Black Cat Pizza Popup + THC Pizza + Spak Veggie Highlight

Big pizza week, lots of unique and interesting pizza for you to eat in July so start filling up your calendar with pizza outings!

Hi folks!

I have some followups from my recent Pizza Fest post. I wasn’t sure how to feel about Pizza Fest, but after my newsletter reached out four other pizza shops reached out to me to confirm my suspicious that there’s not much ROI for a pizza outside of exposure. Is it okay to pay in exposure? I mean, if a pizza shop signed up for it I guess that’s on them. And maybe they impress the crowds with their pizza and it results in some nice word of mouth. Guess a fledgling pizza shop has to weigh the risk / reward of participating at such an event. Still, I have hesitations of someone profiting off the back of hard working pizza shops without sharing the profits.

Anyways, let’s move on to some more exciting stuff.

Black Cat Pizza Prowling Around Shady Side on 7/2

I walked into my local (and favorite) coffee shop, Constellation, the other day and was immediately assaulted with a pizza question: was Black Cat Pizza good?

Easiest question I’ve gotten in my life. It’s very good! You can read my interview with Black Cat Pizza from way back in April 2022!

Ordering Black Cat Pizza requires you to plan ahead as they take orders a week in advance and only on Mondays and Wednesday. Luckily, this coming Sunday they’re popping up at Arriviste. This is a must-eat pizza if you haven’t chomped already. Plus they have some tremendous vegan options to try.

THC Infused Pizza by Kevin Konn

I don’t know how THC works, but apparently you can infuse THC into anything. Imagine, biting into a slice of pizza. You are overcome with a wave of euphoria. The grease seeps into your jaw. The cheese slides down and splashes into the belly. Your molars grind the crispy and chewy crust. You are elated and content. For some people that would be enough.

But what if, thirty minutes or so later, you were hit with an extreme, almost otherworldly, wave of euphoria. Something that triggers the delight center in your brain and makes you feel like eating that pizza was the greatest accomplishment of your life.

If that sounds appealing then this event is for you. I don’t know if that’s how it actually works, but if you go please report back. The pizza chef, Kevin Konn, is amazing. So if nothing else you will have some of the best pizza of your life.

“What Better Way to Pittsburgh Than a Pickle Pizza”

Those wise words are spoken by Ryan Spak in this video from Table Magazine highlighting vegetarian food in the city.

Around 2010 it was very hard to find delicious vegetarian food in Pittsburgh. Then Spak opened. They serve delicious seitan hoagies and wings, provide excellent vegan pizza. They make not eating meat delicious and easy.

Spak is very thoughtful about how they source their ingredients and make their food. Really a standout shop all around. If you’re curious about their pickle pizza, check out this video I made in the midst of quarantine. I think the first time I saw my in-laws during quarantine we got this pizza. It was a real bonding experience.

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Very intriguing pizza developments happening. So many cool shops blazing a trail in the city. Makes me shed a pizza tear I’m so dang proud of the pizza community.

Pizza ya later!

Dan Tallarico, Pizza Journalist