Customer of the Month: Danny Kennedy

Meet Danny Kennedy

Where are you from and a little background information on you?

My name is Danny Kennedy. I live in Mooresville, North Carolina with my wife, Amber, and our daughter, Olivia. We also have two grown sons, a daughter-in-law, and two wonderful grandchildren—a 3-year-old grandson and a 1-year-old granddaughter.

I was born in Inverness, Florida, and have lived all over the East Coast before settling in North Carolina five years ago. This state is full of adventure and opportunity, and it’s where I co-founded our family-run waste management business with my oldest son.

I’m known for always being on the move—I love tinkering, fixing things, and enjoying the outdoors. Whether it’s riding ATVs, boating on the lake, or grilling BBQ, I like to keep life simple and meaningful.

One of our favorite family traditions is hosting pizza nights with our wood-fired oven. We do it buffet-style so everyone can create their own pizza while we kick back, relax, and enjoy the laughter of the kids playing in the yard. Nothing beats gathering around the fire, cooking, and enjoying the good things in life.

Related: Authentic Pizza Ovens: The Best Pizza Ovens for Your Home and Family

Tell us about your travels and connection to Authentic Pizza Ovens

I’ve been fortunate to travel with my wife during her work with Authentic Pizza Ovens. From overseeing distribution and quality control in Phoenix and Houston to visiting customers and sharing their family recipes, it’s been an incredible journey.

Our most memorable trip was to Portugal, where we visited Lisbon, Braga, Obidos, Porto, and São Martinho do Porto.

Meeting the talented artisans behind the ovens, experiencing the culture, and sampling the food has added a rich layer to our family’s appreciation for outdoor cooking.

We’ve brought those flavors and memories home with us—and they now inspire our own meals.

Which oven did you choose and why did you choose an Authentic Pizza Oven?

We have the Maximus Arena Mobile Pizza Oven in red—and we love it! As someone who owns quite a few grills, I can say the Maximus stands out.

Its double-wall construction and smart airflow design mean our food always comes out fresh and flavorful. Plus, it heats up in just 30 minutes, which means more time spent enjoying the moment.

After visiting the manufacturing facility in Portugal, I gained an even deeper appreciation for these ovens. The craftsmanship, durability, and thoughtful engineering truly set them apart. It’s the perfect balance of traditional design and modern function.

Did you build a set up or have someone else do it? 

We use the Maximus Arena Stand “Woody,” and I love the convenience. It usually stays on our back patio, but I’ll roll it out to the yard when we have a big gathering.

The wooden side tables are perfect for prepping, and the center drawer holds all my tools and mitts. I also love that I can store firewood underneath—super handy when I’m cooking.

 What is your favorite thing to cook in your oven? And have you tried other foods besides pizza?

I’m a BBQ guy at heart, so I love cooking pork, chicken, and sausage in the oven. During the summer, I make Boston Butt often—it always comes out tender and juicy.

For date nights, my wife and I love doing cast iron steaks in the oven. The wood-fired flavor is out of this world, and it beats any steakhouse. We usually pair it with roasted asparagus or Brussels sprouts.

We’ve also cooked baked potatoes, ham, cobblers, pies—and of course, pizza! The kids love our DIY pizza nights, and s’mores by the open fire have become a family favorite for dessert.

Related: Autumn And The Cooking In The Pizza Oven Is Delicious!

Cast Iron Steak

Ingredients:

• Steak cut of your choice- I prefer Ribeye for its marbling that boasts with flavor! 
• Olive Oil
• 2 Tbsp butter
• Steak seasoning of your choice
• Sea Salt
• Pepper
• Thyme 

Steak Preparation:

1. Make sure your steak is at room temperature.
2. Coat your steak in your seasoning of choice- I like to encrust my steak with a good steak seasoning blend and a sprinkle of sea salt. 
3. Add a bit of olive oil to each side of your steak and massage the seasoning into the steak evenly. 

Cooking the Steak:

1. Fire up your woodfired oven to approximately 600 degrees Fahrenheit. 
2. Add a swirl of olive oil to an oven-safe skillet or cast-iron pan and place the pan in your oven to get hot. 
3. Once your oil is hot, add your steak and 2-3 garlic cloves to the pan and place inside your oven. 
4. Sear your steak for approximately 3-4 minutes on each side.
5. Once you've seared your steak, add 2 tbsp butter to your pan and a bit of fresh thyme.
6. Spoon the butter over your steak as you finish cooking it until you've reached your desired temperature.
7. Remove and allow to sit for at least 5-10 minutes before cutting to serve. Pair with your favorite sides and enjoy! 

Woodfired Asparagus

Best made after you've cooked your main meat dish, and your oven has cooled down.

Ingredients:

• Asparagus 
• Olive Oil
• Pinch of black pepper
• Pinch of Sea Salt
• 1 Lemon

Instructions:

1. Make sure your woodfired oven is heated to approximately 250 degrees Farenheit. 
2. Add 2-3 swirls of olive oil to an oven-safe skillet or cast-iron pan and place in your oven to heat up. 
3. Cut your asparagus into desired lengths and cut a few wedges of lemon. Squeeze a wedge of lemon over your asparagus and toss the asparagus to coat. 
4. Once your oil has heated up, add your asparagus and 2-3 wedges of lemon to your pan and place back inside your oven. 
5. Cook your asparagus until finished, tossing periodically so it doesn't burn. - It only takes a few minutes to cook! 

Remove from the oven and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Enjoy!

Woodfired Sausage

Ingredients

• 3 or 4 large links of Spicy Italian Sausage
• 1-2 Tbsp Rosemary Infused Olive Oil 
• 2-4 Garlic Cloves
• Pinch black pepper
• Pinch Pink Sea Salt
• Seasoning of Choice

Directions:

1. Fire up your wood-fired oven to approximately 500 degrees Fahrenheit. 
2. Add a swirl of rosemary-infused olive oil and 2-3 cloves of garlic to an oven-safe skillet or cast-iron pan and place the pan in your oven to get hot. 
3. While the oil is heating up, cut your sausage links into desired lengths. You can remove the sausage casing before slicing or leave it on, whichever you prefer. 
4. You can add seasoning to your sausage- I like to add a pink of salt and pepper, and a dash of red pepper flakes. 
5. Once your oil has heated up, add your sausage to the pan and place back inside your oven. Flip your sausage as needed and cook until finished. 

You can pair your sausage with your favorite pasta or sides or simply place in a bun for a light summer dish! 

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BEING FEATURED AS CUSTOMER OF THE MONTH - please email Amber@authenticpizzaovens.com