Caliente Pizza awards 8 Pittsburghers with free pizza for a year
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.
Caliente Pizza gives 8 Pittsburghers a chance to win free pizza for a year
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.
New ‘Luca Brasi’ pizza kicks off Caliente’s Summer of Champions
Award-winning pizza chain announces new pie and summer promotion beginning on June 15
PITTSBURGH (June 15, 2020) — On June 15, Caliente Pizza & Draft House will kick off its summer promotion with yet another award-winning menu item, the “Luca Brasi” classic style pizza.
Caliente’s newest addition: the Luca Brasi pizza
The “Godfather”-inspired name pays homage to the Italian-American roots of the classic pie. Born in Italy, but made in America, the Luca Brasi was named the third best pizza in the world at the Trofeo Caputo Cup World Championships in Naples, Italy, in September 2019. Featuring over 600 pizzaioli from over 40 countries, the competition is considered the largest pizza event in the world. Caliente’s regional and award-winning chef, Eric Von Hansen, created the pizza for “Classic American traditional” category, meaning all traditional toppings are used.
Made with Caliente’s signature three-day fermented dough, the Luca Brasi consists of hot and sweet sausage and a variety of marinated peppers including banana, roasted red and sweet drops. It is topped with crushed plum tomato sauce, Burrata, mozzarella and provolone cheeses, seasoned with garlic, basil oil, salt and pepper and red pepper flakes and finished with an olive oil drizzle.
“I wanted to create a truly authentic-style classic pizza with lots of flavor and character,” said Chef Hansen. “The butter-flavored cheeses balance perfectly with the heat from the peppers and marinates well with the sausage. We’re proud to add another award-winning pizza to our menu with ingredients sourced from the U.S.”
Champion customers deserve championship pizza
The Luca Brasi adds to the list of the team’s international award-winning pies, including the Mee-Maw, 2019’s Best Pizza in America, and the Quack Attack. This summer, Caliente’s stores will celebrate its champion customers with its award-winning pizzas as part of its customer appreciation campaign.
Last April, the Mee-Maw took home first place at the 2019 World Pizza Championships in Parma, Italy. Created on Caliente’s signature five-day fermented dough, the Mee-Maw is topped with olive oil, five-year aged Parmesan, local rapini cooked with peppered bacon, shallots, garlic, onion, crushed plum tomatoes, porchetta, shaved black truffle, pecorino Romano, salt, pepper and more aged Parmesan.
The Quack Attack pie was named the top pan pizza in the world at the 2016 International Pizza Expo. The signature five-day fermented dough is topped with pan-seared duck breast, roasted garlic butter sauce, wild mushroom ragu, tomatoes, baby arugula, fontinella, Parmesan and truffle garlic oil.
As part of its summer promotion, Caliente Pizza and Draft House is encouraging customers to participate in its #ChampionsEatPizza social media campaign. Customers can participate in two ways: post a photo of their past championship memories to receive a 20% discount or, with the purchase of a pizza kit, post a photo of a design using edible ingredients for a chance to win MVP of the Week.
To learn more or place an order, visit www.pizzadrafthouse.com.
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.
Caliente reopening statement
Caliente reopening statement
June 2020
Welcome Back to Caliente
As Pennsylvania allows businesses to reopen and we continue to monitor the coronavirus crisis, we are pleased to welcome back guests to our dining rooms over two reopening dates: June 8 for our Aspinwall location, and June 15 for Bloomfield, Allison Park, Mt. Lebanon and Monroeville.
The health and wellbeing of our team members and guests remains our top priority. In addition to safety procedures currently in place for our no-contact takeout and delivery options, we are following state and CDC recommendations and implementing several new precautions to protect everyone in our locations:
- Dining rooms and patios are reconfigured to meet social-distancing guidelines, and we have installed cleanable partitions between some tables.
- Staff will be sanitizing all high-contact areas throughout all meal periods, and there will be heightened cleaning and sanitizing measures during off hours.
- Our restrooms are now single occupancy.
- All staff are provided PPE, including gloves and masks.
- Floor decals and signage are being used to remind everyone to socially distance.
- We are reinforcing hand-washing and routine glove replacement.
- Hand sanitizer stations are available.
- Plexiglas barriers are being used where appropriate.
- We are providing QR codes for guests to scan and access a digital menu, as well as providing disposable single-use menus.
- All areas have been fogged with an environmentally safe anti-microbial treatment that lasts for at least 90 days.
- Single-use pens are being used for checks.
There are just some of the precautions you can expect, but certainly not all. Also, the governor’s guidance on dining during the “green phase” provides more information on mask use and social distancing. Find that information here.
We can’t wait to see you all again!
Caliente Pizza & Draft House announces new menu items for 2020
Award-winning pizza chain announces new menu at all Pittsburgh locations beginning on March 23
PITTSBURGH (March 18, 2020) — After months of meticulous planning, Caliente Pizza & Draft House is proud to announce the release of its new menu debuting at all five of its locations on March 23. These new menu items will all be available for takeout and delivery until stores re-open.
The menu will still include all of the team’s award-winning pies including the Mee-Maw, known as the Best Pizza in America, and the Quack Attack. Caliente’s most recent YouTube video, featuring Regional Chef Eric Von Hansen, previews some of the restaurant’s newest creations, including new pies aptly named after film classics such as Roadhouse and Spaceballs.
“Every year, we challenge ourselves to come out with a new menu so we can continue to put Pittsburgh pizza on the map,” said Hansen. “We pride ourselves in having the freshest ingredients paired with unique gourmet recipes. We’re excited to see which new menu items become customer favorites.”
Below is a list of some of the new items.
Roadhouse Pizza
Topped with Honey BBQ, pulled pork, bacon, jalapenos, Pittsburgh Pickle Co. pickles, mozzarella, provolone and cheddar, this thriller of a pizza is named after the 1989 action classic starring Patrick Swayze.
Spaceballs The Pizza
This unique creation features meatballs, Sweety Drop peppers, fresh mozzarella, ricotta, provolone, parmesan and Caliente red sauce for a tasty spin on the 1987 Star Wars parody directed by Mel Brooks.
The Hugh Hefner Pizza
With just a tad of spice from green chili peppers, red sauce, mozzarella, provolone, cup & char pepperoni and Philadelphia cream cheese, Hugh would’ve been proud of this perfect personality pizza.
Margherita Pizza
After two trips to Italy in 2019, Caliente took a small step back to the traditional side to create this purely Italian pie made with red sauce, fresh mozzarella, basil and olive oil.
Bugsy Siegel Calzone
So good it should be criminal, this calzone features red sauce, ricotta, meatballs, basil, mozzarella and provolone. The American mobster himself would’ve feared its flavor.
Cry to Mommy Fries
Not for the faint of heart, these fries feature buffalo seasoning, Caliente’s original “Cry to Mommy” sauce and cheddar cheese for a nontraditional kick on hand-cut fries.
Along with the above additions, Caliente’s new menu also includes Meatball Hoagies, Hush Puppies, Deep Fried Pierogies and many new premium pizza toppings including vegan cheese.
A complete menu will be available for preview soon on Caliente’s website at www.pizzadrafthouse.com.
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.