It's All About The Dough

A-Town is the name, Neapolitan is the game. At this Denver destination, fresh is the first ingredient - and quality is key. 

A smoked-wood aroma fills the walls of this Aurora hotspot, where the crust is crispy and the beer is Colorado craft. A 5,000-pound, Italian-made Stefano Ferrara oven is the focal point of the space, where A-Town’s 12” pies are baked in less than two minutes – and in a scorching 700 degrees. 

It’s “pizza born from fire,” alright. And customers are lovin’ it.

One Yelp reviewer couldn’t have put it better: "I went here on a first date today... I really liked A-Town, maybe even more than the guy.”

The secret to A-Town’s sizzling success is in the dough, prepared in-house daily and made from aged Italian flour. The addition of Sweet San Marzano tomatoes and hand-stretched mozzarella doesn’t hurt, either. ☺ 

Like their wood-fired pizza, A-Town’s menu is anything but ordinary. Kick off the night with an order of A-Town poppers: light and airy dough balls stuffed with pancetta, jalapeños, cream cheese and garlic oil. 

For the main course, “Gray Grandma,” “Bix Tex” and “Maui Wowi” are just a few of their signature pies (they have over 30!), with “The Bookie” being a fan-favorite. Topped with olive oil, garlic, mozzarella, onion, artichoke, green olives and prosciutto, word is that this best-seller is named after the A-Town accountant. In fact, we’d even bet you on it. 

In the mood for a sweet treat? A-Town’s “Hailey Girl” hits the spot. You just can’t go wrong with toasted pizza crust filled with honey and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. And, for all you nutella lovers, the Nutty Isaac can't be beat. Gotta love that hazelnut goodness! 

To say we’re flattered to call A-Town GreenBox users is an understatement (just look at that custom box!). It’s been about a week since we've officially welcomed them as members of the GreenBox family, but we are already proud to call them friends. 

Let's all get down with A-Town!

“Skinny” Pizza, Big Flavor

They’re a trendy spot with a catchy name and fervor for freshness, and boy have we got the Skinny.

“Real pizza, real thin...and real darn good.” SkinnyPizza Founder and Owner Joe Vetrano said it best, and fans of this modern-style pizzeria simply couldn’t agree more. In a sprawling sea of over 2,000 NYC pizzerias, Skinny’s a standout. 

New York pizza with a twist, Skinny is best known for their light & airy crust, and as one Yelp reviewer put it: “straight yumminess.” They’ve got a topping selection like we’ve never seen (truffle oil, anyone?), and a passion that’s unparalleled. They call it “pure goodness,” a commitment to creating guilt-free, great-tasting pie that keeps customers coming back for more.

And you know what? It works for us every time.

Skinny’s sauce is made with organic tomatoes, their cheese is all-natural and their toppings are hormone, nitrate and nitrite-free. Even their crust is made without preservatives or additives. Farm-to-table lovers, rejoice! 

Their signature SkinnyArugula is a GreenBox team favorite, made with fresh mozzarella, garlic, baby arugula, scallions, tomatoes and balsamic. And the kicker? Each delectable slice is just 150 calories. We’ve got these guys on speed-dial, and our beach-bod is lovin’ it. 

But Skinny is so much more than just a top-notch pizza spot. Since their opening in 2011, Skinny’s believed in our product – partnering with us from the very beginning, and sending GreenBox love every step of the way. Today, they’ve gone custom, which for Joe Vetrano was the “natural next step.” 

We think the new look is pure greatness. ☺

Skinny, we’re lucky to call you friends, family members & the coolest CNBC costars around. Now, can we place our order? 

A Pizza the Heartland

You bring the plates, we've got the pizza. Simple as that. 

That's the motto of the "Pizza Farm": the newest trend emerging out of America's Heartland. It's all the rage in the farm-to-table movement, and we hope it's here to stay. 

The Pizza Farm is a concept that's sprouting up across our nation, but it's roots stem from small, family-owned farms along the Mississippi. Leave it to the good 'ol Midwesterners of Wisconsin and Minnesota to create a one-of-a-kind experience that's tough to top: fresh-baked pizza layered with local ingredients, served on an idyllic farm setting. 

