Meet the Chef: Cutter’s Pizzeria

We sat down with Executive Chef Dalton “Cutter” Goode of Cutters Pizzeria in Oxford, Alabama. If you’re looking for authentic, crave-worthy pizza in Alabama, a visit to Cutter's Pizzeria of Oxford and Cutter's Pizzeria of Alexandria is a must. Known for their handcrafted pies, fresh ingredients, and welcoming local atmosphere, Cutter’s Pizzeria has become a go-to spot for both residents and visitors exploring the Oxford–Alexandria area.

Cutters Pizzeria in Alabama - Meet the Chef — Cutter’s Pizzeria: Meet the Chef

Whether you’re stopping in for a casual lunch or a family dinner, this popular pizzeria delivers consistently delicious flavors that make them stand out among the best pizza restaurants in Alabama.

Tell us about what your morning routine looks like, and how you like to end your day?

We start the mornings making our in house pizza dough. We make around 4 doughballs a day which is enough to make around 120 pizzas. We make our in-house pizza dough in-house, and we have several different dough recipes we make for different options and that takes most of our first hour or two every morning. This takes a while because we have numerous different pizza crust styles including the hand tossed, deep dish, Chicago-style, pie-style, cauliflower crust, and cracker crust so that we can satisfy any kind of pizza craving. Then we make and cook our pizza sauce fresh which gives it a delicious flavor. Then we cut up our vegetables fresh every day and prepare to start the day feeding our community fresh hot pizza!

We end our days making sure all of our customers were happy and satisfied with their orders. We check our reviews and customer feedback surveys that are sent out after every order to make sure every customer loved their meal. If we get any feedback that isn’t positive, we work to fix any issues with the customer and team to ensure it doesn’t happen again and we celebrate the team when we have no issues, which is most days!

Do you have a favorite chef that you look up to and what advice would you give to aspiring chefs?

I am inspired daily by Ron Dover, the chef at Rons Goode BBQ in Alexandria, Alabama. He is a barbecue legend that cares deeply about the food he sends out and the quality of the meals there. He will do whatever it takes to ensure a positive and delicious experience for customers and catering event attendees. His passion for the restaurant industry is an absolute inspiration.

Advice I would give is to treat your team well. Don’t let your experiences from past restaurants drive what is common in many restaurant kitchens and bad work environments. Be the exception and go the extra mile to create a space that is positive, supportive, empathetic, and understanding. There is room for being strict and having high standards without being cruel and negative. Hope, one of the managers at Cutter’s Pizzeria, is a prime example of someone that does this very well, staying positive and supportive at all times.

Do you have any awards or achievements you’d like to mention?

Cutter was the “2021 Young Alum of the Year” for Jacksonville State University and the “2021 Professional of the Year” with the Chamber of Commerce of Calhoun County. Cutter was accepted into the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Calhoun County program for 2022. We have received recognition as the “Best Pizza in Oxford” award, thanks to Brooklyn, Kelley, Sam, and Chris, our leadership team at our Oxford location! We’ve also been recognized as the “Top 5 Pizza and Wing Restaurants” by the Anniston Star 5 years in a row.

What do you typically cook at home?

My fiancé laughs at me because I cook a veggie mix all the time. I make a carrot, cauliflower, and broccoli mix, and eat it regularly. It is a staple in my diet that I have eaten constantly since I was 18, and it's an easy group of vegetables to throw together and eat with lots of meals to make sure we’re getting some of those core vegetables in our diet. I will often add other veggies we have in the fridge to mix it up like onion, fresh spinach, mushrooms, squash, zucchini, and/or red or yellow bell peppers.

What’s a food trend that you’re loving right now and why?

I really like the food trend of new sauces in recipes. Chipotle, spicy ranches, different BBQ sauces, and hot sauces are very enticing right now. I think the move to vary our flavor palate is a great move and to make popular dishes different just by changing the sauce. We are always trying new sauces to try on our pizzas which is why we have the option to put 13 different sauces on our build your own pizzas.

What drink do you enjoy most?

A freshly opened canned Coke is one of my absolute favorite indulgences, especially with a hot pie style pizza.

What’s your Instagram so readers can follow you?

Follow Cutter’s Pizzeria on Instagram at @cutterspizzeria.

Why should readers visit CUTTER’S PIZZERIA in OXFORD, ALABAMA?

You should visit to try our 5-pound pie-style pizza. A one-of-a-kind pizza with two layers of dough, double cheese, and the toppings you want. We don’t charge per topping for our build-your-own pizza so you can get as many toppings as you want for one price which is a top seller at our restaurant.

DELIVERY OR PICKUP?

FOR FURTHER READING: Your Weekend Getaway to Miami Beach, Florida: Official Travel Guide