News

Pizza Executive Summit 2011 to host Chicago Pizza Tour

June 6, 2011

Chicago Pizza Tours has partnered with the Pizza Executive Summit 2011, sponsored by NetWorld Alliance and hosted by PizzaMarketplace.com, to offer owners and operators a tour of some of Chicago's best, and most successful, pizzerias.

The third annual executive-only Summit is scheduled for June 26-28 in Chicago at the Sofitel Water Tower. The Pizza Tour will kick-off the event June 26 at 3 p.m. and will end at 6 p.m. The tour will be followed by a Pizza Executive Summit welcome reception at 6:30 p.m.

"The tour will give the pizza operators a chance to relax and network amongst their peers all while getting a chance to sample some of the Windy City's best pizza," said Jonathan Porter, owner and operator of Chicago Pizza Tours. "Chicago is really known as the deep dish capital of the world, but the thing I love to explain to all my groups is while that's true, for the most part, the locals only eat deep dish when people from out of town are visiting."

Tour participants will get the opportunity to taste several styles of pizza and visit pizzerias that have proven to be highly successful, which according to Porter, may help spawn some new ideas of what can be accomplished in the pizza industry.

"With each of our Summits we try to give operators a glimpse into what makes certain brands so successful," said Valerie Killifer, editorial vice president, NetWorld Alliance. “By partnering with Chicago Pizza Tours, attendees will have the chance to not only taste great pizza, but to peek inside the kitchens of each operation as well. We think this is a great opportunity for our executive attendees.”

A trolley will transport attendees to three pizzerias located throughout Chicago. Details and historical facts about each neighborhood will be highlighted along the way.

The three pizzerias included are:

• Coalfire – Featuring Neapolitan American style pizza in the West Town neighborhood
• Bacino's – Offering stuffed pizza in the West Loop neighborhood
• Pizano's - Deep dish and tavern style thin crust in the Loop neighborhood

"We love to provide a mix of culturally significant and neighborhood pizzerias. We are going to visit Chicago's very first coal oven pizzeria, one of the best stuffed pizzerias that got approved by the city to be certified as heart healthy, and will finish with Pizano's, which is owned by Rudy Malnati, whose father was a pioneer of the deep dish pizza," Porter said.

Born and raised in Chicago, Porter's love of pizza began at an early age when his parents encouraged him to tour the neighborhoods with his friends to sample some of their favorite pizzerias. The only stipulation they placed on him was to be sure to bring home a few slices.

In 2009, Porter started Chicago Pizza Tours to offer visitors a taste of Chicago's pizzerias, as well as showcase some of the neighborhoods visitors might miss during their stay.

This is the first year PizzaMarketplace.com has partnered with Chicago Pizza Tours for its executive summit food tour. Click here for more information about the Pizza Executive Summit.