A top-50 pizzeria in Latin America is making its way to Winter Garden.\u00a0<\/p>\n
SEO Basilico based in S\u00e3o Paulo, Brazil, is expanding internationally, bringing Neapolitan-style pizzas and an intimate dining experience to local residents.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Owners Juliana and Leandro Marcondes have lived in Winter Garden for five years and wanted to bring their passion \u2014 pizza \u2014 to the place that welcomed them with open arms.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Marcondeses previously owned two franchises in Brazil for more than 17 years. Although those businesses weren\u2019t pizzerias, their love for the craft remained.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have always been passionate about pizza,\u201d Juliana Marcondes said. \u201cWe started learning how to make it at home for friends and family, and over time, it became more serious.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The couple said positive feedback from friends and family encouraged them to keep refining their skills.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s pure passion,\u201d Juliana Marcondes said. \u201cI grew up in a family that made pizza every week. My mom made dough; my uncle came over on Saturdays and made pizza, too. It became something emotional for me. Over time, we kept learning \u2014 reading, watching videos, traveling, tasting different pizzas, comparing flavors. Every trip included visits to pizzerias.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
After moving to Winter Garden, they knew they wanted to open a pizzeria but faced challenges finding a location and navigating the process of starting a business in a new country.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the meantime, they reached out to pizzerias in Brazil, hoping to create a partnership to bring a brand to the United States.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Once they connected with SEO Basilico, they instantly knew it was the right fit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hadn\u2019t visited in person yet, but what drew us in was how artisanal everything is,\u201d they said. \u201cThey work only with small producers and very high-quality ingredients. You can see the care they put into every pizza, and that\u2019s exactly what we always dreamed of doing. Everything just aligned.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
With Italy-sourced ingredients, SEO Basilico aims to bring a new flavor profile and atmosphere to the community.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t want to be just another pizza place \u2014 you can find pizza,\u201d Leandro Marcondes said. \u201cWe want to offer an experience. We want people to feel welcomed, to feel something emotional when they eat the pizza\u2014the care, the flavor, the Italian sauce and flour.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The pizzeria will offer 12-inch pizzas made completely in-house \u2014 from dough and sauce to preparation and baking.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Beyond pizza, SEO Basilico also will offer sandwiches made on pizza dough, salads, appetizers and potentially pastas dishes. Desserts will feature tiramisu, sweet pizzas and more.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat makes us different is the combination of quality ingredients, careful preparation and attention to detail,\u201d Leandro Marcondes said. \u201cEverything is made fresh \u2014 nothing is rushed or pre-prepared in a generic way. We respect all styles of pizza, but we want to offer something truly special \u2014 something that people won\u2019t compare to fast-food chains, but instead see as a unique, high-quality experience.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Marcondeses want guests to linger \u2014 enjoy the relaxed and comfortable atmosphere in no rush.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Guests will be able to watch their pizzas being made right in front of them, adding to the intimate atmosphere.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want the presentation to feel unique\u2014not just the same as everywhere else,\u201d Juliana Marcondes said. \u201cWe respect all styles of pizza \u2014 New York style, big chains \u2014 but what we want is to offer something different. You can\u2019t compare it to something like Pizza Hut or Domino\u2019s. It\u2019s a completely different product. We work with lighter cheeses, higher-quality ingredients \u2014 it\u2019s just another level.\u201d<\/p>\n
The restaurant now is in its final stages of construction, with owners purchasing furniture, designing uniforms and sourcing ingredients. They hope to open to the public in late May or early June.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis means a lot to us,\u201d Juliana Marcondes said. \u201cWe\u2019re already getting great feedback, especially from people connected to the Mooca neighborhood in S\u00e3o Paulo, where the original pizzeria is located. There\u2019s a strong sense of community there, and people are excited to see those flavors brought here. We\u2019re putting a lot of care into every detail \u2014 uniforms, plates, d\u00e9cor \u2014 everything. We hope this will be the first of many locations.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the coming years, the couple hopes to open new locations, focusing on customer experience and relationships rather than profit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to focus on community-based locations, not just tourist areas,\u201d Juliana Marcondes said. \u201cBuilding relationships with customers is very important to us.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Marcondeses said they\u2019re putting their hearts into this project to create a welcoming environment and serve high-quality food to the community they now call home, excited for what the future awaits.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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