World-Famous Pizza Tossing at Coco’s Italian Market December 8, 2011

Coco’s Italian Market & Restaurant offers a rare treat for Nashville foodies – a live demonstration of world-famous pizza tossing from award-winning champion, Joe Carlucci. This display takes place on Thursday, December 8th from 11:15am to 1:15pm at their Italian-owned and operated establishment at 411 51st Ave N. Nashville, TN (37209). This event is free and open to the public with all ages welcome. Call (615) 783-0114 for more information.

Coco’s Owner, Chuck Cinelli, says, “You’ve got to see this guy in action. For more than a year, after 12-hour work days, Joe Carlucci would stand in the kitchen of his Italian restaurant and toss pizza dough. Behind his back. Through his legs. Lying on the floor. And eventually blindfolded.”

"It wasn't fun," said Carlucci, owner of Carlucci's Restaurant in Bethel, New York. "I burned myself on my oven. I hit my head on a table. I fell. But I kept doing it every night and it finally started to click."

Practice did “make perfect” for Carlucci, whose blindfolded pizza-tossing skills caught the eye of judges during the Pizza Marketing Quarterly's Acrobatic Trial and Culinary Competition, securing him a spot on the six-member United States Pizza Team.

"His ability to really throw the dough over his shoulder blindfolded really got him in," said Steve Green, publisher of PMQ magazine. Carlucci's next toss will take place at the World Pizza Championship in April in Salsomaggiore, Italy. The American team will compete against about 80 squads from across the globe, including those from Japan and Spain."

Coco’s Italian Market & Restaurant is Nashville's premier Italian eatery and Italian importer. The Italian tricolore flies over this trifecta of pasta, pizza and paninis, where the Cinelli family delivers a menu of ziti, parm, marsala and cannoli. Kid-friendly yet romantic, Coco’s offers a $4.99 lunch special, Italian beers and wines. Open seven days a week serving lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch, Coco’s is located at 411 51st Ave N. Nashville, TN (37209) and can be reached http://www.italianmarket.biz or by calling (615) 783.0114.

Official Website: http://www.italianmarket.biz