When it comes to offering diverse menu options, Spinato’s Pizzeria & Family Kitchen team members love to experiment in the Tempe Family Kitchen to create limited-time-only (LTO) pizzas and other dishes. For the past few years, Spinato’s has collaborated with popular pizza and beer influencer Steven Larson, known as The Wizard of Za, @wizard_of_za, and a local brewery to create a delicious LTO pizza and craft beer pairing.
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Now, in honor of Spinato’s 50th Anniversary, Spinato’s has expanded the collaboration to an eight-month “Wizarding World of Za” campaign featuring new pizza and craft beer pairings every two months that are co-created with Spinato family members. The innovative campaign is inspired by the creativity of Harry Potter. Each family member has been paired into a “house” by the Wizard so they can create pizzas that reflect their unique personalities and traits. The Wizard of Za is using his beer knowledge to recommend the best brewery for the pairing.
Limited-time-only pizza creations
The LTO pizza prices range from $11.75 for a personal pizza to $29.75 for a large pizza. Each beer is presented in a 16-ounce can that is available for $8 in-store only. The can designs were created by local artist, Aaron Thomason.
“We love working with Steven, and we’re big advocates of supporting local companies,” says Anthony Spinato, president and CEO of Spinato’s Pizzeria & Family Kitchen. “We’re having a lot of fun with this unique campaign, and it has given us the freedom to flex our creativity and offer innovative pizzas that are not on our regular menu. It also gives us a chance to educate our guests on pairing food and drinks together.”
Arizona breweries provide craft beer pairings
The unique campaign kicked off in May with the “Truffle Puff Pizza,” co-created by Nicole Spinato-Kienlen and The Wizard of Za. Nicole grew up in the family business and now serves as Spinato’s office manager and food and beverage lead. The delectable “Truffle Puff Pizza” features white pesto, mozzarella, lemon ricotta, mushrooms, yellow heirloom tomatoes, truffle oil, and cracked black pepper. The special pizza is paired with Simple Machine Brewing Company’s “Puff the Magic Wizard” white IPA, which features sweet notes of lemon and pineapple along with bitter hops that make for the perfect balance with the savory pizza. Simple Machine Brewing Company is based in north Phoenix. The “Truffle Puff Pizza” is available Through June 30. Get Ready for “The Guancialador Pizza” in July and August.
The magic of Italy is the inspiration for Anthony Spinato’s “The Guancialador Pizza,” which will be available at all Spinato’s restaurants in July and August. Anthony Spinato has fond memories of growing up in the family business with his sister, Nicole. With The Wizard of Za’s help, he created a spicy, smoky pizza, “The Guancialador Pizza,” which features imported guanciale, which is an Italian salt-cured bacon, red onion, Calabrian chili pepper, mozzarella, Pecorino Romano cheese, and Spinato’s signature sauce. The special pizza is paired with 12 West Brewing Co.’s “The Wizard of The West” craft beer, a honey IPA. 12 West Brewing Co. is based in Mesa and just won a gold medal this year for their Zona Pilsner at the World Beer Cup.
Family fun gets the LTO campaign done
Chris Kienlen, Spinato’s catering manager and Nicole’s husband, will introduce “The Slytherwich Mixto Pizza,” a Cubano pizza, also known as a sandwich mixto in Cuba (which means mixed sandwich). The unique pizza will feature a mustard aioli base, ham, pulled pork, mozzarella, house-made pickles, Swiss cheese, and it will be drizzled with house-made green mojo sauce. This innovative, delicious pizza will be paired with a special beer created by Tempe-based Catalyst Crafted Ales. Stay tuned for more details about “The Slytherwich Mixto Pizza,” which will be available in September and October.
The Wizarding World of Za campaign will close out with a LTO pizza and craft beer pairing created by Jaime Spinato, the restaurant’s director of community outreach and brand manager. Jaime, who is Anthony’s wife, is working with The Wizard of Za to determine what kind of pizza to create, and they will be pairing this pie with a newer, Phoenix-based brewer, Roses Under the Stairs. This pairing is still a secret, and it will be available in November and December.
To learn more, visit www.SpinatosPizzeria.com or follow them at @SpinatosPizza.