And although Neil Blazin fills his intimate ten-table dining room in Pittsburgh on a regular basis, Blazin has roots in Ellwood City. The 38-year-old enterpreneur grew up in Ellwood City and attended Lincoln High School. He then went on to attend the University of Pittsburgh as Political Science and History Major, but politics just weren’t as appealing as pizza and his dreams of owning a restaurant.
These days Blazin spends most of his time crafting delicious pizza pies but enjoys spending his free time with his family—wife, Christina and two kids Theodore, 3.5, and Faye, 15 months–in his Greenfield neighborhood in Pittsburgh.
Neil Blazin, co-owner of Driftwood Oven. Blazin was just named a semifinalist for Outstanding Pastry Chef in the 2020 James Beard Awards, the food industry’s highest honor.
“Blazin” His Way
Neil met his business partner, Justin Vetter, while the two worked at Legume Bistro in Oakland. At that time, Neil was immersed in his baking—spending hours working to finesse his method of natural sourdough baking. Vetter was more into the hospitality side of business. They both perfected their crafts and then an opportunity to combine their efforts was born.
The Pizza adventure began for Blazin and his partner in August 2015 with the launch of Driftwood Oven. That August day, Blazin baked his first pizza for the public at The Brew Gentlemen Brewery in Braddock. That would be the first pizza of many that Blazin wood fired as he traveled all over the Pittsburgh area.
“We were a mobile wood-fired pizza and bread venture that towed our oven around for 2.5 years,” Blazin said.
A lot has changed since then. Blazin and Vetter now own a storefront and staff has grown rapidly.
“We opened the restaurant in Lawrenceville in 2018 with only 3 staff members,” Blazin said. “We currently have 21 on staff. We experienced a lot more growth that we imagined! It has been an exciting ride for the last two years. Looking forward to seeing what challenges come next.”
Lawrenceville was a clear choice of location for Blazin. He said Driftwood oven already had a presence there from the mobile days when he baked pizza at Roundabout Brewery each Sunday.
He said the space was a selling point.
“We had been looking at spaces for over a year when our space came available,” Blazin said. “It was already built out as a restaurant so we didn’t have to do any major construction. That was the largest determining factor. The neighborhood being a busy one was an amazing bonus.”
Secret to Success
According to Blazin there is a motto for Driftwood Ovens: “A little better everyday.”
He believes more than success stories, mistakes lead to growth.
“We often find the most growth out of the most trying situations,” he said. “We have been pushed to our limits multiple times in the restaurant space as we learned to be more efficient and effective at our perspective roles. These hard times have essentially trained us by pushing us at the right times and have allowed our staff to become seasoned veterans in a very short amount of time.”
A Unique Style of Pizza
Sourdough.
That is what makes Driftwood Oven unique. According to Blazin it is the only sourdough pizzeria and bakery in Pittsburgh.
“We ferment our dough slowly with a natural culture–this provides a variety of benefits to those who consume our bread,” Blazin said. “Our pizza doughs contain whole grain as well, typically something not found in pizza.”
Something that also adds to the uniqueness is that all of their ingredients are locally and naturally sourced. That includes local farms and creameries that provide the cheeses, the meats, the herbs, and other ingredients.
But aside from sourdough and local goodness, Blazin believes the true magic is found in his staff. He said managing a staff can be a challenge at times, they are truly the best part of the restaurant.
Rave Reviews
Recently, Blazin was named a semifinalist for Outstanding Pastry Chef in the 2020 James Beard Awards, the food industry’s highest honor.
The restaurant has also earned glaring reviews in various publications.
According to Melissa McCart in her Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article “Pittsburgh’s standout new restaurants for 2018”: https://www.post-gazette.com/life/dining/2018/12/03/Standout-restaurants-for-2018-Pittsburgh-LeoGreta-Mediterra-Cafe-Seasons-in-EtnaRevival-on-Lincoln-Siempre-Algo-Penn-Cove-Eatery/stories/201811300486 “Driftwood Oven is sourcing good flours which translates to better-tasting crust that offers more nutritional value. Pair nice crust with ingredients like Pennsylvania-based Caputo Bros. mozzarella and it tastes good, too.”
McCart wasn’t the only one who found Driftwood Oven to be unique. Hal B. Klein of Pittsburgh Magazine said “It’s best because it’s a family-friendly pizza joint with a lot of nice touches.” Pittsburgh Magazine listed Driftwood as one of the Best Restaurants in Pittsburgh in 2019. https://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/best-restaurants-in-pittsburgh-in-2019/#DRIFTWOOD_OVEN. “Blazin, the baker, prepares stellar pizzas risen with a natural starter. His menu also includes farm-to-table salads and sourdough sandwiches such as mortadella with spicy pickled peppers,” Klein said in his article.
And if that’s not enough five-star review status, Hollywood model and actress Christine Teigen tweeted about it less than a year ago.
“I had four pieces of incredible pizza at driftwood kitchen last night,” Teigen tweeted in March. “So if you are ever in Pittsburgh, go there.”
The Future
Blazin said the present time is great, but he is looking forward to a great future for not only himself and his business but for other entrepreneurs with dreams.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the talented people in my business grow as professionals and take on their own projects,” he said.
Blazin invites everyone to check out Driftwood Oven and Lawrenceville.
“It’s a great business district with lots to do, easily walkable, and great for kids. We are also a very family restaurant,” he said. “Bring the kids.”
Located at 3615 Butler Street, Pittsburgh, the restaurant’s hours are:
To learn more about Driftwood Oven and view a menu, you can visit the website: https://www.driftwoodoven.com/.
You can also find Driftwood Oven on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DriftwoodOven; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Driftwoodoven; or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/driftwoodoven/
Lawrence i’ll is downtown Pittsburgh. No in or near New Castle. You keep putting articles that have the word Lawrence in them that have nothing to do with Lawrence County. All bot driven?
Hi Susan, our article spotlights a former graduate of Lincoln High School in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania. The article sets out to spotlight a former Ellwoodians success in business. Thanks for your comment.