When local Melbournian George Xylourgidis

became a qualified Chef, he never knew that

his favorite food of all time would also double

as the special ingredient for his success in the

hospitality industry: PIZZA.

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After years of hands-on experience at his

parent’s Pizza shop, the delicious allure of

Italy’s Mediterranean cuisine led George to

his dream job at the famous Fazio’s in

Hampton, working alongside the legendary

Sam Fazio himself. Back in the day, this

Italian pioneer ran one of only two Melbourne

restaurants cooking pizza in a woodfired oven.

Incredible!

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Sam quickly became a mentor to George,

adding fuel to his [wood] fire passion for Italian

food. The flavours, the colours, the variety.

All of it. But most importantly? The pure and

authentic joy that food can create by bringing

people together to share a meal.

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This was the secret weapon Sam shared from decades of experience; and with George a natural born people-person, this passion for bringing friends and family together with quality Italian food shines through in everything that Ciccio’s Woodfire Pizzeria is about today. The legacy lives on!

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Sam identified the talent and spark that undeniably existed within George, nurturing his appetite to learn, until one day he turned around and told George that he was ready. Ready to go out and create something of his own.

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Bidding Bayside farewell and deciding to invest back into the area he grew up in, George established Ciccio’s Woodfire Pizzeria on Poath Road in Murrumbeena early 2020.

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The year that will go down in the history books for all the wrong reasons (thanks COVID) but not for the small team of 10 who have stood strong and supported each other in their dream to provide a fun-filled, family-friendly, local Pizzeria restaurant.

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George and his team have not only survived, but thrived, with the odds against them thanks to the ongoing support of the local community – who seem to LOVE PIZZA just as much as George does! And for 2021 and beyond? Safe to say the future of PIZZA is in good hands at Ciccio’s.