When he first heard he will be inducted to the Colorado Restaurant Association’s Foodservice Hall of Fame, the first thought that passed through Fatty’s Pizzeria owner John Daisy’s head was “I gotta buy a suit.”

Daisy is set to be welcomed into the hall of fame April 4 at The Ritz-Carlton, Denver. The award honors individuals who have merited recognition for their accomplishments and activities in the foodservice industry.

“It’s a nice feeling for them to come back and recognize me as an independent restaurant,” Daisy said.

Daisy deserves the recognition because he is very passionate about his food, his business and his staff, said longtime friend and fellow Breckenridge restaurant owner Dick Carleton.

“He represents our community so well,” Carleton said. “(Daisy) is one of the longest operators in Breckenridge, and has led an incredibly successful restaurant for over 30 years in a town where things come and go.”

Daisy surmises his involvement with the community and restaurant association is probably one of the reasons for his nomination. He has worked with the organization on fundraisers and different ballot initiatives that have come up over the years. But besides that, it’s his involvement in the local community. Carleton said Daisy is the first to rally restaurant owners in town when there’s someone in need.

“He’s very giving and generous,” Carleton said.

Daisy bought Fatty’s 31 years ago after moving to Breckenridge from the south side of Chicago, where he owned a small neighborhood bar. He fell in love with the town – “there was just something about it,” he said – and when he saw Fatty’s was for sale, he scooped it up.

The restaurant serves pizza, sandwiches, salads, pasta and burgers, among other things. Daisy said they do mostly everything from scratch: Soups are made daily, as are pizza and marinara sauces (10 gallons at a time), and they make their own dough, cut their own steak and roast their own roast beef.

“I enjoy it,” Daisy said. “I don’t see myself doing anything else. I have very good local support.”

“Johnny,” Carleton said, is a self-made guy.

“He’s highly respected throughout the industry and the state,” Carleton said. “It’s very well deserved.”

For more information about the restaurant, visit http://www.fattyspizzeria.com