ALL HAIL THE MASTERS...THE PIZZA MASTERS...IN NEW COOKING CHANNEL SERIES

Pizza Aficionados Sal Basille and Francis Garcia Return to Travel the Country on a Culinary Expedition

Series Premiere Friday, December 5th at 9pm ET/6pm PT

NEW YORK - October 20, 2014 - The boys are back in town, as pizza aficionados Francis Garcia and Sal Basille return to Cooking Channel with Pizza Masters, premiering Friday, December 5th at 9pm ET/6pm PT. Sal and Francis are first cousins, best friends, and together they own some of the most successful pizza shops in New York City. The cousins are always on the search for the best food in town...and not just pizza. Join in the fun as the cousins set off on a culinary adventure over six episodes to find the greatest spots in North America. From mom and pop joints to legendary establishments, these Pizza Masters know good pizza and good food when they find it, and are always up for having a good time along the way.

"Francis and Sal showed off their knowledge and expertise with Pizza Cuz," said Michael Smith, General Manager and Senior Vice President, Cooking Channel. "But being restaurateurs, not to mention one-of-a kind personalities, their appreciation goes beyond pizza to include all things food. Viewers will love seeing Sal and Francis hit the road to experience all the different people, restaurants and food, with a little bit of fun sprinkled in."

In the premiere episode Francis and Sal travel to Los Angeles. Francis has always been an actor at heart, so he heads out west to see if he has what it takes to fulfill his dream. No trip with these two would be complete without finding the best food stops the city has to offer. First, the cousins visit Guisados in East Los Angeles for tacos filled with homemade braises and wrapped in fresh corn tortillas. Next, Sal and Francis visit their friend, film executive, and now bakery owner Lisa at Cake Monkey Bakery to thank her for arranging an audition for Francis, and to taste her sinfully sweet treats. Finally, to celebrate a successful trip, the boys head to the famous food trucks of Abbot Kinney in Venice to grab a slice at the Urban Oven.

Throughout the series, Francis and Sal visit some of the most popular cities in North America. In Chicago, armed with just a fork and knife, the cousins are on a mission to discover the secrets of Chicago-style Deep Dish Pizza. In Philadelphia, while looking for spots to open a new Artichoke Pizza, Sal and Francis visit some multi-generational family restaurants that know how to succeed for the long haul in the City of Brotherly Love, including the famous Italian Market establishment Ralph's Restaurant - the oldest family-owned Italian restaurant in the country. Don't miss as Francis and Sal continue their trek with stops in Cleveland, Las Vegas,and in their own backyard of New York City.

Cousins Francis Garcia and Sal Basille opened Artichoke Basille's(R) Pizza in Manhattan's East Village in 2008. Since launching Artichoke Basille's(R) Pizza, the cousins partnered with New York nightlife proprietors and restaurateurs Noah Tepperberg and Jason Strauss to expand their pizza empire. Seven locations later, Artichoke Basille's(R) Pizza brand is going strong. The renowned pizza is now available on the West Coast and in your local grocer's freezer. Most recently Francis and Sal appeared in Cooking Channel's Pizza Cuz, and have appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and the Rachael Ray Show. In April 2015, the cousins will be releasing their first cookbook "Staten Italy," a tribute to the Italian-American cuisine they grew up with.

Pizza Masters is produced by 11 Studios.

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