On a recent episode of the Pizza Story Podcast, host Erica D’Arcangelo sat down with Jake and Holly Johnson, the husband-and-wife duo behind Patriot Woodfired Pizza. Their journey from the golf clubs of Tampa, Florida, to a historic fire station in Jefferson City, Tennessee, is a masterclass in pivoting, perseverance, and the pursuit of the perfect wood-fired pie.
The “Porch Pitch” and the Food Truck Hustle
In 2017, Jake and Holly moved to East Tennessee. Jake, a long-time chef in high-end country clubs, found himself in a job that didn’t spark joy. One night, after putting their daughter to bed, Jake made his “porch pitch”: “I want to put a brick oven on the back of a trailer and just go for it.”
By March 2018, they were on the road. For five years, the Patriot Woodfired food truck became a local staple, but the road wasn’t easy. From flat tires and generator failures to the grueling 117-degree heat inside the truck during July, the Johnsons learned the industry’s grit the hard way.
Finding a Home in History
Eventually, the demand outpaced the mobility of the truck. The couple decided to plant roots in an old city hall building in Jefferson City. In a poetic twist, their restaurant space is located in what was once the local fire station.
“It’s kind of fun,” Holly noted during the podcast. “Coming from the fire station to us having wood-fired ovens.” Today, they operate two wood-fired ovens: one dedicated to their famous appetizers and another purely for pizzas.
A Menu of Innovation and Local Pride
Patriot Woodfired isn’t your average neighborhood joint. While they respect the classics—Jake swears by Bianco DiNapoli tomatoes and fresh mozzarella made in-house every morning—they are famous for their bold, rotating features.
Jake changes the “Feature Pizza” every two weeks, often drawing inspiration from classic sandwiches.
Perhaps their most unexpected best-seller? The Chicken Wings. Originally developed for a wedding catering gig, these wood-fired wings were so good they earned a permanent spot on the menu.
The Secret Ingredient: Georgia Olive Oil
One unique detail Jake shared is his commitment to high-quality ingredients from the region. While many look to California or Italy for olive oil, Patriot Woodfired uses oil from a farm in Georgia.
“Georgia is the only olive farm east of the Mississippi that grows olives for olive oil,” Jake explained. “It’s top-notch quality… I would put it up against any California olive oil for sure.”
It’s All About Family
Growing up in the industry herself, Erica resonated with the Johnsons’ family dynamic. While Jake manages the “back of the house” and Holly handles the “front of the house,” they admit that working together in tight spaces has its challenges. “There were some empty pizza boxes,” Holly laughed, recalling their days on the food truck.
Today, their 12-year-old daughter is part of the story, occasionally getting behind the line to throw a pizza in the oven. For the Johnsons, the business isn’t just about the bottom line; it’s about “us against the world” and the community they’ve built in Jefferson City.
Follow Patriot Wood Fired Pizza on Instagram @patriotwoodfiredpizza
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