Lou Malnati's Pizzeria : Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza

Wednesday, September 08, 2010

Lou Malnati's 40th Annual Cancer Research Benefit

It's that time of the year again! The air is getting crisper, the kids are back to school and Lou Malnati's is buzzing with Benefit preparation! This year marks the 40th anniversary of Lou Malnati's Cancer Research Benefit, and we're looking forward to another successful year of raising funds for cancer research and education programs. On Monday, September 20, 2010, we will once again be hosting an evening of fun, food and comedy - Chicago style. The event will feature a member of the Chicago Blackhawks, along with The Second City comedians.

For the past 40 years, the Malnati family has hosted an annual one-day charity event. Lou and Jean Malnati first started the event as a scholarship fund for local athletes to Wake Forest University in the name of Brian Piccolo, and after Lou died of cancer in 1978, Jean carried on the annual tradition in Lou's name and the focus was changed to raising money for cancer research. Last year we raised more than $160,000, and over the past 10 years we have raised $3 million to benefit organizations such as Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Gilda's Club of Chicago and Children's Memorial Hospital, whose staffs are all dedicated to working towards finding a cure for cancer.

Our hope is to receive continued support so that, together, we will be able to raise even more money for cancer research and treatment.

The event is being held at our corporate headquarters in Northbrook and will include dinner, live and silent auctions, and a stage performance by Chicago's The Second City. To purchase tickets, make a donation or view more information, please visit our website.

Posted By Lou Malnati's At 8:32 AM • Comments (0)

Friday, September 03, 2010

Without Labor Nothing Prospers

Labor Day is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economical achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity and well-being of our country.
-US Department of Labor

This coming Monday, September 6, 2010 will mark the 128th Labor Day celebration in the United States. As children, we always enjoyed the day off of school and never really gave a second thought about what the day actually means. When we were younger, it meant we didn't have to go to school, we could put off our homework for another day and we could sleep in however long we wanted. It also meant the end of summer was finally here and football season was about to kick off. As you start to learn more about what the national holiday means, you realize it's really a day to celebrate the accomplishments of laborers that came before us and those that have continued to help our country grow. However, as August closes out and Labor Day draws nearer, we're given a harsh reminder about the volatility that our country and economy are still enduring - the unemployment rate rose in August for the first time in four months. Though companies added thousands of jobs in August, the total was still not that of the amount that had been added in July.

How do we overcome this? How do we dig ourselves out and find positions to fill? How do we get closer to achieving our dreams of working to live and not living to work? I don't think anyone knows for sure but we all know we have to keep persevering because, as Sophocles so eloquently put it, "without labor nothing prospers."

Posted By Lou Malnati's At 9:43 AM • Comments (0)

Wednesday, September 01, 2010

Do What You Can

It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do little - do what you can. ~Sydney Smith

In times of need, families, communities and organizations often find it in themselves to come together and offer whatever help they can. People donate to charities that help out animals, education programs, the environment, the homeless, those displaced due to natural disasters, and many other causes. When you donate to a charity, you're not just giving monetary or tangible contributions, you're helping to spread hope and awareness. Even in times of economic downturn, people have still managed to find a way to contribute what they can and help out in any way they can. Even you can only contribute a small amount, that little bit helps and goes towards the ultimate goal of aiding those in need.

ThemeBug.wSkyline.gif Every year, Lou Malnati's hosts an Annual Cancer Benefit to raise funds for cancer research and education programs. Over the past 10 years we have raised money to benefit organizations such as Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Gilda's Club of Chicago and Children's Memorial Hospital, all of whose staffs are dedicated in working towards finding a cure for cancer. This year will mark the 40th anniversary and we're looking forward to another successful year of raising funds for a good cause. The night will include a raffle, silent and live auctions and a performance by Chicago's The Second City featuring a selected player of the Chicago Blackhawks. To purchase tickets, make a donation or find out more information, please visit our website.

