Carroll Oliver is the chef and co-creator of Oliver’s Pizzeria, with Michael Heffernan. The two became close in high school, where the dream of opening a restaurant together began.
What do you do? I am a cook and a baker.
Where do you live? Corte Madera nowadays.
How long have you lived in Marin? I grew up here, so about 22 years. With stints elsewhere, mainly Santa Cruz and San Francisco.
Where can we find you when you’re not at work?
In the water or Golden Gate Park. But Stillwater, in Fairfax, is my happy place. I don’t have much time away from the restaurant, but they feed me on the regular when I’m not motivated to cook for myself, which is often.
If you had to convince someone how awesome Marin was, where would you take them?
Mt. Tam would be the first stop. A stroll through Fairfax with a scoop to enjoy. Drive west through our small section of redwoods into Point Reyes, and finish the day with a bag of oysters, sitting by the water shucking.
What is one thing Marin is missing?
Good food after 9pm.
What’s one bit of advice you’d share with your fellow Marinites? Visit the farmers’ markets and explore the trail closest to your house.
If you could invite anyone to a special dinner, who would they be?
My aunt Fifi, my older brother Thomas, Steve Kerr, Anthony Bourdain and some close friends; Michael, Neal, Angie, Jon.
What is some advice you wish you knew 20 years ago?
Organization is my key to happiness.
What is something that 20 years from now will seem cringeworthy?
Beachfront developments and hopefully our healthcare system.
Big question. What is one thing you’d do to change the world?
Make at least one person smile each day.
Follow @oliverspizzeria on Instagram for tasty content.
Nish Nadaraja was on the founding team at Yelp, serves on the San Anselmo Arts Commission and attempts to play pickleball at Fairfax’s Cañon Club.
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‘In the water or Golden Gate Park. But Stillwater, in Fairfax, is my happy place.’
