Day 16, 2019: Champion Pizza (Greenwich Village, NYC)

Exterior

Interior

DAY 16: OCTOBER 16th, 2019

LOCATION: Champion Pizza (2 W 14th St, New York, NY 10011)

GUEST(S): Jun Naito, Lance Kushner

ORDER: 1 slice of Margherita (Fresh Mozzarella and basil), 1/3 of a slice of cheese (mozzarella, homemade marinara sauce), 1/3 of a slice of Pesto Marinara square, 1/3 of a slice of bbq chicken, 1/3 of a slice of mushroom truffle, 1/3 of slice of buffalo chicken

REVIEW: 
A champion of humanity. The owner of Champion Pizza, Hakki Akdeniz, recently made the news for donating pizzas at the memorial for four homeless people murdered in Chinatown. This was not an advertising stunt pulled by a champion pizza acrobat and owner of a rapidly growing New York City Pizzeria chain. This was a heartfelt gesture from someone who has been there and will never forget the struggle that he faced to escape it. Akdeniz came to the United States without his family, a promise of a job, or even place to stay. As an ethnic Kurd from Southeastern Turkey, the mere promise of a better life and some pizza skills were all he had. In the pizza-centric town of New York City, that was enough. His mission ever since is to use what he has to help others in need. Whether that means selling cartoonishly large pizzas to raise money for charity or regularly giving pizza to homeless people directly, Akdeniz's actions back up his words. His reason for expanding Champion pizza is to help more people. For proof of this, look behind the counter where work opportunities are extended to immigrants as a priority. Hakki Akdeniz is more than a 2010 pizza acrobatic champion, he is a beacon of light exemplifying how life should be led. It's nice to know when you purchase a slice at Champion pizza, you're supporting a good cause.



PHOTOS:

pizza options

slice of cheese

Special

Pesto Marinara square

Margherita square

bbq chicken

mushroom truffle

Wall of Hakki Akdeniz pix

Day 16

MISCELLANEOUS:

Sean Taylor, Lance Kushner, and Jun Naito

1. Jun Naito is fostering-to-adopt a cute puppy soon to be named Margaret. It sounds like a pizza but is named after his favorite character in The Crown.

2. Lance Kushner knows how to restring a hoodie.

Sean Taylor, Eric Mangin, and Joy Masters

catching pepperonis

3. Eric Mangin invited me to participate in the Pizza Party Prov at the Tank Theater.  We ate pizza throughout the show, did improv, and played games.  It was a pizza variety show and it was a blast!  Also, I got to eat bonus pizza!

RATING:

 3.06/5

• VALUE:
   2.5/5


• AMBIENCE:
   3/3


• TASTE:
   5.5/10


• SERVICE: N/A

11/18 = .611 x 5 = 3.06