Customer of the Month: Tom Perry

Old-world traditional cooking is an exciting culinary and artisanal experience that has bonded many families together creating enduring life-long memories since the dawn of time.  

For decades, Authentic Pizza Ovens have made it possible for many people from all around the world who have dreamed of elevating their backyard space with their very own wood-fired pizza oven.

Handmade and crafted with quality and authentic materials by some of the finest artisans in the world, Authentic Pizza Ovens offers a variety of oven options featuring different aesthetics tailored to individual personalities and preferences that are attainable to almost any budget. 

Meet Tom Perry, of Dayton, OH, and read about how his Lisboa Premium oven has become the highlight in fulfilling his dream of having his very own backyard bliss for all his family and friends to enjoy. 

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

My name is Tom Perry and I am originally from Houston, TX. I now reside in Dayton, OH where I practice Oral Surgery.

My wife, Sue, is a retired Nurse Anesthetist and was originally from a small town in NW Ohio, N. Baltimore.

I am a passionate bread baker, Pizzaioli, part-time Culinary School and U. of Dayton Adult School teacher and a barbeque aficionado. I've wanted a wood-fired oven for decades but thought it was too much to take on.

We finally made the plunge last Fall and ordered the Lisboa Premium- Hybrid pizza oven. My wife suggested that we extend our paver patio and add a pergola, and voila! It came together perfectly and we couldn't be more thrilled with the outcome!

I fire it up weekly and tantalize our Facebook friends and neighbors with delectable food photos and in-person meals. Pizzas are my favorite thing to make in our oven. The unique and smokey flavors and variety of textures simply cannot be replicated in a conventional home oven.

Moreover, the experience of traditional-style wood-fired oven cooking is unlike any other! I find it exceptionally gratifying to learn different techniques. Apart from baking pizza, I love experimenting with the versatility of the oven.

I cook a variety of dishes ranging from freshly baked bread to veggies, and various meats. It is alluring to explore the endless possibilities.

Related: The Versatility of Using a Wood-Fired Oven

Everything turns out beautifully when baked under a watchful eye! We can rave on and on about how our new wood-fired oven has enriched our lives and accentuated our backyard space.

We now have a peaceful retreat where we can spend quality time hosting pizza nights and brick oven dinners. We can bond in the most fun way with our family and friends! 

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

I did not make my decision lightly, especially after waiting for so long to finally purchase an oven. I researched many different brand ovens and read company reviews before I ultimately made a decision.

All of the YouTube videos that were easily accessible online, the quality and craftsmanship of Authentic Pizza Ovens, the overall specifications of their various ovens, and their consistently positive reviews kept me circling back to them.

Related: Why Choosing Authentic Matters

Amber Kennedy provided outstanding customer support throughout the entire process and was very influential in our decision to purchase the oven model that best suited our needs.

We ordered the Lisboa Premium- Hybrid pizza oven and we could not be more satisfied with our choice from all of the oven options that they offer!

We were most drawn to the overall size and the versatility of the Lisboa oven. It has enough space to easily cook a ham, a turkey,  a standing rib roast, casseroles, breads, desserts, and so much more!

We were also delighted that it can double as a firepit feature with its cozy vibes, made possible with its taller door opening.

We are most pleased with our decision and Authentic Pizza Ovens has truly lived up to their reputation of exceptional customer service and solid support beyond the initial sale! 

Did you build your setup or have someone else do it? 

We hired a stone mason to build our oven setup. He built the stand for the oven with stone pavers, and he installed our pergola. He was a bit slow in getting the project completed, however, he was very talented and we couldn't be happier with how beautifully it turned out once it was completed!

The lighter shade of the terra cotta facade of the Lisboa oven blends perfectly with the natural hues of grey, brown, and orange tones staggered throughout the stone pavers!

We added brick arches with natural rustic shades of red and brown beneath the countertop spaces on each side of the oven. This adds a touch of warmth to the entire feature.

We store our firewood underneath the arches and have ample countertop space to prepare and serve our food. In short - it's truly a DREAM SPACE! 

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

Of course, pizza is my favorite thing to cook. I make a 24-48 hour delayed rise crust that I cover in the fridge.  I then can add fresh basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, and/or chives from my herb garden.

I also use tomatoes from my garden when they're in season. We both love either tomato or pesto sauce on our pizzas! We never overload a pizza as we prefer the Italian style of a sparsely dressed pizza with few ingredients.

Aside from pizza, I've made roasted vegetables and hamburgers, glazed pork tenderloin, roasted sweet corn in the husk, and roasted sweet potatoes. They were ALL FANTASTIC!

I'm just getting started so there are still so many things I want to cook! We can't wait to cook a standing rib roast, steaks, different casseroles, and a variety of freshly baked breads, cobblers, and even jalapeño poppers, just to name a few.

Our Lisboa Premium oven is a pure joy to cook in! My only problem is when standing too close to the heat, my iPhone overheats and delays my taking cooking videos. Such a "big" problem to have, right?! Haha! 

Pork Tenderloin with Peach Jam Glaze

Ingredients

Pork Tenderloin

• Pork Tenderloin
• Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
• 2 Cloves of Garlic
• Sea Salt
• Cracked Pepper

Jam Glaze

• 2/3 cup of Peach Jam or Orange Marmalade
• 1 tablespoon of Dijon Mustard
• 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon of Honey
• 1/8 teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper (to taste)

Instructions:

1. Heat your wood-fired pizza oven to 600ºF/ 315º C
2. Rinse and pat dry the pork tenderloin, and rub with extra-virgin olive oil. 
3. Slice and Dice two cloves of garlic and sprinkle in two teaspoons of sea salt. Puree this with the sides of a chef's knife. 
4. Smear the garlic puree all over the pork and add cracked pepper as desired. 
5. Place the pork tenderloin in a cast iron skillet and place it in your wood-fired oven. 
6. Periodically turn the skillet as the pork browns beautifully to expose all sides.
7. Cook until the pork reaches the internal temperature of 145ºF / 63º C
8. Once it reaches temperature, remove it from your oven and cover the pork with the jam glaze, then return back inside your wood-fired oven for approximately 5 to 8 minutes. 

Remove and allow it to rest for 5-8 minutes then slice and serve. ENJOY! 

Related: Affordable Gourmet at Home with Authentic Pizza Oven

Roasted Sweetcorn in the Husk

Ingredients

• Sweetcorn in the Husk
• Melted Butter
• Salt & Pepper

Directions

1. Heat your wood-fired oven to 400ºF / 200ºC.
2. Trim the ends of the sweetcorn with a knife, then peel the outer leaves exposing the pale green leaves beneath.
3. Place the ears of the corn inside your oven lengthwise next to the coals, and turn the ears as the husks turn brown. 
4. The corn will be done as the husks blacken. Once blackened, remove the corn from the oven. 
5. Peel the corn with oven mitts and place the ears on a platter. Brush with melted butter and salt & pepper to taste. 

Serve and ENJOY! 

Roasted Split Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients

• Sweet potatoes
• Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
• Salt & Pepper

Directions

1. Heat your wood-fired oven to approximately 600ºF/ 315º C
2. Wash and scrub all the sweet potatoes, then slice lengthwise down the middle into 2 halves. Score the outside of each half potato with 3 to 4 slashes through the outer skin. 
3. Coat all sides of each half potato with extra-virgin olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt and pepper as desired on all sides. 
4. Place the potatoes cut-side down into a cast-iron griddle and place inside your oven next to the coals. 
5. Turn the griddle to expose both sides about every 20 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 212ºF/100ºC.

Bon appetít!

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

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