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!

Here’s what Harry had to say about this Leslieville addition to the restaurant scene.

1.       What is your background and how did you get started in the industry?

Both myself and my partner Daniel Clarke have worked the the Toronto restaurant scene for the last 8 years.  Most recently we both worked for the Libretto Group (Daniel as the Director of Opperations & myself as the Restaurant Manager at Enoteca and Pizzeria Libretto Danforth).  Both our paths are pretty similar, we both worked our way through university serving and bartending.  From there is really developed into a pasion for great wine, good food and most importantly amazing service.

2.       What inspired the name Skin & Bones?

The name Skin+Bones is a reference to grape skins and animal bones.  Grape skins play a very important part in the winemaking process lending colour, tannin and to a degree structure to a wine.  Bones in stocks, braises, and roasts play such an important role in much of the food we eat.  What we aim to to is very simple, great wine, great food and exceptional hospitality.

3.       How would you describe the restaurant to someone who has never been there?

Skin+Bones is the kind of place you can swing in for a quick snack and a glass of wine at the bar after work, or bring friends or a date for dinner in the dining room.  Its a casual environment where we want to encourage people to relax and be themselves.

4.       What are some of your favourite events that have been hosted Skin & Bones?

Being only few weeks old we are yet to host to many events, however we are currently working on a couple of weekly features as well as trying to lock down a couple of winemakers dinners.

5.       Who is your chef and what are the menu inspirations?

Chef Matthew Sullivan is a Stratford Chef’s School grad.  Before landing with us he had been traveling and stageing quite extensively (Gramercy Tavern NYC, The Fat Duck London, as well as a couple weeks working in Taiwan).  He most recently had been hosting his own series of Pop-Up dinners called Boxed.  It was through these dinners that he really piqued our intest and the rest is history.

 6.       Most rewarding thing about running Skin & Bones?

The most rewarding thing about running Skin+Bones has been the fantastic response we have had from our neighbours in Leslieville.  There is a real sense of community here, and its amazing to be a part of it.

Pay them a visit and enjoy a Steam Whistle while you’re there!  

If you’ve ever been to Barrie, you probably heard of Eat My Pie – the local favourite spot that was started by Randy Feltis and Craig Russell.

Their pies are so delicious that since 2010 they have served over 125 000 pies. 

Steam Whistle (SW): What inspired Wood Fire Pizza Joint? 

Lara (General Manager): Both Randy and Craig have been in the service industry since their teenage years. They have been restaurant owners for 10+ years. Living in Barrie, both saw the need for an authentic pizza joint within the community.

SW: What’s the concept of the restaurant?

Lara: The concept of the restaurant is simple, fresh ingredients, and a fun, inviting atmosphere. What makes us different from all other restaurants is the 3000 pound oven we imported from Italy. Heating up to 900 degrees, we’re able to cook up to 8 pies at one time in a matter of 90 seconds. Our dough is made fresh every morning, and never sees a sheeter. Hands can do a better job than a machine, every time!

SW: If you only come here once, what dish must you try and why? 

Lara: The pies are a must, obviously! Our top three sellers are the Porky Pie, the Pepperoni Pie, and the Chicken Pie.

(Porky Pie)

SW: How do you come up with the recipes for the meals?

Lara: The recipes have been a matter of trial and error over the last two and a half years. We listen to and welcome customer feedback, and tailor the recipes accordingly!

SW: Favourite part of running Pie?

Lara: The favourite part for all three of us about running Pie, is having founded Canada’s largest eating competition. Every summer, we host our annual Pie eating competition, in which world renowned professional eater Takeru Kobayashi has won three years running. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime to be a part of such a large event, let alone to be the hosts of it. We’re nothing short of grateful for the success we’ve seen as a result.

(World Champion Eater Kombayashi Eats Pie)

Pay these folks a visit at 34 Commerce Park Drive in Barrie!

We’re grateful to partner with this great organization who are committed to providing sweatshop-free clothing for those who are socially-conscious and want to know where their apparel came from.

Want to know more about this great organization? Meet Elie and Zoe from Me To We Style and their missions.

On behalf of Me To We Style, Zoe & Elie focus on promoting  eco-friendliness throughout North America by working on initiatives, developing products, and furthering partnerships. As you can see above, they also often to come work wearing the same outfit.

What is Me To We Style and how does it relate to Free The Children?

Our product line is domestically produced and made using certified organic cotton, viscose from bamboo & recycled polyester. By manufacturing Me to We Style apparel in factories that pay adult workers fair wage, we guarantee that employees make a decent wage to care for themselves, and their loved ones. In addition, by using eco-friendly fabrics, we certify the least possible amount of toxic chemicals are used to create each garment. Lastly, by donating half our annual profits to Free the Children, we help them create a better life for youth and their families in rural and impoverished areas across the globe. You can check us out at We Day, where we provide We Day t-shirts for excited fans!

How did Me To We Style get started?

Me to We Style has been providing ethically-sourced, sweatshop-free apparel options for schools and corporations across the globe, since 2005. Spear-headed by Oliver Madison, Me to We Style is the result of a Harvard graduate, who started his professional years in the fast-paced financial industry. On one fateful winter’s day, Oliver made plans to meet Craig Kielburger, founder of Free the Children, and former university roommate, for lunch-and so began Me to We Style.  Our charity partner, Free the Children, provides development projects in rural, and impoverished areas across the globe. These initiatives include: building schools, water sanitation projects & access to education. Progress so far at Free the Children involves: over 650 schools built, 30,000 women provided with economic self-sufficiency, $16, 000, 000 worth of medical supplies shipped around the world, and over 1, 000, 000 people provided with clean water, health care, and sanitation.

For every piece of Me To We apparel purchased, a tree is planted. How many trees has Steam Whistle helped plant?

To date, Steam Whistle has helped to plant over 10,452 trees through Free the Children, and  saved the use of over 3,135.6 lbs of pesticides, by purchasing socially-conscious Me to We Style apparel. We are so thrilled to be working with this fantastic company that upholds our virtues of sustainability, and look forward to many more years working together!

How do the Me To We Style designs originate?

Me to We Style has both a retail, and wholesale, aspect to our business. In the wholesale process of apparel design, we work with clients including Steam Whistle, among others, to determine the most suitable design for their business. This design is sometimes created by the client, and in many cases by the Marketing, and Graphics teams at Me to We Style , who work together to create new designs for the client based on their branding needs.

We  also design new looks, and products that will satisfy our trendy, and eco-friendly clientele for the retail side of our business. Sometimes, our t-shirts have actually been designed by celebrities, who use their designs to show support for We Day & Free the Children initiatives.  These celebrities are engaged through the We Day Talent Team, and we work in partnership to come up with the most stylish looks possible.

Me to We Style apparel, including celebrity t-shirts, are available for purchase at: http://www.metowestyle.com

Nelly Furtado in Me To We Style.

Favourite part of working at Me To We Style?

It’s great to know that the organization that you are working for is giving back to the community, preserving the environment, and helping businesses to do the same. Employees of Me to We Style, Me to We, and Free the Children, are passionate about engaging the community in socially-conscious initiatives. There is also an amazing group of people who work here, and that doesn’t hurt! Don’t forget to check out our blog, for current staff, and product news!

Read more at: http://www.metowestyle.com/