EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS PHOTO BY ANDRE BYIK
15 MINUTES
THE GOODS
Dishing slices The hum of Don Dorfmeier’s Inferno Wood-Fired Pizza truck is often drowned out by the rumble of passing dump trucks. Parked across the street from a burned-out muffler shop at 6118 Skyway in Paradise, Dorfmeier dishes hand-tossed pies to workers and the few locals who remain in the burn zone. Dorfmeier, 40, grew up in the Bay Area and studied exercise physiology at Chico State, graduating in 2007 and returning home to work in the health and fitness field for about 10 years. Rising costs of living led Dorfmeier back to Chico, where he started his pizza truck operation just over a year ago. After the fire and a couple of test trips to gauge whether his mobile pizzeria could handle trips to and from the Ridge, Dorfmeier found a home in the parking lot of the Skyway Antique Mall, which he says is undergoing roof work and may reopen in the next month or so. “Really nice people,” he says of the owners. Inferno WoodFired Pizza, which was burning red oak in its oven when the CN&R recently caught up with its owner, is typically open Monday-Saturday, from 11 a.m. to around 6 or 7 p.m.
What’s it like working in Paradise? It’s pretty awesome. A lot of people think it’s a little dreary because of the fire, but the people here are really nice. They recently had the Party in
by
Radio silence
the Park, and so they’re having events here. … I talk to a lot of people—it’s officially like a small town again, ’cause, you know, I guess the population is down 90 percent or something like that.
How’d you get into pizza? I used to work at a [pizza chain] in Palo Alto. I worked there for about three years, and that’s where I really got into the business of pizza. I was just doing deliveries then, but after working there for a while they give you opportunities to make pizza. They used conventional pizza ovens. Really nice ones, but not exactly a wood-fired oven.
What’s the difference? It’s more of an art form than just sticking the pizza in the oven. Although it’s easier to mess up, as well. … I have a lot of tools, but I don’t really use them. Basically, I know how hot it needs
to be by just seeing how quick it’s cooking. And at the end I try to put the toppings right in the flame to really cook it, and then you can smell onions, the garlic, all the toppings, cooked mushrooms. It smells really good.
Which pizza would you recommend? The garlic chicken and bacon on white sauce with red onions and cilantro is pretty popular. Probably the most popular. And we have a couple different combos, all of which have five toppings. … And then I got a few veggies.
How’d you come up with the name Inferno? I just thought it’d be a cool name. Everyone relates it to the [Camp Fire], and it has nothing to do with the fire. —ANDRE BYIK a nd re b @new srev i ew. c o m
Meredith J. Cooper meredithc@newsreview.com
Remember a couple of years ago, when 101.7 FM switched formats to conservative talk radio? It was a very sad day indeed, one that forced me to unprogram the station from my car presets. Then it did a 180 and became The Edge, which quickly earned back a preset spot. Then, this past April, it switched things up yet again. Now it’s Hot Hits—“Top 40 for adults, without rap or hard rock.” Where’s the fun in that? (Full disclosure: the program director, Chris Singleton, is a friend of mine. Sorry, dude—preset redeleted.) As if that wasn’t enough bad news, I woke up last Tuesday to a Facebook announcement from my other radio buddy, Brent Gallagher (aka Wheezal Dogg), saying Wednesday (July 31) would be his last day on the air. His station, 93.9 The Hippo, had been bought by Deer Creek Broadcasting and gutted. What’s worse? They’ve given up mainstream rock for conservative talk radio! Long story short: Bustos Media Group had bought KFMF 93.9, KZAP 96.7 Classic Hits (Paradise) and a third station a few months prior. On Aug. 1, it traded the first two to Deer Creek in exchange for KHHZ 97.7, aka Radio Mexico, out of Gridley. Sadly, 93.9 is now simulcasting KPAY (1290 AM), which features Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, etc. Come September, 1290 will transition to KPAY Sports. KZAP reportedly will take on some of the rock that The Hippo used to play. I talked to Wheezal Dogg, who’s been on radio on and off for 17 years, about the changes. To say he’s bummed would be an understatement. Though he’d recorded a final show, it never aired—on July 31, the station went quiet. Dino Corbin, general manager/partner at Deer Creek, tells me it was a technical issue, that equipment was being moved that day. As for Wheez, he says: “Thanks to all my fans and friends for letting me rock the airwaves the way it was supposed to.” ZROCK and Thunder, please don’t give me a reason to pay for a Pandora account or Amazon Music. I don’t think I could handle it.
CALLING ALL ENGAGED COUPLES Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is offering a free wedding
to an already-engaged, beer-loving couple who want to get married at Oktoberfest. Apparently the very first Oktoberfest in Munich was also a royal wedding, so SN is celebrating that history. Time is of the essence! Upload a short video explaining why you should be chosen by today (Aug. 8) to oktoberfestwedding.sierranevada.com. The lucky couple will get 50 tickets to the event (Sept. 27), plus food, decorations, cake, live music and, of course, beer. Cheers to that!
THERE’S STILL TIME Anyone who experienced financial loss due to the Camp Fire
still can request help through the Small Business Association—but not for long. The deadline for applying for low-interest loans is Aug. 12. For more info on eligibility and how to apply, go to disasterloan.sba.gov/ela or call 800-659-2955.
got mosquitoes? Need to make a service request? Need Mosquitofish? Got Yellowjackets/Ticks?
Contact 530.533.6038 or www.ButteMosquito.com AUGUST 8, 2019
CN&R
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