The Italian Cousins: two (real) italian cousins conquer Stockholm with their pizzas

Even in a cosmopolitan city like Stockholm, it’s not easy to find a place that immediately and simply embodies a slice of authentic Italy, delivering that deliciousness that can be summed up in just one small word: pizza.

This is exactly what Davide Disisto and his cousin Enrico have created with The Italian Cousins: a pizza chain that started from a simple idea and has evolved into a well-known and appreciated reality, both for the quality of its product and its artisanal approach. "The name on our sign isn't just a marketing ploy," says Davide with a smile, "we really are cousins. And our name reflects who we are: two Italians who moved to Sweden, shared a passion for cooking, and wanted to do something different".

Another piece of Italy involved in this adventure is Moretti Forni, the Marche-based company that leads the way in baking technologies. "When we discovered Moretti Forni, and especially their serieS, we had no doubts. We needed an oven that could ensure precise temperature control because with our pizza, even the smallest mistake in baking can make a big difference", Davide explains.

The story of The Italian Cousins, and that of the two Italian cousins, began in 2015 when they both decided to leave their respective jobs – Enrico at the European Parliament in Brussels and Davide at an advertising agency – to pursue their true passion: food. From Reggio Emilia, they brought with them a love for their local products and began selling Italian specialties at Swedish markets.

“We started by selling cheeses and cured meats imported from small Italian farms, and the response was amazing”, Davide recalls. But soon their project evolved, and a pivotal moment came with their encounter with the famous Roman pizza maker Gabriele Bonci, one of the undisputed masters of pizza al taglio (pizza by the slice). “Bonci was a key guide for us”, Davide recounts, “when we started working with him at a small place in Stockholm, where he was consulting for a while, we learned the importance of technique. His philosophy of long fermentation, attention to flour, and lightness of the dough opened up a whole new world for us”.

Thanks to this encounter with a true master, the creators of The Italian Cousins developed a high-quality pizza al taglio, inspired by the Roman style but with an Emilian twist. “We took inspiration from Gabriele, but we also adapted the pizza to our tastes. The dough, slightly rustic, is crispy on the bottom and soft in the middle, with a fermentation process that gives it a surprising lightness. Our goal is for the pizza to melt in your mouth, but still maintain a crispy base, and that's where Moretti Forni's technology comes in. The perfect baking, which we can control down to the smallest detail, thanks to the serieS, allows us to achieve the balance we've always wanted”.

After opening their first location in 2018, success quickly followed, and the cousins decided to expand. “Today, we have four locations in Stockholm – we used to have five, but we recently sold one to focus on the others and improve service quality”, Davide explains. Each location maintains the same spirit: a welcoming atmosphere and a menu that highlights seasonal products and high-quality ingredients. “Our pizza al taglio is a different experience from the traditional one: we serve it on cutting boards, with a fork and knife, almost like a gourmet dish, and this approach has been greatly appreciated by the Swedish public”.

Despite the initial challenges in introducing this style of pizza to Swedish customers, The Italian Cousins succeeded in building a loyal customer base. “At first, it was tough. There was no culture of pizza al taglio here, and customers were used to round pizzas served whole. But we found a way to make our offer more accessible by serving the pizza in small pieces, easy to enjoy as street food”.

The versatility of the pizza offered by the cousins doesn’t stop at its shape or how it’s served. The gastronomic offering at The Italian Cousins has grown and evolved over time, becoming richer and more varied to satisfy the tastes and needs of the Swedish public. Their latest location, in the heart of Stockholm, has taken this vision to the next level. Alongside pizza al taglio, which remains their signature product, they’ve introduced a selection of dishes inspired by Italian tradition. Lasagna, eggplant parmigiana, and various types of meat, including local specialties like reindeer and venison, join classic Italian dishes. "We wanted to give our customers a complete culinary experience that goes beyond pizza," Davide tells us.

With its 120 seats and a large, modern space, this latest location in the Swedish capital’s center is the cornerstone of The Italian Cousins' expansion. "We’ve introduced a much larger production that includes catering and frozen pizzas for large-scale distribution. Plus, we also serve round pizzas made to order, and typical Italian desserts like ricotta cake, all prepared with the same care we give to our doughs".

The encounter with Moretti Forni happened a few years after the first location opened, thanks to a recommendation from a mutual friend. "We immediately fell in love with their ovens," confirms Davide. "Today, we couldn’t live without our serieS ovens, which, beyond guaranteeing perfect baking, can handle a wide variety of products with the highest precision".

“It’s an oven that surprised us primarily for its ease of use. It’s really intuitive, which is essential for us since we handle different types of products in our locations. We don’t just make pizza al taglio and round pizza; we also do bakery items like cakes and croissants, and we prepare chicken for our salads. We needed a versatile oven capable of handling different baking processes, and the serieS has proven to be perfect. We even roast twelve chickens at a time for lunch, so we needed something dynamic, not an oven dedicated only to pizza. The steam function is fantastic, as is the integrated proofing chamber, which allows us to finish the work faster without compromising quality. The final result is noticeable immediately. I should also highlight the aesthetic aspect: the serieS, particularly in its Icon version, is a stunning oven, with elegant lines and color choices. This was important for us since we have open kitchens everywhere”.

Beyond their physical locations, the cousins are focusing on new frontiers. “Our goal is to expand into other sectors, like catering and frozen pizza production, without losing sight of product quality. We want our pizzas to be available outside the restaurants as well, so anyone can enjoy them at home”, says Davide. Expanding into large-scale distribution presents an exciting challenge, and the two Italian cousins are ready to tackle it with the same determination that has marked every step of their journey.

“For us”, Davide concludes, “pizza is a way to express who we are. We never want to compromise on quality, and that’s something our customers really appreciate”. With the support of advanced technologies like those from Moretti Forni and a philosophy rooted in passion and craftsmanship, The Italian Cousins is a project that continues to grow, representing Italian flavor in one of Europe’s most dynamic cities.