CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Pizza lovers gathered at the Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club on the city’s Northwest Side for the fifth Chicago Pizza Summit festival on Sunday.
Attendees were able to get their fill of unlimited pizza samples during two sessions held throughout the day.
Founder Anthony Spina was surprised that it took until 2016 for a food festival to focus on the iconic Chicago cuisine.
“So here’s the big thing, it’s that Chicago is one of the greatest food cities in the United States,” Spina said. “Of course, you have taco fest, bacon fest, a wing fest, an oyster fest, [and] we have a lobster fest. And I was like, how has nobody ever brought together the pizza community?”
Pizza aficionados had a variety of pizzas to sample. Among the vendors were: Bacci, Dimo’s, Connie’s, Five Star, Paper Plane, Professor Pizza and Gino’s East.
Spina said he hopes the event can bring people together for more than just pizza.
“What the Pizza Summit is, again, is bringing together the Chicago pizza community under three core pillars: community, friendship and dialogue,” Spina said.
Some of the proceeds from ticket sales went to the Chicago-based nonprofit Doughnate Pizza, which donates hot pizza to people in need all over Chicago.
“We're truly one of one,” said CEO Angelo Corso. “You probably never heard of pizza and nonprofit all in one sentence.”
“But what we do, we partner up with Chicago's best and finest pizzerias and we deliver hot pizzas to shelters, organizations and individuals on the streets of the city of Chicago.”
The proceeds donated will go toward buying ingredients from the 50 different pizzerias that have a partnership with Doughnate Pizza.
“Anyone that wants to volunteer and support us really means a lot, as we're 100% volunteer,” Corso said. “We really rely on, you know, people that are here at the Chicago Pizza Summit and our community.”
Spina said he’s been so appreciative of the turnout each year.
“Thank you to every single person that's championed community, friendship and dialogue and most importantly, Chicago and pizza,” he said. “It's a total labor of love, and it's something that brings the biggest smile to all of our faces when we look around to see people having a great time and celebrating our wonderful city.”
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