Posted By Lou Malnati's At 11:05 AM • Comments (0)

Monday, August 30, 2010

Follow Your Dreams

How many times have been given this advice? How many times have you actually done it? Growing up, we were told many times to always "do what you love" and "follow your dreams" no matter what. Lou took a big step in 1971 and followed his dream of owning his own pizzeria and now, almost 40 years later, you can see his hard work and dedication paid off. The older you get, the more you realize what you want to make of yourself and, with experience and determination, you figure out how to get yourself there. You realize what your strengths are, what improvements need to be made and what path you want to take and set off in search of it. Intelligence, determination, wisdom and belief all play key parts but we must remember: it's not always what you know, but who you know. When you open yourself up to, not only educating yourself but, receiving help from others along the way, you can rest assured you're on the path to success and that much closer to reaching your goal.

Posted By Lou Malnati's At 11:56 AM • Comments (1)

Thursday, August 26, 2010

It's All Part of the Experience...

The end of summer is gradually closing in on us as kids head back to school and families settle in to the routines that will last for the next 9 months. Some High School students, along with focusing on their studies, have started the process of finding an after-school job. Whether it be to save up for a car, Spring Break trip or just have some walking-around money, they're taking that next step forward and becoming... gulp... responsible young adults. The state of the current economy, while it's getting a little better, still makes the task of looking for a job rather difficult and frustrating. Even still, there are so many different jobs to choose from, you just have to figure out what you're willing to do. Most High School students will resort to either working within the school (at the library, bookstore, after-school programs, etc) or working in a retail/restaurant position as they tend to be more flexible with their scheduling. That's not to say they are any easier, though. Retail and restaurant jobs are hard work but are also very rewarding. You're contributing your skills and efforts into creating a comfortable and productive atmosphere for your patrons. Not only do you learn necessary job skills, but you also learn team-work and patience. I've always thought that if you have held down a job in a retail or restaurant environment, you can handle anything. You might even learn a thing or two from the customers that frequent your establishment. At Lou Malnati's, we have the opportunity to learn from our customers' experiences every day. All feedback receive is taken to heart. We make sure it sinks in and that we're providing our customers with a pleasant atmosphere, tasty deep-dish and outstanding customer service. To be the best you can be, you have to learn to take some criticism along the way - constructive criticism helps build character and good character is a huge asset. Which jobs along your career path would you consider your best learning experience?

Posted By Lou Malnati's At 12:22 PM • Comments (0)

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Greetings From...

So many thoughts race through our minds on a daily basis that sometimes it's hard to process everything. One thought triggers another and another and another... they keep building up until finally we stumble upon a thought that hasn't really crossed us in a while. What triggers that for you? I received a postcard from my Dad the other day - completely out of the blue. He lives in Hawai'i 7 months out of the year and left Chicago at the end of July so communication between us has been sparse...

Aloha!
I thought of you when I saw this card. Thinking of you.
Love,
Dad

The postcard had a picture on it of Hawai'i's State Fish - a humuhumunukunukuapua'a, also known as a Picasso Triggerfish and my favorite fish. Being that I haven't seen him since the end of July, it was definitely a pleasant surprise to receive the postcard as well as to hear I crossed his mind. How often do you just stop and send a simple "hey there" to a friend or family member? This day and age, communication is so easy and thoughtless yet we've stopped communicating in ways that were once the primary source. When was the last time you received or even sent a postcard or letter? For some it's a tradition - my Aunt who lives down in Georgia has made sure to send a birthday card through the mail to every niece, nephew, brother and sister-in-law on their birthday for as long as I can remember. Not a birthday goes by that we're not sent a greeting and a wish for a great day. I'm not even sure people who go on vacation pick postcards up and mail them out anymore. If they want to communicate, they hop on Facebook, update their status saying how much fun they're having and then go on to their next activity. Maybe they'll send an email to their friends or family and update them a little bit about their travels but who really sends a written postcard? Receiving an email is great, but receiving a written letter or postcard is, well... it warms the soul.

Lou's knows that the feeling a child gets when receiving mail is insurmountable. Their parents get mail all the time but once a letter or postcard comes for them; they can't help but be happy and excited. We try to make our birthday club members feel special with each and every card we send out via mail. Lou's Kid's Birthday Club members receive a birthday card in the mail around the date of their birthday with a special gift. It's just our way of saying "hi" and wishing them a very happy birthday... Something that's a little more personal, makes their day a little more special and, of course, tasty.

