Italian Love Affair Sows Seed For Gigi Pizza Catering: Pleasanton

PLEASANTON, CA — Romance in Naples, Italy, some 20-plus years ago was the beginning for Jenny and Butch Howard. Unbeknownst to them at the time, their love-at-first-sight sizzle was also the bud for a pizza catering service that is anything but ordinary.

In October, the couple officially launched Gigi — the catering company that offers wood-fired pies "to make any event memorably delicious." It's what happens "when life comes full circle in the most serendipitous, delicious way," according to the Howards.

Gigi is the name of a dear Italian "uncle" who sort of adopted Butch while he was doing a tour with the U.S. Navy in Naples, according to the Howards. "He epitomized the spirit of a true Neapolitan with his love of family, good food, and an appreciation for the pure joy of living."

Gigi came to know Jenny after she began seeing Butch in Naples. The young couple were destined to be: the young navy man served as a personal aide to Jenny's father.

Fast forward decades later, long after Butch and Jenny tied the knot and raised two daughters. The time had come for a family partnership — with Italian flavor.

Jenny's 20-plus years of catering and other culinary adventures provided the business model. Then came a genuine Valoriani pizza oven handcrafted in Italy and a fully restored 1962 International Harvester firetruck.

The business name? It had to be Gigi.

"We take care of our guests and our staff as we would extended family, sharing our deep love for people and for the warmth of connection, just as the real Gigi shared his zest for life," according to the Howards.

As a family, the Howards are wood-firing their pizzas in their Italian oven and delivering them to special events in their old firetruck. Their homemade pies run the gamut and can be customized — each inspired by love.

"Gigi, the business, brings all of that history together," Jenny explained. "We’re a family effort at the core, with an extended team of staff who are all Tri-Valley residents. Our goal is to be contemporary and fun, authentic and delicious, and very much community-minded."

The Howards live in Pleasanton, but they cater throughout the East Bay and are very focused on Livermore wine country.

Thinking back on Naples and love at first sight," Jenny admits it was serendipity. "Such a strange concept now that my daughters are that same age — I’d probably never believe them if they told me the same."

For more information about Gigi and its menu, visit https://www.rollwithgigi.com/