Award-winning pizza restaurant announces the changing Grandma Elsie pizza
PITTSBURGH (October 1, 2020) – In honor of National Pizza Month, Caliente Pizza & Draft House is announcing that they are featuring 30 new gourmet pizza recipes in six weeks.
Grouped with the other grandma-style pizzas on the menu, Caliente’s Grandma Elsie is for pizza lover and food adventurers of all kind. When ordered, customers are surprised with a different specialty gourmet pizza recipe, but Caliente’s chefs are taking their experimentation to the extreme, with a new recipe per week at each of Caliente’s five locations over the next six weeks at.
Grandma-style pizzas are large rectangular pizzas, but the dough separates them from similarly shaped Sicilian-style pies, being kneaded into the pan with a quick rise. The toppings, then, are chef’s choice.
The idea behind the weekly recipes plays two functions: it pays homage to owner Nick Bogacz’s grandmother, who proudly created unique and delicious meals each night for her family. “I can’t remember ever having the same meal twice at Grandma Elsie’s,” Bogacz said.
It’s also a way for Caliente’s award-winning chefs to practice new recipes and showcase their talents. Unfortunately for pizzaioli around the world, competitions have been put on a halt due to travel and social distancing restrictions, forcing the Caliente team to stay at home this year.
“If we can’t go to Italy to defend our World Pizza Championship and Best Pizza in America titles, we’ll bring the inventive creativity to Caliente,” says Bogacz. “Our team loves to explore new recipes and our customers love to see what we come up with, so we figured National Pizza Month was the perfect time to do it.”
With 30 new pizzas through November 14, Caliente challenges its customers to try each recipe. Can they keep up?
To learn more about the Grandma Elsie and other menu items, visit their website here.
ABOUT CALIENTE PIZZA & DRAFT HOUSE
Caliente Pizza & Draft House is an award-winning, locally owned and operated pizza restaurant known for its roster of gourmet pizzas and craft beers. With five locations in the Pittsburgh area, Caliente is also known internationally as three-time World Pizza Champions and represents Pittsburgh on the World Pizza Champions Team. In 2019, Caliente Pizza & Draft House earned the title of Best Pizza in America.
Award-wining pizza shop also announces partnership with former Super Bowl MVP
PITTSBURGH (September 28, 2020) — Caliente Pizza & Draft House celebrated its eight years in business by choosing eight lucky customers to receive free pizza for a year.
The locally owned and operated restaurant received about 7,000 contest entries, which included entry forms submitted and orders placed at all five Caliente locations between August 11 and September 26. The winners were selected at random this past weekend.
The winners who will receive a $599.99 gift card (which is the value of one large pizza a week for 52 weeks) are:
Jody Horn, O’Hara Twp.
Michele MacIntyre, Monroeville
Patricia Meyer, Bloomfield
Pedro Santiago
Michelle Slobada, Carnegie
Don Wassal, Gibsonia
Adam Wilson, Mt. Lebanon
Robert Young, Aspinwall
“We were in awe of how many people participated in the contest,” said Nick Bogacz, founder and owner of Caliente Pizza & Draft House. “We wanted to do something special for our customers, but it was our customers who made our eighth anniversary one to remember. To keep the appreciation going through National Pizza Month, we’re excited to announce another contest with another Pittsburgh champion – Santonio Holmes.”
Partnership with Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes
The celebration is far from over. To kick off October’s National Pizza Month, Caliente Pizza and Draft House will partner with Super Bowl XLIII MVP and former Steelers standout Santonio Holmes, who will visit the Monroeville and Bloomfield stores on October 9 and October 10.
Caliente is proud to support Holmes’ III & Long Foundation, a charity he founded in 2011 to help raise awareness about Sickle Cell Disease in honor of his son, Santonio “TJ” Holmes III, who was diagnosed with the disease as a child. As part of Holmes’ fourth annual Strikes Against Sickle Cell pop-up bowling tour, Holmes will stop by Caliente’s Bloomfield location on Saturday, October 10, and 10 customers chosen in a random drawing will be able to “bowl with the champ” and enjoy a private meet and greet with Holmes. To enter, customers simply need to complete an entry form on Caliente’s website and submit a photo to show off their Steelers or Caliente pride. The contest will run from September 28 at 12 a.m. through October 5 at 11:59 p.m. Winners will be selected in a random drawing on October 6.
The day before, on Friday, October 9, Caliente Monroeville customers will also run into the MVP. Just like he delivered the City of Champions its sixth Lombardi Trophy, Holmes will deliver Caliente’s championship pizza to vehicles picking up take-out orders between 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. Seating will be first come, first serve for those wanting to dine-in that evening, but diners should remember the restaurant’s capacity is at 50%, per current regulations.
ABOUT CALIENTE PIZZA & DRAFT HOUSE
Caliente Pizza & Draft House is an award-winning, locally owned and operated pizza restaurant known for its roster of gourmet pizzas and craft beers. With five locations in the Pittsburgh area, Caliente is also known internationally as three-time World Pizza Champions and represents Pittsburgh on the World Pizza Champions Team. In 2019, Caliente Pizza & Draft House earned the title of Best Pizza in America.
Award-winning pizza chain announces new contest in advance of 8th anniversary
PITTSBURGH (August 11, 2020) — Beginning today, Caliente Pizza & Draft House customers can enter to win free pizza for a year, just in time for its 8th anniversary.
The contest will officially run from August 11 at 11:00 A.M. through September 26 at 11:59 P.M. To enter, customers can complete an entry form online or simply place an order at any of one of the five Caliente locations to be entered automatically. On Monday, September 28, eight lucky winners will be chosen at random and will be contacted directly by Caliente Pizza. See the official contest rules here.
September marks the 8th anniversary of the locally owned and operated pizza chain. In 2012, Nick and Angie Bogacz opened the first Caliente Pizza restaurant in Bloomfield. Over the years, the Pittsburgh couple has opened stores in Hampton, Mt. Lebanon, Aspinwall and most recently, Monroeville. Prior to COVID-19, Caliente employed nearly 200 employees, many of whom travel to international competitions to test their pizza-making and pizza-acrobatic skills. Caliente holds three World Pizza Champions titles and represents Pittsburgh on the World Pizza Champions Team. In 2019, Caliente Pizza & Draft House earned the title of Best Pizza in America.
“2020 has not been an easy year for many businesses, especially those in the food and beverage industry, said Nick Bogacz, founder and owner of Caliente Pizza & Draft House. “As we approach our 8th anniversary, we wanted to do something special to honor our loyal customers. Without the community’s support, we could not have made our pizza dream a reality, so we’re excited to treat eight lucky winners to free pizza for a year.”
ABOUT CALIENTE PIZZA & DRAFT HOUSE
Caliente Pizza & Draft House is an award-winning, locally owned and operated pizza restaurant known for its roster of gourmet pizzas and craft beers. With five locations in the Pittsburgh area, Caliente is also known internationally as three-time World Pizza Champions and represents Pittsburgh on the World Pizza Champions Team. In 2019, Caliente Pizza & Draft House earned the title of Best Pizza in America.
Roll, press or hand stretch if you’re daring!
(watch some YouTube videos)
You can bake your pizza on a pre heated pizza stone if you have one, on an ungreased pizza pan, or go Sicilian style and press it down into a well-greased sheet pan.
Top your pizza with the toppings provided in your kit (choose your favorites when you order)
Bake your pie for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Enjoy!
Please share your Caliente experience on Facebook and Instagram so others can watch the fun!
22$ for the whole kit (two medium pizzas, dough, sauce, cheese and seasoning included plus you pick your toppings).