If you would like to sign your child up for the Birthday Club, click here.

Posted By Lou Malnati's At 1:28 PM • Comments (0)

Friday, August 20, 2010

"Crustless": Not Your Average Deep-Dish

What would you do if you found out you had a disease that prevented you from eating your favorite food? Most would try and find ingredient substitutions so that they could still enjoy their favorite dish. Some, unfortunately, give up and move on. Here at Lou Malnati’s, we understand our customers’ personal preferences and we also understand that some circumstances are out of our customers’ hands. One issue we receive a lot of questions about is our gluten-free menu options. It seems as though gluten intolerance has become more popular in recent years but maybe its awareness is due, in part, to people educating themselves on the way their bodies react to certain foods. Gluten intolerance is basically the body’s inability to digest certain types of proteins that are commonly found in wheat, rye and barley products. So that means pasta, cereal and bread, all the things that make carbohydrate lovers salivate, are off limits. It’s a disease for which testing is available to determine if a person has an actual intolerance, but the expensive price tag causes some people to shy away. That’s usually the point at which people start taking their health into their own hands and experimenting. If their symptoms subside and they no longer feel like their body is waging war against them, they start transitioning their diet and finding ways to create their favorite dishes using different, more intestine-friendly ingredients.

That being said, if you’re on a gluten-free diet and miss the bliss of a deep-dish from Lou Malnati’s, we’ve got a special treat for you. For some time now, Lou's has proudly offered a tasty "crustless" pizza for those who are gluten-intolerant (great for those watching their carbohydrate intake as well). The "crustless" pizza is made from our lean sausage as the base, and then topped with our fresh mozzarella cheese and zesty tomato sauce. Of course you can customize it to your taste by adding any of Lou's other fresh ingredients. Just because you can’t eat the crust, doesn’t mean you can’t get a great pie from Lou’s!

Photo courtesy of BeyondRiceCakes.com

Give it a try next time and you’re sure to be delighted.

Posted By Lou Malnati's At 4:31 PM • Comments (0)

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Can They Really Be Compared?

Anyone from New York will tell you their pizza is far superior to that of Chicago style. It's wide, thin and travels well if you need to eat on the go. However, Chicagoans will stand and defend their tried and true Chicago style pizza until they're blue in the face. It's a battle that has gone on for decades and one that probably won't be won by either side. Wanna know why? They're too different. Yes, the concept is the same - dough, sauce, cheese, seasoning. Yet the way in which New Yorkers and Chicagoans build their pizzas is incomparable.

New York style pizza is very traditional; hand-tossed crust, tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese. It's usually sold in slices that are taken from a large, 18" pizza that's cut into 8 slices. There are other varieties available but this is usually what New Yorkers tend to stick to. It's portable, foldable and should only be eaten using your hands.

As for Chicago style pizza, it's a whole other category. This is the kind of pizza that needs to be eaten while sitting down with a fork and knife; the layers of gooey mozzarella cheese, tangy tomato sauce and flaky, buttery crust and too much for your hands to handle all on their own. What deep-dish lacks in portability, it makes up for in taste and ability to fill your stomach. Invented at Pizzeria Uno in 1943, Lou Malnati's took deep-dish to a different level and perfected the ultimate recipe that has been filling the stomachs of Chicagoans since 1971.

There really is no comparing the two types of pizzas because they're polar opposites. All that can really be said is this: New York style pizza is to Chicago style pizza as New York water is to Chicago water - pretty much the same but we all know it's different!

Now, which is your favorite?

Posted By Lou Malnati's At 3:57 PM • Comments (4)

Monday, August 16, 2010

Lou's Company Picnic


Posted By Lou Malnati's At 10:40 AM • Comments (2)

Friday, August 13, 2010

Capturing the Summer

Capturing memories is something that has consumed society for ages. Journals, newspapers, photographs, memoirs, videos... these are all great ways to pass on traditions as well as important family information that should not be forgotten. Scrapbooking was a unique way of capturing a moment in time. You would take typical memorabilia like photos, newspaper clippings, and even artwork and compile it all together. Most families turned to this option when new babies arrived. As their arsenal of photographs and trinkets got larger, they would keep filling up pages and keep the book as a keepsake. Journals are another favorite; portable and convenient, it was easy to pull out a notebook and start logging daily adventures.

