‘It's a legacy’: Sarrica's Italian Pizza owners are making tomorrow count

The owners of Sarrica's Italian Pizza are building for tomorrow.

Parked at 5910 Johnston St., Sarrica's Italian Pizza launched their food truck on Nov. 3, 2023, after owners Santi and Gina Sarrica started selling pizzas inside of their Lafayette home in March of last year.

Santi Sarrica, native of Palermo, the capital of the Italian island of Sicily, and Gina Sarrica, a Colombia native, found themselves in the Hub City after moving from New York for a better opportunity.

Santi, Gina and daughter Esmerelda Sarrica. Santi and Gina Sarrica are the owners of Sarrica's Italian Pizza, a local food truck that goes back to Santi Sarrica’s roots.
Santi, Gina and daughter Esmerelda Sarrica. Santi and Gina Sarrica are the owners of Sarrica's Italian Pizza, a local food truck that goes back to Santi Sarrica’s roots.

Santi Sarrica credits Gina for being on this journey with him.

“We’re doing this together, and without her, it wouldn’t be possible to realize on my own,” Santi Sarrica said.

Since the opening of the food truck in Lafayette, Santi and Gina said they have enjoyed serving the community these past five-plus months.

“It's been going great," Santi Sarrica said. “Lafayette has been so supportive. This community is not like no other. This wouldn’t be possible if it wasn't for this amazing community.”

For the first two months of their food truck, Santi Sarrica said they were sold out each day. He said the support was thanks in large part to their authentic Italian-style pizza, sourcing the freshest ingredients from his Motherland.

It’s what he believes separates them from others.

Sarrica's Italian Pizza’s Italiana, a pie made up of pomodoro sauce, fresh mozzarella, pomodorino ciliegino (cherry tomatoes), prosciutto di parma, finished with pesto, extra virgin olive oil, and balsamic glaze.
Sarrica's Italian Pizza’s Italiana, a pie made up of pomodoro sauce, fresh mozzarella, pomodorino ciliegino (cherry tomatoes), prosciutto di parma, finished with pesto, extra virgin olive oil, and balsamic glaze.

“This is the real deal,” Santi Sarrica said. “We have the best ingredients imported from Italy.”

Two of their main ingredients are both imported from Naples, Italy. Their dough is made from Mulino Caputo, which is a 0.0 flour. They also use San Marzano tomatoes for their sauce. The sauce is crushed by hand and cooked with a special recipe from his grandmother.

It all ties back to his roots.

“‘I’m Sicilian, so I gotta keep the culture alive,'' Santi Sarrica joked. “We also grow our own basil, and we have olive oil shipped from my parents in Sicily.”

Santi Sarrica said the olive oil he gets from his parents is still being pressed on a stone like in ancient times with assistance from a horse or donkey, extracting the oils from the olives, which is still kissed by God, he joked.

After moving from New York to the Hub City, Santi and Gina Sarrica began making pizzas out of their home. They officially opened their Sarrica's Italian Pizza food truck on Nov. 3, 2023. Their goal was to build a legacy.
After moving from New York to the Hub City, Santi and Gina Sarrica began making pizzas out of their home. They officially opened their Sarrica's Italian Pizza food truck on Nov. 3, 2023. Their goal was to build a legacy.

There’s no secret to success for Santi and Gina Sarrica. Giving it their all, pouring their love, sweat and tears into serving others is what has helped them thrive in the business. If there are good intentions there, the results will soon follow, Santi Sarrica said.

“People buy more into that than your product.” Santi Sarrica said.

Their 25-foot, four-stone-rotating ovens house much more than just food. It’s a place that is making memories for Santi and Gina. With the music blaring, the laughs are aplenty, between the two and their co-workers. They work and have a good time, cranking out roughly 150 pies a day when they are busy.

On the outside of the food truck, Santi and Gina Sarrica’s logo, created by friend and New York resident Eric E. Dunn, expresses what matters most in their life.

Sarrica's Italian Pizza is at 5910 Johnston St. The food truck has four rotation-stone ovens. The logo expresses what matters to owners Santi and Gina Sarrica, including family, their love for one another and the colors of their homes: Italy, Sicily and Colombia.
Sarrica's Italian Pizza is at 5910 Johnston St. The food truck has four rotation-stone ovens. The logo expresses what matters to owners Santi and Gina Sarrica, including family, their love for one another and the colors of their homes: Italy, Sicily and Colombia.

“The family unity, the love we have for one another, and each combination of colors it’s chosen on purpose because they represent the colors of our homes - Italy, Sicily and Colombia,” Santi Sarrica said.

As he sits back and reflects on his journey with the truck and in life, Santi Sarrica recalls the moment he and Gina touched down in Lafayette. Santi Sarrica said he knew where he wanted to build his empire, and his future. And that all started with Esmerelda - he and Gina’s daughter.

“She is the reason for everything,” Santi Sarrica said. “We moved from New York to build a legacy for my daughter.”

But it's just not for Esmerelda. It's for future generations. Beside making the best product they can, besides making a living, Santi Sarrica said he wants to bless others, and build a community.

Santi Sarrica said he is excited for what’s next. But for now, it's all about continuing to serve and building that legacy.

“We want to build something here,” Santi Sarrica said. “And that is the reason behind everything, all the success, all the support, because at the end of the day, people see people. When you see people with love in their heart, that is it.”

This article originally appeared on Gonzales Weekly Citizen: Sarrica's Italian Pizza owners build legacy with food truck

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