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/ Gradi Group | AVPN
Johnny Di Francesco

Founder of 400 Gradi and more broadly the Gradi Group Johnny Di Francesco got his first job making pizza at the age of 12, motivated by wanting to buy a pair of Nikes that his family couldn’t afford. Soon after, he bought the Nikes and his passion for the art of pizza grew.

After several trips to the motherland, Johnny decided it was time that Australians got a taste of Neapolitan pizza. Cooked at 400 degrees for just 90 seconds, the pizza was a hit. Fresh pasta made by hand and a menu of antipasti and quality Italian fare has made 400 Gradi a household name.

Today, Johnny has gone on to become a widely recognised chef, World No.1 Pizza Champion, mentor, and entrepreneur with regular television appearances in Australia and internationally. He is the author of ‘World’s Best Pizza’ and ‘Food of Naples’, two cookbooks on Neapolitan food and remains passionately involved in each 400 Gradi restaurant as locations expand both locally and internationally.

 

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Australia's Best Pizza Awards: Heat 1
Sunday 18 May
9:00 am
Australia's Best Pizza Awards
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Johnny Di Francesco
Gradi Group | AVPN
Image
Daniel Semrani
Gigi's Pizzeria
Image
Paolo Gatto
Sydcily
Image
Liam McLauglin
Global Hospitality Group
Australia’s Best Pizza Awards: Heat 3
Sunday 18 May
10:20 am
Australia's Best Pizza Awards
Image
Johnny Di Francesco
Gradi Group | AVPN
Image
Daniel Semrani
Gigi's Pizzeria
Image
Paolo Gatto
Sydcily
Image
Liam McLauglin
Global Hospitality Group
Australia’s Best Pizza Awards: Heat 4
Sunday 18 May
11:00 am
Australia's Best Pizza Awards
Image
Johnny Di Francesco
Gradi Group | AVPN
Image
Daniel Semrani
Gigi's Pizzeria
Image
Paolo Gatto
Sydcily
Image
Liam McLauglin
Global Hospitality Group
Australia’s Best Pizza Awards: Heat 5
Sunday 18 May
11:40 am
Australia's Best Pizza Awards
Image
Johnny Di Francesco
Gradi Group | AVPN
Image
Daniel Semrani
Gigi's Pizzeria
Image
Paolo Gatto
Sydcily
Image
Liam McLauglin
Global Hospitality Group
Australia’s Best Pizza Awards: Heat 6
Sunday 18 May
12:20 pm
Australia's Best Pizza Awards
Image
Johnny Di Francesco
Gradi Group | AVPN
Image
Daniel Semrani
Gigi's Pizzeria
Image
Paolo Gatto
Sydcily
Image
Liam McLauglin
Global Hospitality Group
Australia’s Best Pizza Awards: Heat 7
Sunday 18 May
1:00 pm
Australia's Best Pizza Awards
Image
Johnny Di Francesco
Gradi Group | AVPN
Image
Daniel Semrani
Gigi's Pizzeria
Image
Paolo Gatto
Sydcily
Image
Liam McLauglin
Global Hospitality Group
Australia’s Best Pizza Awards: Heat 8
Sunday 18 May
1:40 pm
Australia's Best Pizza Awards
Image
Johnny Di Francesco
Gradi Group | AVPN
Image
Daniel Semrani
Gigi's Pizzeria
Image
Paolo Gatto
Sydcily
Image
Liam McLauglin
Global Hospitality Group
Australia’s Best Pizza Awards: Heat 9
Sunday 18 May
2:20 pm
Australia's Best Pizza Awards
Image
Johnny Di Francesco
Gradi Group | AVPN
Image
Daniel Semrani
Gigi's Pizzeria
Image
Paolo Gatto
Sydcily
Image
Liam McLauglin
Global Hospitality Group
Australia’s Best Pizza Awards: Heat 10
Sunday 18 May
3:00 pm
Australia's Best Pizza Awards
Image
Johnny Di Francesco
Gradi Group | AVPN
Image
Daniel Semrani
Gigi's Pizzeria
Image
Paolo Gatto
Sydcily
Image
Liam McLauglin
Global Hospitality Group
Australia’s Best Pizza Awards: Heat 11
Sunday 18 May
3:40 pm
