Danoto’s grand opening

By Antonio Rios, owner of Danoto’s Pizzeria and more

Danoto’s Pizzeria and More

Danoto’s Pizzeria and More, 900 Coffman St., Longmont, celebrated their grand opening on Sunday, July 12, with face painting, live music and carnival games.

What makes us different from other pizzeria’s is that we follow a legacy passed down straight from Italy, enhanced in New York, and perfected here in Longmont. The name Donoto was passed from my Grandpa, Donoto Canceleno, to me and down to my sons, the oldest bearing the middle name and my youngest with the first name, but altered to “Danoto” for originality. The word itself means ‘given,’ as in a gift.

Donoto Canceleno, migrated to the U.S. from Naples, Italy, as a World War II veteran. He made a house a home in a large Italian community in New York City, with his wife and children, who he hoped would one day carry out his legacy. Our family recipes began with them, and eventually were passed down to my mother and finally to me. My first baking job was in a small town named Ellenville, N.Y., at the age of 16 years old, where I baked throughout high school. After graduating, I attended Peter Kunp’s school for pastries and continued to bake in high-end shops throughout New York City. It was there in the city where I met my wife and we began our family.

When we finally moved to Colorado in 2005, I began to experiment with breads and pizzas to see if the altitude would have an effect on my recipes. I played around with it for some time and perfected it. Now after 10 years of being in Colorado, I am finally seizing my childhood dream and starting “Danoto’s Pizzeria and More” here in Longmont. Part of the legacy my grandfather left was the quality of using only fresh ingredients and hand-crafted food. I am unwilling to stager away from the teachings of my grandfather because his legacy is Danoto’s Pizzeria and More. Just as my family and friends love to enjoy those special, home cooked meals, we know you will to. We hope to see you soon, with a smile on your face, that only fresh hand-crafted food can bring to your heart.