Grace and Hammer serves authentic wood-fired pizza in a historic church building to the community of Redmond. When the church bell rings on Friday evenings, you’ll know it’s time to go grab a slice and a glass of wine.
Church of Pizza: Grace and Hammer Offers a Culinary Congregation in Redmond
It’s a few minutes after 4 p.m. on a Friday afternoon, and a steady stream of folks are pouring through the front doors of the First Presbyterian Church in downtown Redmond. No, there’s not a Friday night sermon taking place, but there is a “Preacher of Pizza” in the house.
In 1912, the First Presbyterian Church was built on the site at the corner of SW Cascade Avenue and 7th Street. Along with housing congregations, the historic, steepled white clapboard has been home to a dance studio, various events, classes and weddings, and since 2019, a pizza place.
The minute founders Chad and Cinnamon Nemec laid eyes upon the beautiful old church building, their imaginations kicked in and a new dream began to form. They envisioned reusing and modernizing the original building, maintaining its historic shape and feel and making it home to a new eatery concept, Grace and Hammer pizzeria.
The Nemecs had recently sold their successful 187-acre ranch and restaurant in Austin, Texas, so they decided to purchase the First Presbyterian building and move their business west. Along with their prized wood-fire pizza oven, they lured “Preacher of Pizza” Adam Valentine, who also made the trek from Texas. Valentine had been with the Nemecs’ company since 2015 and is now a partner-owner of Grace and Hammer.
The Pizza
Valentine smiles when he talks about pizza being a labor of love.
“Everything is so specifically handcrafted, and we take pride in everything—from getting every ingredient arranged just right to the placement of the pie in the oven. It’s just pizza, but we take it seriously. It’s edible art.”
And edible it is. Grace and Hammer’s menu of a dozen pizza pies, several fresh salads and a few small plates, including crispy jumbo chicken wings or its Chosen Cuts charcuterie board, has delighted palates since its opening day.
In a tip of the hat to the restaurant’s Texas roots and the namesake of one of that state’s most famous residents, Willie Nelson, the Willie pie has become a local fave. The pizza is akin to a mouthwatering brisket sandwich with its house BBQ sauce, slow-smoked brisket, sliced red onions, freshly cut jalapeños, a bit of cheddar cheese and fresh mozzarella. It’s topped with cilantro and served with a side of dill pickle slices.
If you like your pizza on the traditional side, the Smithy offers house red sauce, fresh mozzarella, speck (Italian smoked, cured pork), cherry tomatoes and a helping of arugula for an extra peppery kick. The Purist pie is as simple as it gets with red sauce, mozzarella, tomatoes, basil and extra virgin olive oil.
For the meat lovers, there’s the Saint Stanley with pepperoni, Italian sausage and Calabrian chilis or the Gratitude with prosciutto, caramelized onions and truffle oil. If veggies are your thing, the Propriety features a blend of bechamel sauce, mozzarella, goat feta and mushroom, while the Benevolent Bird’s lemon herb chicken breast is highlighted with basil-arugula pesto,
roasted tomatoes and Manchego cheese.
While the toppings may be a pizza’s selling point, the crust is the foundation of any pie. The Grace and Hammer dough recipe is straightforward, but it does take time to make, as all good things usually do.
“It’s incredibly simple,” Valentine said. “[It’s] only water, flour, salt and yeast. The magic happens when you allow it to ferment, which we do for 72 hours. That’s where you get the added character.”
Then there’s the sauce. Again, Grace and Hammer keeps it basic. “We use imported San Marzano plum tomatoes to make a true Neapolitan sauce, adding only a bit of salt and garlic for a bright, fresh, incredible flavor,” Valentine explained.
That flavor is what keeps the locals pouring in, and for that, the “Preacher” is grateful. “I have so much gratitude and appreciation for this community and the reception we’ve received. The people have made it home for us here.”
Article originally published September 2023
Savor Slices at the Church of Artisan Pizza
Since 2019, Grace and Hammer has been serving slices of pizza that are nothing short of divine. This Redmond pizzeria can be found in a former Presbyterian church, boasting a white steeple, stained glass windows and bells that ring every Friday evening.
The church building, completed in 1912 and declared a historic site in 1976, has witnessed various phases of life, from congregations and hymns to dance classes and weddings. In 2019, this landmark building found new life as a temple of dough and cheese thanks to the vision of Chad and Cinnamon Nemec, who fell in love with the beautiful church after moving to Central Oregon from Austin, Texas. Their belief in community and their background in the restaurant industry brought this charming pizzeria to life.
Walk through the doors and find a one-of-a-kind ambiance that effortlessly blends the sacred with the savory. Grace and Hammer features a variety of seating options, including comfortable booths and tables that provide an intimate dining experience. For those who prefer the outdoors, the restaurant offers a charming patio area and picnic tables to savor pizza while enjoying the fresh air. Takeout is also available.
The Pizza
Grace and Hammer offers ample pizza, salad and small plate options. The Benevolent Bird pizza is layered with basil-arugula pesto, lemon herb chicken breast, fresh mozzarella, roasted tomatoes, manchego cheese and Italian herbs. The pesto provides a refreshing herbaceous kick and the chicken delivers a satisfying zest. Another standout is the Belltower pizza, adorned with G&H Béchamel sauce, fresh mozzarella, fontina, spinach, artichoke hearts and kalamata olives, finished with a generous crumble of goat feta. The Béchamel sauce, a creamy white sauce made from a roux and milk, provides a luscious and velvety base.
To complement the meal, the simple green salad features fresh mixed greens, red apples and goat feta, drizzled with a house-made Champagne vinaigrette and G&H balsamic reduction—the crispness of the greens is paired nicely with the apples’ sweetness and the cheese’s creamy texture. And let’s not forget the daily bread, a delightful serving of five knots of delicious dough baked with garlic, butter and rosemary, served with a side of house-made marinara sauce. Who can say no to warm garlic bread?
The Drinks
Wine, beer or a specialty cocktail are available. Sip on the High Desert, a refreshing concoction of Crater Lake Vodka, fresh lime juice and ginger beer, or the Ponderosa Pines, featuring Gompers Gin, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup and a sparkling finish with club soda.
Grace and Hammer is a spot to find solace in a slice. Whether enjoying a meal in the sacred setting or taking it to go, you won’t be disappointed and might just find yourself becoming a devoted follower of the Grace and Hammer experience.
How to Get There
641 SW Cascade Ave, Redmond, OR 97756 | graceandhammer.com
Open: Wednesday – Friday, 4 – 8:00 p.m. | Saturday – Sunday, 12 – 8:00 p.m.
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