Australia's Best Pizza Awards
Image
Johnny Di Francesco
Gradi Group | AVPN
Image
Daniel Semrani
Gigi's Pizzeria
Image
Paolo Gatto
Sydcily
Image
Liam McLauglin
Global Hospitality Group
Australia’s Best Pizza Awards: Heat 12
Sunday 18 May
4:20 pm
Australia's Best Pizza Awards
Image
Johnny Di Francesco
Gradi Group | AVPN
Image
Daniel Semrani
Gigi's Pizzeria
Image
Paolo Gatto
Sydcily
Image
Liam McLauglin
Global Hospitality Group
Australia’s Best Pizza Awards Ceremony
Monday 19 May
4:30 pm
Australia's Best Pizza Awards & Competition
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Johnny Di Francesco
Gradi Group | AVPN
Image
Paolo Gatto
Sydcily
Image
Daniel Semrani
Gigi's Pizzeria
Image
Liam McLauglin
Global Hospitality Group
Australia’s Best Pizza Awards: Heat 14
Monday 19 May
9:40 am
Australia's Best Pizza Awards
Image
Johnny Di Francesco
Gradi Group | AVPN
Image
Daniel Semrani
Gigi's Pizzeria
Image
Paolo Gatto
Sydcily
Image
Liam McLauglin
Global Hospitality Group
Australia’s Best Pizza Awards: Heat 13
Monday 19 May
9:00 am
Australia's Best Pizza Awards
Image
Johnny Di Francesco
Gradi Group | AVPN
Image
Daniel Semrani
Gigi's Pizzeria
Image
Paolo Gatto
Sydcily
Image
Liam McLauglin
Global Hospitality Group
Australia’s Best Pizza Awards: Heat 15
Monday 19 May
10:20 am
Australia's Best Pizza Awards
Image
Johnny Di Francesco
Gradi Group | AVPN
Image
Daniel Semrani
Gigi's Pizzeria
Image
Paolo Gatto
Sydcily
Image
Liam McLauglin
Global Hospitality Group
Australia’s Best Pizza Awards: Heat 16
Monday 19 May
11:00 am
Australia's Best Pizza Awards
Image
Johnny Di Francesco
Gradi Group | AVPN
Image
Daniel Semrani
Gigi's Pizzeria
Image
Paolo Gatto
Sydcily
Image
Liam McLauglin
Global Hospitality Group
Australia’s Best Pizza Awards: Heat 17
Monday 19 May
11:40 am
Australia's Best Pizza Awards
Image
Johnny Di Francesco
Gradi Group | AVPN
Image
Daniel Semrani
Gigi's Pizzeria
Image
Paolo Gatto
Sydcily
Image
Liam McLauglin
Global Hospitality Group
Australia’s Best Pizza Awards: Heat 18
Monday 19 May
12:20 pm
Australia's Best Pizza Awards
Image
Johnny Di Francesco
Gradi Group | AVPN
Image
Daniel Semrani
Gigi's Pizzeria
Image
Paolo Gatto
Sydcily
Image
Liam McLauglin
Global Hospitality Group
Australia’s Best Pizza Awards: Heat 19
Monday 19 May
1:00 pm
Australia's Best Pizza Awards
Image
Johnny Di Francesco
Gradi Group | AVPN
Image
Daniel Semrani
Gigi's Pizzeria
Image
Paolo Gatto
Sydcily
Image
Liam McLauglin
Global Hospitality Group
Australia’s Best Pizza Awards: Heat 20
Monday 19 May
1:40 pm
Australia's Best Pizza Awards
Image
Johnny Di Francesco
Gradi Group | AVPN
Image
Daniel Semrani
Gigi's Pizzeria
Image
Paolo Gatto
Sydcily
Image
Liam McLauglin
Global Hospitality Group
Australia’s Best Pizza Awards: Heat 21
Monday 19 May
2:20 pm
Australia's Best Pizza Awards
Image
Johnny Di Francesco
Gradi Group | AVPN
Image
Daniel Semrani
Gigi's Pizzeria
Image
Paolo Gatto
Sydcily
Image
Liam McLauglin
Global Hospitality Group
Australia’s Best Pizza Awards: Heat 22
Monday 19 May
3:00 pm
Australia's Best Pizza Awards
Image
Johnny Di Francesco
Gradi Group | AVPN
Image
Daniel Semrani
Gigi's Pizzeria
Image
Paolo Gatto
Sydcily
Image
Liam McLauglin
Global Hospitality Group
How to prepare a true Neapolitan Pizza according to AVPN regulations & Gigi Pizza
Tuesday 20 May
11:00 am
The Pizza Pasta Masterclass
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Johnny Di Francesco
Gradi Group | AVPN
Image
Daniel Semrani
Gigi's Pizzeria