresh pizza making directly to private parties, corporate events, and high-profile clients throughout the city.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Moving from Italy to Los Angeles in 2016 meant starting from scratch in a completely new environment. One of the earliest hurdles was simply navigating a new culture, language, and business landscape while building a brand from the ground up. On top of that, the pizza industry—especially traditional pizza catering and live event dough production—is heavily male-dominated. Breaking through as a minority woman pizzaiola meant constantly having to prove my technical expertise, skills, and authority in front of the oven.

Another major challenge was adapting traditional Neapolitan techniques to the US market without sacrificing quality. Crafting authentic dough using pre-ferments like biga and poolish requires precise temperature and humidity control, which can be tricky when setting up mobile catering events across different locations in Los Angeles. Overcoming logistical hurdles, managing portable high-heat ovens on-site, and educating clients on the difference between commercial style pizza and true artisan craft took time and persistence.

Despite the steep learning curve, overcoming these struggles allowed me to build a resilient, woman-owned business that stands out for its authenticity, quality, and passion.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Ellay Pizza is an authentic Italian mobile catering business that I founded in Los Angeles as a sole female entrepreneur. At its heart, my business brings the genuine experience, warmth, and flavor of a true Neapolitan pizzeria directly to people’s backyards, private parties, corporate events, and celebrations across Southern California.

I specialize in live, on-site baking using both traditional wood-fired ovens and portable high-heat setups. I am best known for my meticulous dough craft, using long fermentation and pre-ferments like biga and poolish, paired with imported D.O.P. ingredients, San Marzano tomatoes, and fresh artisanal cheeses. Beyond catering, I also teach hands-on pizza-making masterclasses for people who want to learn the authentic craft of Italian dough.

What sets Ellay Pizza apart is my complete dedication to sharing a true piece of Italian culinary culture. I do not just serve food, I bring the heritage, traditions, and passion of authentic Neapolitan pizza making into every event. Coming from a background in both Italian pizza making and luxury leather craft, I bring an extreme attention to detail to every single pie. Beyond technical craftsmanship, I focus heavily on hospitality and inclusivity. I want every single guest at an event to feel included, which is why I place so much care into crafting high-quality vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options without ever compromising on taste.

Brand-wise, I am incredibly proud of how far I have brought Ellay Pizza on my own, from starting as a small business to catering hundreds of events, including high-profile celebrations for billionaires and major corporate clients in LA. As a lead pizzaiola and an active member of the Women in Pizza movement, I am also deeply proud to represent female leadership in an industry that has traditionally been very male-dominated.

Above all, I want your readers to know that Ellay Pizza is an invitation to experience genuine Italian food culture. It is about bringing people together over an authentic, unforgettable culinary journey baked live right in front of their eyes.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Even before winning the Green Card, I had visited Los Angeles several times, and I fell in love with it early on. What I love most is the city’s incredible versatility, its multicultural soul, and the freedom to explore authentic flavors from every corner of the world. Coming from Italy, I particularly appreciate the incredible South American and Persian cuisines here.

There is so much to adore about LA, though like any major metropolis, it has its challenges, such as the homeless crisis. But once I navigated the initial language barrier and cultural shock, Los Angeles truly became home. Today, living in Highland Park and running my business here, I love this neighborhood and this city as if I had been born and raised right here.

Pricing:

• Accessible Per-Person Rates: Our pizza catering packages start at just $22.50 per person for fresh, live-baked pizza.
• Minimum Event Requirement: We have a low event minimum starting at $650, making our premium catering approachable for events of almost any size.
• All-Inclusive Service: Packages include live on-site baking, high-heat ovens, fresh ingredients, paper goods, disposable cutlery, and full setup and breakdown.
• Transparent Pricing Guarantee: We do not charge hidden travel fees within our local service area, cleanup fees, or unexpected service charges.
• Dietary Accommodations: High-quality vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free pizza options are available to ensure every guest is included.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ellaypizza.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellaypizza/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellaypizza
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ellaypizza
• Twitter: https://x.com/ellaypizzacater
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/ellay-pizza-los-angeles

Image Credits
Karen Pisciotto