Kristen McCloskey, Brand Manager, tells us more about this unique pizza place.

How would you describe ZaZaZa Pizza to someone who has never been here before?
ZaZaZa is all about fabulous, whole food Gourmet Pizza made from scratch. Our food is fresh and funky, our decor is theatre-inspired, our staff is friendly and down to earth, our vibe is all around cool.

What is the inspiration behind the name?
We have tried to inject a breath of fresh air into the world of pizza. We take fresh & wild toppings and create very fun, unique Gourmet Pizzas. The atmosphere of ZaZaZa, the staff and the Pizzas all have alot of zest and pizzazz, hence the name!

Who are the “artists”?
Our philosophy is that food and the creation of food is a form of art. We want to present Fresh Pizza, Decadent Desserts and Exquisite Wine as theatre. Our decor is largely influenced by theatre; you will notice a lot of deep rich reds, ornate gold trims, coloured stage lighting and of course velvet curtains! Our chefs are on a raised stage, complete with red curtains, where guests seated at the bar can watch the Artists making Pizzas from scratch.

Where do the inspirations for the pizza names come from?
Certain pizzas reflect certain experiences or people in my life. Family, friends, coworkers, guests and neighbours are all fair game! Putman’s Patient Paul is named after our neighbour Paul on Putman Avenue at our Beechwood location.

What is your favourite dish?
My favourite Pizza is the Crazy Horse; it has a delicious pesto base, topped with spinach, mozzerella, mushrooms, chicken, caramelized onions, pine nuts and goat cheese. As to the inspiration behind the name? Crazy Horse was my nickname in high school and these are all my favourite foods!
 

What is the restaurant’s involvement with charities and which ones have you supported?
We strongly believe in supporting local fundraising events and community organizations. Some of the charities we have supported include the Do It For Daron initiative supporting Mental Health Awareness in teens, the Ottawa Food Bank, Babes For Breasts for the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation and the Heart Institute.

Check them out in Ottawa!

Ontario Craft Beer Week means a chance to celebrate our province’s craft beers through a series of beer dinners, tap takeovers, pairings, beer fests and themed events. It’s a chance for OCB breweries to reach new audiences and to show why local craft beer is best. My favourite part of OCB Week is trying one-off and collaboration brews. The inspiration for the brews can come from anywhere, and it highlights the diverse, creative, and ever evolving side of brewing.

How did the collaboration brew with Great Lakes & Amsterdam come about?

When the OCB Week organizers announced that one of the key themes this year was collaboration, brewers at Amsterdam and Great Lakes decided to get together and invited other OCB brewers to join. Although at Steam Whistle we do one thing, I’ve always been encouraged to take part in collabs which are lots of fun and a great learning experience for me. We decided to brew the GTA Farmhouse Ale, a Belgian style beer fermented with a saison yeast, and we spiced it with sage, cardamom, and peppercorns. The result was a dry, refreshing beer with a distinctive spicy aroma that I thought paired really well with food.  It was available on draught at various bars throughout the city, and in bottles at the Great Lakes and Amsterdam retail stores. With only one small batch made, you have to seek it out if you want to try it, and that’s part of the appeal. Once it’s gone, it’s gone…until next year maybe?

What events did you attend?

My OCB Week kicked off on Friday with a launch at the Summerhill LCBO where we heard about growth in the craft beer industry while toasting with a glass of GTA Farmhouse Ale. Saturday I went to Wvrst for a Dieu du Ciel Brewery tap-takeover where I tasted some delicious new creations, including 2 collaboration beers. I spent Sunday afternoon at the Brickworks enjoying the Brewers Backyard, which is a series of events showcasing a local brewery in a casual and relaxed setting with top-notch food vendors and live music. By Monday I was a bit tired, but I just could not miss the Amsterdam Brewery vs. Flat Rock Winery dinner at Beast restaurant. Tuesday I went out to one of my favourite bars, Brydens on Bloor St, for their Best of the West event. Several breweries from the west end participated by sending a keg of their best beer, including the GTA Farmhouse, for this collaborative tap takeover. By Wednesday I was ready for a couple of nights off, but I was back at it Friday for Bar Volo’s Belgian night, featuring all local Begian-inspired brews. Saturday was the Session 99 Craft Beer Fest with over 100 beers, food sampling, live music, and I got to catch up with several friends to talk about which OCB week events they liked best. It was a busy but amazing week, I can’t wait to do it all again during Toronto Beer Week in September!

The Amsterdam/Flat Rock dinner at Beast restaurant on Monday was one of my favourites. It was part of the Canadian Beer News dinner series, which brings together top breweries and restaurants to create unique beer and food pairings. The chef paired each of the four courses with a wine and a beer, and the dessert was paired with a special collaborative brew from Amsterdam and Flat Rock Cellars’ head winemaker Ross Wise. Ross was a brewer before getting into wine, and the sour cherry Imperial Stout aged on oak that they produced was spectacular. Overall, the food and pairings were fabulous, the atmosphere was nice and relaxed, and the winery and brewery working together really pushed the collaboration theme to the next level. Congratulations to all involved, it was a great night.

Can you sum up the week in one sentence?

Probably not! There was just way too much good stuff going on.

Cheers to keeping the craft beer industry strong!