Ed LaDou

Ed LaDou was an American pizza chef and consultant widely credited with popularizing California-style pizza. He was known for his innovative and gourmet pizza creations, often featuring unusual toppings and flavor combinations.

LaDou began his culinary career as a pizza chef at Wolfgang Puck's Spago in the early 1980s, where he pioneered the concept of using high-quality, fresh ingredients in pizza-making. He then founded California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) with Larry Flax and Rick Rosenfield, where he developed many of the restaurant's signature pizzas, including the BBQ Chicken Pizza. After leaving CPK, he continued to work as a consultant, helping numerous restaurants develop their pizza menus and training their staff.

LaDou's influence on the pizza industry is significant. He helped elevate pizza from a simple, inexpensive meal to a culinary experience, emphasizing fresh, high-quality ingredients and creative flavor combinations. He is considered a key figure in the development of California cuisine and is often cited as an inspiration by other pizza chefs. His legacy continues to be felt in pizzerias across the United States and beyond.