Today, it seems more popular to take those memories to the internet rather than to a book. How many family members or friends do you have that live far away yet you still keep in touch with them through blogging, microblogging or email? For me, the internet has become the missing link in keeping my family connected. We're able to instantly share pictures, videos and say a quick “hello". Blogging is ubiquitous and will probably continue to grow an advance with time.

What's great is people don't just stop at blogging about their daily lives; they go on to blog about their likes and dislikes and ultimately review the business that they encounter on a daily basis. We have found Lou Malnati's pizza in so many blogs that we've lost count! It's wonderful to hear someone else describe their experience at one of our restaurants. What's even better are the pictures that tend to get posted - like they say, a picture speaks a thousand words.

How have you been logging your summer adventures? Have you taken it to the internet or have you resorted to a good, old-fashioned journal? We, as you can see, have taken our adventures to the internet. But that's not to say we don't have a few old journals or scrapbooks around here somewhere filled with memories waiting to be shared and relived.

Posted By Lou Malnati's At 11:23 AM • Comments (0)

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

We're on a Mission

Lou Malnati's is a family-owned food-service company in a unique environment and produced by a management team and staff committed to each other, the customer, and the community.

Regarding products served, Lou Malnati's features its signature item, "deep-dish pizza" and other quality homemade food made to order. Innovation of products and services is important, as is good food at reasonable prices.

Lou Malnati's is a tradition, with customers and employees representing second and third generations of involvement with Lou's.

Our mission has been pretty clear since Lou first opened in Lincolnwood in 1971 - great customer service and great deep-dish. We take pride in offering the best customer service we can and the best affordable deep-dish pizza in Chicago. It is our hope that our customers know just how important they are to us, as well as the people that embark on their career path with us. We get an enormous amount of feedback from the families and friends that come in and dine at our restaurants and we love it. Every tidbit we receive, from complaints to compliments and even recommendations, we take all of it into consideration. We must admit, a lot of smiling goes on around here when we receive compliments and heart-felt stories from seasoned customers. There's nothing that can brighten our days more than hearing about a family introducing their newest family member to the Lou's tradition, or hearing about a soldier returning from overseas and wanting nothing but Lou's and their family beside them, or how a simple random act of kindness by a member of our waitstaff made a customers' dining experience that much more enjoyable. We love it all.

If you ever want to let us know how we're doing, ask a question or offer a suggestion, feel free to send us an email. If you want to share your experience with the rest of world, review your favorite Lou's location on Yelp. And, of course, you can always find us on Facebook and Twitter as well - can you tell we like staying in touch?

Posted By Lou Malnati's At 1:53 PM • Comments (0)

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Summertime Symphony

The air is hot and heavy, the sun is bright and the crickets have finally started serenading us with their summertime symphony - that can only mean one thing... the summer time is slowly drawing to a close. Now, before we go pound sand and throw a temper tantrum, we must realize that there's still a lot of life left in this grand summer of 2010. More festivals to be had, more shows, more quality family time to come, and more fun! Just because the weather will start cooling off doesn't mean the fun will stop!

The US Navy Blue Angels and US Army Parachute Team Golden Knights will be in town this weekend, August 14-15, for the 52nd Annual Chicago Air and Water Show along Lake Michigan's shores from Fullerton to Oak Street. New this year, the water and air shows are being combined for one big show that will start at 11am and end at 4pm on both days. In the city on Friday as well? Bring a picnic and watch from the lakefront as participants practice for their debut!

Photo courtesy of CityofChicago.org

Growing up, the Air and Water Show was always seen as the last "hoorah" of the summer for my family. We would pack up the van and head downtown with coolers, blankets, kites and other fun outdoor activities. What's your family's last "hoorah" of the summer? What's your favorite vacation/activity that has become a tradition before the hot summer days turn into busy school days?

