The BYOB King! How Mark Iacono built Lucali’s into an NYC institution brick by brick and bottle by bottle
MJโs guest is a chef and owner of the one of the most sought after pizzerias in all of Brooklyn, Mark Iacono. Born and raised in Carroll Gardens, Mark Iacono grew up fully immersed in Italian American culture. He was a regular neighborhood kid. He enjoyed his grandmotherโs cooking, playing centerfield, and trips to the local candy shop with his father. Then in 2006 without any experience in the culinary arts or restaurant business, Mark opened his now iconic pizzeria, Lucali – its location in the very same storefront of the candy shop his father had taken him to throughout his childhood. Lucali has become a B.Y.O.B. destination for wine collectors โ the front window is lined with empty Burgundy bottles, including a 1971 La Tรขche. Mark has appeared in New York Magazine, Insider, the Today Show, Late Night with Seth Meyers and Netflixโs Ugly Delicious. He hosted (3) seasons of Thrillistโs Really Dough? series.
Mark and MJ discuss the possibilities of unexpected culinary education and running a business in your childhood neighborhood.
A huge thank you to Mark Iacono
Check out his restaurant at www.lucalibrooklyn.com
Follow them on IG @lucali_bk