Meet Gary Portillo, the Heart Behind San Valentino Pizza

Gary’s passion for pizza began in 2013 when he took his first class through Marra Forni, which later evolved into Pizza University. Since then, he has completed many classes under renowned pizza experts, including Tony Gemignani, Enzo Cochia, Jonathan Goldsmith, Scott Weiner, Jon Arena, and has worked alongside Chris Bianco and Daniele Gagliotta. His training also included classes with Mike Voltaggio and celebrity Kevin James.

Gary has attended the World Pizza Expo in Las Vegas three times, focusing on dough-making and pizzeria development, which helped him develop his Neo-Neapolitan style—a hybrid of Neapolitan and American/NY pizza. As a VPN-certified pizzaiolo, Gary has crafted his own dough recipe over the years, enhancing the quality of his pizzas. He has collaborated with the Marra brothers at various prestigious events, including the Super Bowl, Formula One, and gatherings at Audi Field and FedEx Field for the Commanders/Redskins.

The name San Valentino Pizza is a heartfelt tribute to his family, combining the names of his two older sons to signify that family is the greatest love in his life.