By Erin Kain By Erin Kain | November 21, 2022 | Food & Drink, Feature,
You likely know Indonesian-born pastry chef Candace Nelson as the fun-loving judge on Food Network’s Cupcake Wars and Netflix’s Sugar Rush, but the Sprinkles Cupcakes founder and creator of the craft cupcake movement has expanded her repertoire into another dough-based delicacy. Her latest resto, Pizzana, serves up neo-Neapolitan pies beloved by A-list celebs like JAY-Z and Jennifer Garner and has recently touched down in Dallas. Here, we chat with Nelson about this tasty transition and what we can expect next.
Candace Nelson’s Cali-based pizza eatery has made its way to Dallas.
Pizzana is now open in Dallas. How did the transition from cupcakes to pizza come about? Very organically, from my passion for pizza! I love pizza (who doesn’t?) and was at a party at my friend Chris O’Donnell’s when I bit into the best pizza I’d ever tasted. I sought out the pizza chef, Daniele Uditi, who I learned had just arrived in the United States from Naples, Italy. As he made pizzas in Chris’ wood-burning pizza oven, he shared his story of coming to the U.S. with nothing but $200, his grandmother’s sourdough starter and a dream to open his own pizza restaurant. I couldn’t help but blurt out, ‘I would love to do that with you!’ The rest is history.
Nosh on Neapolitan pies with deliciously tempting toppings.
What inspired you to write your new book, Sweet Success (HarperCollins Leadership)? In Sweet Success, I’m finally sharing my learnings and road map to success in order to offer a path forward for those who want to do it too. I set out to demystify entrepreneurship to encourage the next generation of female entrepreneurs and change-makers. Despite what we see in the media, entrepreneurship is not just for men building rocket ships to the moon—I started a movement from a simple cupcake. Entrepreneurship can and should be for everyone.
What are you thankful for this season? My relationships are my everything! My sweet boys and my husband, my family, my team at Pizzana, my support system of friends and female founders who always lift me up.
Charities or causes you’re passionate about? Step Up, which is a mentorship nonprofit for young girls. As part of Sweet Success, I am partnering with Step Up in their mission to help girls and young women build confidence, bet on themselves and find success. I’m thrilled to be speaking to Step Up students in classrooms around the country, including Dallas.
Also, No Kid Hungry. No child can learn if they’re hungry, and No Kid Hungry works with schools across the country to make school breakfast a part of the school program.
With television projects, new books, your podcast, multiple restaurants and a family on top of it, how do you juggle it all? I meditate daily with the Waking Up app. I prioritize sleep and try to walk every day, outside as much as possible. That mix of rest and nature, plus a whole lot of coffee, keeps me ticking.
Finally, what is your favorite cupcake flavor and pizza topping? I’m a purist when it comes to flavors. I think simplicity done well is the way to go. When it comes to cupcakes, I’m a dark chocolate kind of girl—if you like dark chocolate, you have to try my chocolate olive oil sheet cake at Pizzana. It’s to die for!
And with pizza, I believe our margherita is perfection. The only thing better is topping it with fresh Italian prosciutto, which we call ‘al crudo’ at Pizzana. 3219 Knox St., pizzana.com, candace-nelson.com
Photography by: COURTESY OF BRAND