Grab a few friends, a bottle of wine & your appetite, and you've got yourself an unforgettable dining adventure. We like to call it "farm-to-blanket."

Just an hour south of Minneapolis, you'll find Red Barn Farm, where every Wednesday night from the late spring through the early fall, locals gather for "pizza night." The Sour Pig topped with farm-grown onions, crunchy sauerkraut and local sausage is a fan-favorite, best enjoyed with live musicians strumming their guitars in the background. Most nights, the Winter family serves over 200 pizzas - each topped with tomatoes, roasted garlic and basil harvested just feet away. 

There's nothing else quite like it. 

At Wisconsin's Suncrest Gardens Farm, guests enjoy their wood-fired pizza among the picturesque gardens and friendly farm animals, where games for the kids and sunset campfires are a highlight. From July to August, guests rave about Suncrest's "Fiesta," a seasonal pie topped with creamy cilantro lime sauce, mozzarella, salsa, fiesta chicken and sweet corn. Don't forget to stay for dessert, where freezie pops, fresh-baked cookies and you guessed it - campfire s'mores are on the menu.

At most pizza farms, diners bring along their own plates and silverware, but we're counting on the day when the GreenBox will become a Pizza Farm staple, and we can be part of the freshest pizza around, at the loveliest spot in town. 

Heather Secrist, owner of Suncrest Gardens Farm said something that'll stick with us: "The experience of eating outdoors on our farm among our gardens in the valley is just as important as the food itself." 

 Now, ain't that the truth?

Like A Virgil

One square, two square, three square, four. At Virgil’s Plate, there’s always more, more, more.

When it comes to pepperoni, bacon, and a whole lotta roasted veggies, you’ve got yourself some big decisions to make. Pizza problems? Virgil’s “select-a-slice” has you covered. It’s where you top by the square, and there’s no need to compare. ☺

Cheesy rhymes aside, where else can you grab a 12-cut pizza, topped 12 different ways? Virgil’s owner, Gary Fleming, calls it “Peaceful Pizza” - and amongst the kicking and screaming over sausage or extra cheese here at GreenBox, we’d love to get our hands on one. 

But Virgil’s is so much more than Erie’s #1 referee. Known around town for their rich & buttery house-baked dough and perfectly seasoned sauce, they’ve stolen the hearts of locals and visitors alike. There are no freezers or fryers to be had within Virgil’s walls, as the place prides itself on simply fresh and flavorful ingredients from start to finish. (And when we say “finish,” we mean you best be taking home a bag full of their homemade pepperoni balls. They’re not to be missed.)

A fan favorite has to be their “Happy Wife” – a crispy crust topped with fresh spinach, sausage, tomatoes, red onions and ricotta cheese. Happy wife, happy life!

Not only are they the official inventors of what we deem the “perfect pizza,” Virgil’s has love for the Earth, too. There are no plastic bags or Styrofoam allowed, and bottled water has been officially kicked to the curb. Aside from making delicious pie, it’s Virgil’s goal to operate as eco-friendly as possible. The GreenBox seemed like the perfect fit – and their customers agree. We’re delighted. 

As Gary told our team, “Like you, we’re doing something different within an industry that’s been largely the same.” Could we ever ask for more?

GreenBox Spotlight: Upper Crust Pizzeria

Authentic Italian cheese, farm-to-table toppings and vine-ripened tomatoes fresh-picked from sunny California.

…Sounds like a darn good pizza to me.

Since 2001, Boston’s Upper Crust Pizza has been making waves throughout Beantown. With roots in historic Beacon Hill, their concept is simple: fresh, unexpected, flavorful and always extraordinary. So extraordinary, in fact, that they’ve opened up 5 other locations within the city.