Posted By Lou Malnati's At 10:58 AM • Comments (0)

Thursday, August 05, 2010

A Taste of Home

If you were to ask a Lou Malnati fan when they first tried our deep-dish, you'll probably get one of two answers: 1) They'll be able to tell you when it was and which location they were at, or 2) "I've grown up with it". Lou Malnati's has become a family tradition for many and we couldn't be prouder. Lou Malnati's is a family owned business that cares about its customers and goes the extra mile in providing excellent customer service and delicious deep-dish pizza. That's how it's been since 1971 when Lou opened the first location in Lincolnwood. Now, on the verge of our 40th anniversary and 30 restaurants later, we're still committed to providing our customers with excellent food and customer service - and that extends from coast to coast!

Lou Malnati’s began shipping its pizzas all over the country in 1987. The service was initially offered during the holidays to satisfy Malnati fans that relocated outside of Chicago. After 10 years of shipping our famous deep dish, we realized that ex-Chicagoans craved even more of the Windy City’s favorite foods. It was then that we partnered with other fine restaurateurs in Chicago to provide our outta-towners with the best tastes Chicago has to offer. This was the start of a tasty collaboration now known as Lou Malnati’s Tastes of Chicago. Tastes of Chicago offers hometown Chicago favorites including: Carson’s ribs, Eli’s cheesecake, Vienna Beef hot dogs, Portillo’s Italian beef, Garrett’s Popcorn, Long Grove Confectionery's apple pies and chocolates, Manny’s Deli corned beef, Hackney’s burgers, Wildfire steaks, and more! Gift packages are also available for any occasion along with virtual gift cards, apparel and other merchandise from Lou’s and select vendors.

Now, over 20 years later, Tastes of Chicago ships more than 250,000 pizzas throughout the year. Lou Malnati’s pizza remains the most popular item shipped and we think that’s because deep dish pizza just isn’t the same anywhere outside sweet home Chicago!

Posted By Lou Malnati's At 12:01 PM • Comments (0)

Tuesday, August 03, 2010

We've Got the Beat

It's funny, you may not be able to remember the words you memorized for a speech you presented 10 years ago, but you sure can remember the words to your favorite song that's 10 years old. It's amazing how music sticks with us throughout the years and leaves a lasting impression. Not a day goes by that a song isn't heard and someone ultimately says, "oh wow, this song will always remind me of the time I..." - whatever it may be, there's a memory attached. This weekend, August 6-8, dozens of musicians are gathering in Chicago's Grant Park for a monumental music fest that is sure to please. Lollapalooza will feature a diverse range of bands from all walks of life; heavy metal, alternative rock, hip hop, as well as punk rock. Along with music, food will also be taking center stage and yours truly will be on hand in Chow Town North to dish out cheese and sausage deep dish slices. This is the first year Lou Malnati's is participating in the festival and we couldn't be more excited! We'll be setting up shop just south of the Playstation Stage and Budweiser Stage so don't forget to swing by for a slice after seeing your favorite band perform!

Posted By Lou Malnati's At 9:36 AM • Comments (1)

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

When the Going gets Tough

Like clockwork, Mother Nature rocked the Chicagoland area with heavy storms and severe flooding this past weekend. Along with water, we were given rude awakening to the fact that nature is completely out of our control. We have control over many aspects of our lives; the vehicles we drive, the food we eat, the activities we participate in, the friends we have. The only things that really remain out of our league are time and weather. We can't control how many minutes are in the day but we can decide what to do with the time we're given. We cannot stop the sky from raining, but we can seek shelter and ride it out. Driving down the road the other day was a very humbling experience. Families that worked relentlessly to create a home that would be comfortable saw their hard work dragged out to the curb, soaking wet. It really makes you stop and think about what we treasure and what holds value for us. Things will always be things - they can hold memories and remind us of a certain time in our life, but at the end of the day, they are still just things. What matters are the people in our lives that end up working by our side to help clean up and organize what nature tried to destroy. There was a lot of sweat and a lot of tears this weekend as those affected by the storms tried to pick up the pieces and put their houses back together and regain control. It's like they say, "when the going gets tough, the tough get going."

