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On this episode, meet Salar, the visionary owner-operator behind MaiPai, Hamilton Ontario's most unique dining destination where authentic Detroit-style pizza meets immersive tiki bar culture. What started as a dream to combine two passions has become a fully-booked phenomenon that guests reserve weeks in advance, proving that when you build something people can't find anywhere else, they'll seek you out.
Chapters:
0:00 - Introduction: MaiPai's Tiki Pizza Paradise
2:05 - The Origin Story: How Tiki Bars & Detroit Pizza Merged
3:07 - Location Strategy: Opening in Hamilton's "Bad" Neighborhood
5:02 - Word-of-Mouth Marketing: Building Buzz Without Social Media
6:14 - Pizza vs Alcohol Sales: What Really Drives Revenue
7:11 - Tiki Bar Culture: Adult Disneyland for Rum Lovers
10:26 - Tiki Bar Design: Creating an Overwhelming Sensory Experience
13:06 - Red Dwarf Comparison: Detroit Pizza & Tiki Bar Concepts
15:00 - Space Buildout: Finding the Right Location & Layout
16:23 - Pandemic Pivot: How Pizza Saved the Day During Lockdown
24:16 - Tiki Cocktail Program: Hiring Expert Bartenders
26:12 - Detroit Style Pizza in Canada: Missing Market Opportunity
28:20 - Detroit Pizza Pilgrimage: Louis vs Spicy Pie
29:16 - Pan Size Debate: 8x10 vs 10x14 Detroit Style
31:24 - Detroit Style Pizza Company: Taking Shawn Randazzo's Class
34:18 - Pan Seasoning: Detroit Style Pizza Co vs Lloyd Pans
35:01 - Detroit Pizza Dough: 70% Hydration & Simplified Process
37:27 - Skipping Steps: Why Perfect Isn't Always Better
41:32 - Equipment Upgrade: From Bakers Pride to Pizza Master Ovens
48:23 - Round Pizza Experiments: Using New Oven Flexibility
50:18 - Training Staff: Is Detroit Style Easier Than Round Pizza?
53:47 - Restaurant Operations: Daily Routine & Responsibilities
54:59 - Building Infrastructure: Power, AC & Apartment Issues
56:22 - Future Plans: Hawaiian Restaurant Dreams
59:44 - Work-Life Balance: Managing a 7-Day Operation
1:05:18 - Rapid Fire: Hot Honey, Long Fermentation & High Hydration
1:07:31 - Social Media Impact: TikTok Success Without Trying
1:10:06 - AI Phone Systems: The Future of Restaurant Technology
1:13:59 - Pizza Competitions: Why Competing is Underrated
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