Boston Will Host A Huge Pizza Festival
City Hall Plaza is the place to be on the weekend of June 24. Boston will host what they are calling “The Largest Pizza Festival in the U.S.A.” To continue the good news, this year entry to the event is free.
Roughly 11 weeks ago, the Boston Pizza Festival’s Instagram account shared a post after a 35-week absence. Enthusiasts have been eagerly awaiting the return of this celebratory event.
Boston.com reports that over 60 vendors will be onsite participating. Each has their own pizza cooking at their station and will have slices available. This convention showcases some of the best pizza from across the country. There is no style that is off limits at the Boston Pizza Festival. Therefore, as an attendee, it is likely you will see Neapolitan pies, Sicilian, Detroit style, and traditional. Each vendor is free to prepare their signature offerings, which means an array of toppings at certain spots.
How Does This Work?
Though the admission is free, the pizza must be purchased. In order to do so, you buy tickets. “Pizza slice tickets can be purchased in advance in packs of three for $11, five for $16, and 10 for $30. You can pre-purchase tickets now through the event’s website. By purchasing pizza slice tickets in advance, attendees can skip right ahead to ordering,” Boston.com explains. You simply cash in your tickets at the spot of your choice.
What Else Is There?
Aha is the official sparkling water drink of the event. In addition, wine and beer are available. If you are looking for a dessert after all the delicious pizza, Richie’s Italian Ice will serve their infamous slushies.
In order to cook onsite, each vendor uses handcrafted ovens made by Marra Forni. Partners such Dough Connection do cooking demonstrations throughout the weekend. Often this includes some of the most renowned pizza chefs.
If you are looking for something tasty to do on June 24-25, or simply hungry for a whole bunch of pizza fun, the Boston Pizza Festival is an event you won’t want to miss.
This Boston Restaurant Sells 300 Pizzas Per Celtics/Bruins Playoff Game
North Station is about to get busy! Both the Celtics and Bruins have made the playoffs, with the Celtics hosting the Atlanta Hawks starting Saturday. And, if you’ve been to games before, you probably know that right across the street from the TD Garden is a Boston restaurant that sells about 300 pizzas per playoff game!
Halftime Pizza
It’s become a TD Garden gameday staple. A stop at Halftime Pizza is often synonymous with attending a Celtics or Bruins game. This establishment is a family business that has been in place for 45 years. Matthew Pasquale is now a third-generation owner in partnership with his brother. He tells me, “We typically sell 200-250 pizzas per Celtics or Bruins home game. It’s expected to jump to at least 300 for a playoff game.”
This spring, both teams have high seeds and high expectations for a big post-season push. The Bruins had a historic season, and the Celtics are the #2 seed in the East. The expectation is there will be an enthusiastic level of pre-game and post-game gatherings. With hardly any tailgating opportunities around a city stadium, local business in the area can thrive on the heels of the pro teams’ success.
Why Halftime?
Halftime Pizza has embraced its place in Boston’s arena event space. Their interior restaurant walls are painted like murals, displaying impressive renditions of Boston athletes and frequent TD Garden events, like WWE Wrestling. There are ten flat-screen TVs on the walls, and a dining section in the back to sit comfortably. You order at the counter, grab your food and drink and move on. Overall, it’s a quick experience with quality food.
Another selling point is the wide variety of beers available at the counter. There’s a selection of canned brews and hard seltzers. But the real value is in the 32oz draft beer. Numerous beer options on tap are available in 20 or 32oz pours. The 32 oz’er is similar to the price of a beer half its size inside the stadium.
Furthermore, Halftime serves quality pizza. You can see the stacked ovens right behind the counter. In addition, the fresh ingredients are prepared to the left of this open kitchen. Pasquale clearly understands how efficiency is of the utmost importance in the Halftime Pizza experience.
Customers don’t tend to stay inside very long. The traffic balances between ticket holders coming in for a pre-game meal or post-game snack.
Slinging 2,400 Slices
Most people order their Halftime pizza in slices on game days. Sticking to the quick and efficient theme. They do not deliver, but are available via GrubHub. However, the walk-in experience is where you will find the in-game spirit.
So, the Celtics are preparing to take the TD Garden court, the Bruins are preparing to take the ice, and Boston restaurant Halftime Pizza is preparing to sell 300 pizzas per game. It’s an all encompassing post-season effort in Boston’s West End. A challenge that all three hope lasts well into June.
Jeff Gorra is a Boston-based writer who has been with Beasley Media Group since the beginning of 2023. He writes about restaurants and food, as well as sports and rock music. His experience also includes show hosting and in-depth creative writing in rock and reggae dub music. Jeff’s an avid surfer, New York Giants, and Pearl Jam fan, however, if you make unforgettable pizza, he is sure to find you.