Posted By Lou Malnati's At 9:23 AM • Comments (0)

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Hometown Tour Guide

Summer is a time to get away from your roots and explore a little, right? If you live in or have ever relocated to Chicago and have friends across the US, they always seem to make Chicago their summer destination - and your home. When that happens, you're scrambling around trying to plan some stuff for you to do together that won't break the bank. To get you going and to help you give your guests a memorable taste of Chicago (aside from treating them to some Lou Malnati's deep-dish pizza), check out these city landmarks and events... best of all? They're free!

Movies in the Park: Presented by the Chicago Park District, there are free movies almost every night throughout the summer. Not only does it introduce you to a new part of the city, but you'll also be able to spend some quality time with whoever comes with you.
Chicago SummerDance Festival: Located in Grant Park, this festival is definitely worth it! Thursday-Saturday every week throughout the summer, this festival will fill your soul with music that makes you want to dance! They also provide some instruction so you're not left out if you don't know the moves.
Art Institute Chicago: Free on Thursday evenings, 5-8pm
Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier: Free to everyone every Thursday evening, 5-8pm; free for kids 15 and under the first Sunday of every month
Chicago History Museum: Every Monday, 9:30am-4:30pm
Museum of Contemporary Art: Tuesdays, 10am-8pm
The Field Museum: Every second Monday of the month. Summer days remaining are: August 9th and 24th.
Lincoln Park Zoo: Free and open to the public everyday!
Museum of Science and Industry: Remaining summer free day is August 30
National Museum of Mexican Art: Free Tuesday-Sunday (closed Mondays)!
Chicago Air & Water Show: August 14-15, featuring US Navy Blue Angels, US Army Parachute Team Golden Knights, US Navy Parachute Team Leap Frogs, and much much more! This show is bound to rock the lakefront!

There's nothing better than getting together with friends and family and sharing a new experience. We love when fans and customers share their stories with us - whether it's when they introduced their loved one to our pizza or a great experience at one of our restaurants... we love it. Without devoted fans like that, Lou Malnati's wouldn't be where it is today!

Posted By Lou Malnati's At 9:53 AM • Comments (0)

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Start Your Engines!

Have you ever stopped to think just how many sports involve racing of some sort? Racing, as defined by Wikipedia, "is a competition of speed, against an objective criterion, usually a clock or to a specific point. The competitors in a race try to complete a given task in the shortest amount of time." Racing in Chicago is ubiquitous. Year round, there are 5k runs, half marathons, NASCAR, IndyCar, boat races, bike races... all types! While NASCAR was in the Chicagoland earlier this month, Kids Wish Network granted a boy his wish of meeting NASCAR driver, Tony Stewart. with the help of his wish coordinator, Tyler also got a taste of some good ol' Chicago deep-dish pizza from Lou Malnati's.

Picture courtesy of Bleacher Report

In June, the National Hot Rod Association made its way to Chicago for a weekend full of speed. Along the way, Toyota Racing Top Fuel drivers Morgan Lucas and Antron Brown visited Lou Malnati's to get a first-hand look at how we create our delicious deep-dish and to taste-test it themselves.

Don't get us wrong, we love football, baseball, basketball, hockey - but there's something about racing that gets your blood pumping and makes you anxious about who will cross the finish line first.

Posted By Lou Malnati's At 9:50 AM • Comments (0)

Friday, July 16, 2010

Our Kind of Town

We get a lot of questions about opening up locations in different states and even overseas. Flattered as we are, we like to stick close to our Chicago roots because, well, Chicago is pretty darn amazing. New York may be the city that never sleeps, but Chicago is the city that never stops evolving. There are so many things to love and so many places to explore within and around the city limits that we can’t imagine being anywhere else. Don’t get us wrong, we love our outta-town fans and strive to offer them the same great deep-dish through our mail-order catalog as they get here because, frankly, we understand that it was love at first bite. However, Chicago is our kinda town. From the street festivals to the concerts to the beaches… we have it all. Not only do we get to experience sizzling summers but we also get pushed around by Old Man Winter and we like it that way.