You can take our word for it, or you can stop by for a slice of their “Patata Rosa”: a white pizza loaded with rosemary, garlic, roasted red bliss potatoes, caramelized onions & fontina cheese. Another fan favorite is “The Uncommon”: a mouth-watering mix of bacon, chopped pineapple & jalapeno.

Upper Crust is known for their one-of a-kind combinations that change daily (stop in tomorrow for hamburger, bell peppers & onions, or this Saturday for steak & gorgonzola).  Better yet, check out – and print out – their “slice of the day” calendar. We have it bookmarked.

Just this week, our very own Jennifer Wright made her way up to Boston and had the pleasure of tasting (ok, inhaling) Upper Crust’s “slice of the day” – a thin-crusted pizza topped with a yummy mix of crunchy bacon and roasted potatoes. She was beaming about the friendly staff, too.

We’re jealous, so the rest of us are already planning a road trip to test out July’s pizza of the month: topped with diced tomatoes, feta cheese, roasted red peppers and homemade hummus, it’s got stomachs rumbling all over GreenBox offices.

Bottom line? We’re proud to have the GreenBox make its way up the East Coast, but even more thrilled to be part of such a well-loved Boston staple. You heard it here, folks…Upper Crust, you’re a must. 

GreenBox Spotlight: JWG

Jackson, Wyoming just got a “whole” lot cooler.

Family-owned, passionate, and full of heart…Jackson Whole Grocer is setting the standard for what “food shopping” should be.

With an emphasis on sustainable, local produce, JWG has become a staple of the Jackson community – a thriving town square with so much more than what’s on your shopping list.

From regional craft beers on tap to a wood-fired pizzeria, you’re invited to stay a while, and a seat beside the fireplace is the best in the house. They’ve got a juice & smoothie bar, too – best enjoyed on the sun-drenched patio. Top it off with a sushi station & taco taqueria, and we’re bringing our sleeping bags.

….And yes, they love the Earth. What more could you want in your go-to grocer?

In fact, JWG recently relocated to a 40,000 square foot spot – and the space is chock full of eco-friendly goodness. The ceilings are dotted with LED lighting, walls decorated with upcycled snow fencing and the café is covered in reclaimed furniture. They’ve even earned EPA’s “GreenChill” certification for their use of green refrigeration systems.

We just love these guys. Their custom GreenBox is pretty cool, too. ;)

 

 

So, if you’re ever in Jackson, stop by JWG – and maybe even “Build your own sixer.”

Because once you go whole, you’ll never go half.

GreenBox Spotlight: Chef Jeff & Skinny Pines

We love our pizza all sorts of ways: Deep-dish, New York-style, Sicilian…even Grandma-style slices (aka Nonna Pizza. We’re serious).

But today, we’re putting the spotlight on our new number one: Skinny.

Actually, their official name is Skinny Pines Brick Oven Caterer, and they’re just too cool not to blog about.  Based out of Fairfield County, CT, “From farm to pizza” is their name, and a mobile trailer (with a custom built wood-fire oven) is their game.

That’s right – Skinny Pines is a self-proclaimed mobile caterer, jumping around from one local farmer’s market to the next, tossing Neapolitan-style pizzas with the freshest ingredients possible. When catering an event, Chef Jeff & his team bring along seasonal toppings that they’ve sourced locally; in other words, no two pizzas are exactly alike – and always guaranteed delicious.

Their “Bianca” is a customer favorite: a white pizza with 50/50 mozzarella & provolone, local rosemary from Sport Hill Farm, oil-cured Taggiasca olives & extra virgin olive oil. The “Grande” is a Skinny Pines original – a combination of shitake mushroom, bacon, onion, sage & mozzarella. Hungry yet?

Of course, Skinny Pines are loyal users of the GreenBox, and we couldn’t be prouder to have them on our roster. They consider sustainability in every aspect of their business – from their biodegradable cups & plates to their environmentally-friendly wood-burning oven.

In the end, it all comes down to passion. Passion for pizza, the land, and the people. Skinny Pines… you’ve got our hearts.

To get your paws on some Skinny, head on over to their Facebook and Twitter pages. They’ll be delighted to have you.