George Germon: Quiet Genius

"George Germon was a quiet genius." Indeed, he didn't dwell on the impact of what he put out into the world. Eater's senior reports editor Hillary Dixler wrote last year: "Germon says that on a busy night the restaurant will sell about 200 pizzas, all of which are made by a single cook working the grill station. Germon says he sometimes forgets the power of his pizza: 'We've been doing it for so long now, I take for granted how special it is sometimes.'"
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They [Mr. Germon and Ms. Killeen] started Al Forno as a way to supplement their artists’ incomes, viewing it as something of an art project.

Mr. Germon designed its every aspect, even shortening the table legs to what he considered ideal dining height. He also built the charcoal grills himself, at a time when many chefs cooked almost exclusively on gas.

Al Forno was deeply intertwined with Providence. Ms. Killeen told The Providence Phoenix that Vincent A. Cianci Jr., the former mayor known as Buddy, who was disgraced by multiple felony convictions, had helped the couple get a liquor license. The restaurant’s presence added luster to a dining scene that has grown enormously in recent decades.

“They could have gone anywhere, and they chose Providence,” Mr. Burke said. “They helped Providence believe it was the real deal.”
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