52 • FOODSERVICE EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES • SEPTEMBER 2015
THE PIE'S THE STAR
AT PERSONA
WOOD FIRED PIZZERIA
L
ots of people say they love pizza. Most of them don't
— at least not like Glenn Cybulski loves pizza.
Cybulski has given over a big chunk of his life to the
dish. As a certifed pizzaiolo who trained in Italy, he'll
talk with enthusiasm about the best four for making dough or
about kneading techniques that support proofng's chemical
reactions. He knows what bricks make the best pizza ovens and
how oven masters should rotate a pie while it's cooking at 800
degrees F. He believes that a good pizza isn't loaded with a half
dozen average toppings, but two or three great ones.
This is the passion he brings to his emerging chain,
Persona Wood Fired Pizzeria.
Persona began back in 2012, when Cybulski met cofounder
Joseph Baumel at a trade show and the two discussed open-
ing a fast-casual pizzeria. According to Cybulski, the decision
was "a no-brainer," especially in light of fast-casual's continued
march across the foodservice landscape.
The chain's leaders believe their passion
for pizza and commitment to high-quality
ingredients will make this fast-casual pizza
concept rise above its competitors.
By Toby Weber, Contributing Editor