Pizza Geeks, an independent pizzeria group well known throughout Edinburgh for its ‘Pizza for the People’ initiative, is celebrating its 10th year anniversary this month.
To mark the occasion, it is introducing a new menu and concept across all its established locations – in Haymarket, Easter Road and Leith – plus its latest spot amongst the St James street food units on Little King Street.
Pizza Geeks’ key menu change is the introduction of a new dough recipe, with a 72-hour fermentation using an Italian-style biga pre-ferment and a 66% hydration dough.
This new recipe will, said Pizza Geeks, enhance the flavour, giving the pizzas a ‘light airy crust with a crisp finish’ improving their overall quality, reinforcing the group’s move into artisan pizza territory.
The first menu based on this new dough features five brand new, geekily-themed pizzas – The White Walker, Spongebob, Prince of Persia, Bowzer and BA Burrata.
And, in an equally geeky choice of date, the group’s next Pizza for the People donation day will once again be on May the Fourth, when it aims to feed 1000 people across the city, with a focus on ‘supporting those who need it most’.
For that effort, the team plan to set up two street food units at The Western General Hospital and the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, where they will distribute free pizzas directly to NHS staff, local organisations, and people in need.
Since first launching Pizza for the People in 2019, Pizza Geeks has made community support a core part of its business, and has donated over 65,000 pizzas to charities, community groups and those in need across Edinburgh.
It has also raised over £200,000 supporting fundraising initiatives, including charity events, auctions, voucher donations and ongoing food support. What started as a small initiative has grown into what it now describes as a ‘significant, ongoing commitment’.
Founder of Pizza Geeks, Patrick Ward, said: “At Pizza Geeks, we believe in the power of community and the importance of giving back. Our Pizza for the People initiative has been at the heart of our mission since day one.
“By working closely with local charities and organisations, we strive to ensure that no one in our community goes hungry. This will always be at the core of what we do, and our 10-year anniversary is a celebration and just another reason for us to support those in need more than ever before.”
One of the charities that has benefitted from Pizza for the People is Street Soccer Scotland, where a spokesperson said: “Street Soccer Scotland are very grateful for the ongoing support over many years from Pizza Geeks in providing weekly pizzas for our Thursday sessions in Leith, it’s a great chance for players at our youth sessions, volunteers and youth workers to eat together and socialise after playing football.
“We have also been delighted to benefit from the May the 4th be with you pizza giveaway every year. Big thanks to everyone at Pizza Geeks.”
Hibs Community Foundation & Hibs Community Club commented: “Pizza Geeks have been an incredible support. Regardless of our needs or requests the team have gone above and beyond to support our organisation and the local community.
“Delicious food / pizzas, a great team and a fantastic service. With aligned values around supporting local and connecting with the community, we have built a fantastic relationship which we hope to continue and grow for years to come.”