Right now, Chicago is playing host to Transformers 3. The directors have turned our Magnificent Mile into its own playground complete with signs that warn pedestrians of “filming involving gunfire and explosions ahead – do not be alarmed”. They might also want to mention not to be alarmed by Optimus Prime roaring around the Sears Tower (sorry Willis, if you’ve grown up here, it’s hard to call it Willis Tower). T3 is said to make Chicago its home for the next four weeks and then pack it up and head on to DC.

Photo's courtesy of ChicagoTribune.com

Along with being entertained by Autobots and Decepticons running after each other, there’re also some fun festivals that are being offered to Chicagoans this weekend. There’re movies in parks scattered throughout Chicago neighborhoods, the Windy City Ribfest in Uptown, the Edgewater Arts Festival, the Taste of River North, Chicago SummerDance Festival… there’s lots to do and tons to see! Get out there and enjoy your weekend!! You know where to stop when you get hungry ;-).

Posted By Lou Malnati's At 12:51 PM • Comments (1)

Monday, July 12, 2010

Giada Loves Lou's!

Lou Malnati's Executive Chef, Jim Freeland, caught up with Food Network chef Giada De Laurentiis at this year's Taste of Chicago. The "Everyday Italian" star said she really enjoyed our deep dish pizza at the Taste this year and we couldn't be happier! Giada has an impressive background of culinary training and a unique personable charm that we absolutely love. What can we say - she's got great taste!
Giada 013.JPG

Posted By Lou Malnati's At 11:51 AM • Comments (0)

Thursday, July 08, 2010

Dog Days of Summer!

What do the Taste of Chicago, Eric Clapton, and Porsches all have in common? Lou Malnati’s! Summer is in full swing and Lou’s has been all over the event map. From catering to musicians at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival to welcoming the Porsche Club of America to Chicago for their annual Parade, we’ve been having a blast!

Lou Malnati’s was on the scene at Toyota Park, Saturday, June 26, for the Crossroads Guitar Festival serving our delicious deep dish pizza to Eric Clapton, BB King, Buddy Guy, John Mayer, Sheryl Crow, Vince Gill, ZZ Top and other legendary guitarists, musical artists, and their families. Lou Malnati’s first catered to the Crossroads musicians in 2008 and, after liking the food so much the first time around, Eric Clapton asked us to come back a second time. An opening BBQ was in order for the rehearsal session followed by a mini Taste of Chicago spread on the day of the Festival. All deep dish pizzas were made fresh on site – would you expect anything less from us?

In addition to serving Eric Clapton and his musical guests, we also served VIP guests in the American Express tent with the help of Chef Grant McPhearson, Head Chef at Sandy Lanes Hotel in Barbados. Working together, the Lou’s team and Chef McPhearson provided all VIP guests with unique mouth-watering cuisine and, of course, fresh deep dish pizzas right out of the oven!

Before wrapping everything up at the end of the day, Mr. Clapton requested we cook up one final batch of pizzas for him to take on the road. How could we turn him down?! He was as excited to have us at the festival as we were about participating!

From June 25 to July 4, Lou Malnati’s set up shop at the Taste of Chicago in booth #32. Each pizza sliced and served was handmade on-site and cooked in one of the 24 pizza ovens we had set up. Alongside our traditional deep dish pizza, we also served our delicious bruschetta and Malnati salad. After serving up over 60,000 slices of cheese and sausage pizza, we felt we were ready to take on the Porsche Club of America’s Annual Porsche Parade welcoming party.

The Porsche Club of America’s Annual Porsche Parade was held in St. Charles this year and Lou Malnati’s was on hand to provide some Chicago-style tastes. Held at the DuPage Airport alongside vintage Porsches and antique aircrafts, we offered a mini Taste of Chicago menu for the Club members to give them a special Chicago welcoming. Nothing says Chicago like deep dish pizza from Lou Malnati’s! Parade is the Porsche Club’s annual national convention and their biggest event of the year. In line with this year’s theme, Cars, Planes and Kids, proceeds from the silent and live auctions benefited the Hope Children’s Hospital, a large cardiac children’s center right here in the Midwest.

Our summer doesn’t stop here though. Lou’s is headed to Lollapalooza the first weekend in August! Oh, how we love the dog-days of summer!

Posted By Lou Malnati's At 2:29 PM • Comments (0)

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