At GuGu's Pizza and Pasta, a good time is had by all. Loud music, cheesy movies, and of course... great food! Our staff consists of professionally trained cooks that are passionate about the foods we create. We make our dough fresh everyday. We make all our sauces fresh everyday. Everything is created with LOVE using the best ingredients available. Most of the recipes have been handed down from my family. Our lasagna is my grandfather's recipe. Our home-made sauce and meat balls was taught to me by my dad.

Food has always been my passion. I have been cooking most of my life; as a young boy I was fascinated with cooking shows. I started baking cookies for the family and friends, and then I was on a quest to make the best pizza dough. My recipe has been in the works for 25 years and I am very proud of it. I grew up in the wholesale food business working for my father, the late Dennis Manochio Sr. He was a food broker, specializing in Italian food products. I am a professionally trained Chef, receiving my culinary arts degree from Professional Culinary Institute in Campbell, CA. My mentor/Chef instructor was Chef Randy Torres.

I want my dream restaurant to be fun. It’s not just about the food, I believe customer service is just as important as the quality of the food. I am a huge fan of Pee-wee’s Playhouse, which serves as part of the inspiration for the restaurant's bright colors. I am also a silent movie buff. I remember as a kid going with the family to a pizza parlor and we would eat pizza and watch old b&w movies like Laurel and Hardy, Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin and others.. I want to bring that back! These movies are shown nightly... see a list here.

I am also the west-coast representative for Queen Ann Gourmet Pasta Products from Brooklyn, NY. The products are available to purchase frozen to take home and cook yourself, or you can purchase them cooked with garlic bread and salad. I also sell these products wholesale to restaurants and supermarkets.

When I was a little boy I was called GuGu. I always hated it as a kid but felt that it would be a fun name for my restaurant. I have always wanted to neon sign with my name and now I have it.

GuGu’s Pizza and Pasta, Home of the Original Habanero Hawaiian Pizza

Thanks,
Dennis Manochio