Meet the Chef/Owner of Sun Valley Pizza

Like many chefs and owners, Ted Pappas grew up in the restaurant industry. Read below to find out more about this diligent restaurant vet who still finds time to hit the gym and stay in shape.

Name: Ted Pappas

Age: 54

Years in the Industry: 43

First Kitchen Job: As a dishwasher at my father's restaurant, Pete's, in Center City.

Earliest Cooking Memory: Making hoagies with my father in the kitchen when I was about 8.

Advice for Home Cooks: Call Sun Valley and order.

Favorite Thing to Cook: Buffalo chicken pizza

Favorite Local Restaurant: Estia at 15th and Sansom

Favorite Restaurant in the World: There's a little taverna right outside of Athens, Greece in a town called Pirgos. It's right on top of the ocean. I don't remember the name of it, though.

Guilty Pleasure (food or drink): Buffalo wings

Last Meal on Earth: Buffalo wings and Corona, although steak would be nice as I haven't had red meat in 25 years.

Biggest Kitchen Disaster: We had a catering job for 880 people the day of a snow storm. The guy who brings the bread was two hours late and didn't come until 9 a.m. We spent all this time digging our van out of the snow and then when the guy finally arrived we had to make 800 sandwiches, drive them to the catering site by 11 a.m. and then serve. I'm proud to say we weren't even a minute late! We pulled it off.