ROCCO DiGRAZIA, owner/chef
Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Rocco DiGrazia’s first job was in a neighborhood pizzeria but he learned to “really cook” from his grandmother and later at Tucson’s Café Terra Cotta. Missing Chicago-style pizza after moving to Tucson, he began to experiment at home. His friends and family urged him to open a pizzeria and he obliged.
Was your mother a good cook? What memories do you have of cooking with your mother or grandmother?
My mom is a great cook but I really gravitated toward my grandma’s Italian and Slovenian cooking. Our neighborhood had tons of amazing smells coming out of every house on the way home from school.
What is the first dish you ever learned to make?
At age 10, my grandpa showed me how to make a frittata with potatoes, onions, and lots of Parmesan cheese. I was hooked.
What is your favorite kitchen tool?
All you need is a sharp knife and a cutting board. It’s the cliché that is 100 percent true!
ROCCO’S LITTLE CHICAGO PIZZERIA
2707 E. Broadway Blvd. 321-1860. roccoslittlechicago.com. Mon.-Sat. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Real Chicago pizza, right around the corner! Three styles of Chicago pizza, signature pasta dishes and salads, and award-winning chicken wings available indoors or on our patio. Draft beer, cocktails and wine available.
