Partner Spotlight: Bookies Pizza
I mean, who doesn’t love a summertime take-out lunch on the beach? There’s nothing quite like a fresh farm to table pizza to make your afternoon 10x better. That’s why we’re pumped to begin a new partnership with Bookies Pizza in Santa Cruz!
Sourcing all their ingredients from a small handful of local farms, fisherman, and foragers, Bookies has turned an ordinary weekend staple into something quite extraordinary. Their head chef Todd came from a background of fine dining and world-class kitchens, so cooking seasonally is the only way he knows. Thanks to the pandemic, the uncertainty of the future and restaurant industry pushed Todd to take the jump and start a pizza pop-up. But not just any pizza…
“’I’m using the ethos and philosophy that I used in the fancy restaurants but I'm putting it on bread and calling it pizza.” Now, the specialty sauces, quality produce, and hand-crafted bread is something that is more accessible and relatable to the general public. The ingredients aren’t too different from expensive Michelin star restaurants, but they’re put together in a way that people know and love- PIZZA!
“Fine dining is fun but it's more fulfilling for me to serve a product available to a wider audience. I love getting to have an open kitchen window to pick up food and get to know the people I’m selling to.” Bookies, unsurprisingly, quickly became popular and has grown from a once a week pop-up to a full time restaurant, serving both take out and sit down customers. They’re located in a top ranked brewery, Sante Adairius in Santa Cruz, so now fabulous food can have a fabulous drink to go along with it.
Delicious pizza dough prep!
The “in-authentic Detroit style” pizza is Bookies’ claim to fame. It’s recognizable as a Detroit style but it’s got a few twists that would make hard core Detroit pizza fans raise an eyebrow. One of those differences is the 48-hour naturally leavened sourdough bread they use. Thick like a deep dish and crusted with craft cheeses, this bread is kind of like a focaccia. Okay, I’m sure you’re getting hungry now.
We’re proud to have a S&P ingredient in nearly 75% of Bookies menu items. It’s rad restaurants like these that keep us moving along (and licking our lips while we’re at it). Next time you’re at the coast, be sure to put an order with these friends. You will not regret it!
