Pizza Peel

Matthew Graziano had a deep love for two things: woodgrain and pizza. So, when he decided to make a pizza peel, it wasn’t just a weekend project—it was a mission.

He hand-selected each piece of wood, looking for the ones with the most character—warm indian rosewood and wenge for flair. As he shaped the board, sanding every curve and edge, he imagined it sliding under a perfectly crisp crust, steam rising, cheese bubbling.

But Matthew didn’t stop there. He added a little notch on the handle—not for function, but to hold a story. “That’s where the good luck lives,” he joked to friends.

When it was finished, the pizza peel wasn’t just a tool—it was a stage. And on it, dough turned to dinner, and dinner turned to laughter.

From that day on, every pizza made with it came out just a little more perfect. Some say it was the craftsmanship. Others say it was the magic in the notch. Matthew just called it love—with a side of mozzarella.

(Made by Matthew Graziano for In The Kitchen Contest)