Recreational Class
Fun-Filled 3-Hour Pizza-Making Class!
- May 15, 2026
- 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm (EST)
- Class Capacity: 16 seats
- 10310 Southard Drive, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, United States
Description
Explore hearty, thick-crust American classics — crispy-bottom Sicilian squares, sauce-on-top Grandma pies, and caramelized cheesy-edged Detroit pans — all built from the same versatile dough using different pan techniques and bold flavors. You’ll work with pizza dough, prepare a variety of sauces, practice pressing dough into pans, and top, bake, and enjoy several sampler pizzas from all three styles.
Workshop Outline
- 6:00–6:30 PM: Welcome, overview of American pan styles & dough versatility.
- 6:30–7:15 PM: Dough prep for thick crusts, pan greasing & layering techniques.
- 7:15–8:00 PM: Topping variations (cheese-first Detroit, sauce-last Grandma, classic Sicilian).
- 8:00–9:00 PM: Baking samplers, tasting & comparing, tips for home pans.
Meet The Instructor
Master Pizza Maker David DeSantis
David DeSantis brings decades of passion and expertise to every stretch of dough.
As CEO and Founder of WookAI.com (a revolutionary supplier management platform for restaurants), Peace Love and Pizza, Legion Pizzeria, Pizza Legion, and Timeinator.com, David has built thriving brands from the ground up.
Holding an MBA, he’s not just a visionary entrepreneur – he’s a hands-on pizza maker and Brand Ambassador for Marra Forni Pizza Ovens, pioneering ghost kitchens with Bring the Smoke BBQ in 2015 and launching iconic spots like his first Atlanta pizzeria during the 1996 Olympics.
As a Culinary and Business Acumen Instructor at Pizza University, David blends pro techniques with real-world smarts to make every class a flavorful masterclass.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pizza University & Culinary Arts is located at 10310-A Southard Drive, Beltsville, MD 20705.
Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI)
Distance from Pizza University & Culinary Arts Center: 22 Miles
Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA)
Distance from Pizza University & Culinary Arts Center: 30 Miles
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Distance from Pizza University & Culinary Arts Center: 40 Miles
Please check our Terms & Conditions, including our cancelation and refund policy.
We will provide our students with a chef jacket, an apron, a binder with course-related material, and blank sheets of paper and a pen to take notes.
Feel free to wear something comfortable. Closed-toe shoes are recommended.
Please email info@pizzauniversity.org to receive hotel information.