No pizza restaurant has ever earned a Michelin star. And as PMQ Pizza has previously reported, it’s a bit of a sore point for independent operators.
Apparently, executives at Papa Johns feel the same.
Or maybe they’re pulling our leg.
All we know is, the No. 4 chain says its new Pan Pizza deserves consideration for the honor. According to a press release, “Papa Johns is leading the charge to become the first” Michelin-starred pizza establishment.
“This is a love letter to a food that has shaped moments and memories for decades,” said Jenna Bromberg, the brand’s chief marketing officer. “That’s why we’re putting our Pan Pizza front and center. If any QSR pizza belongs in a Michelin-level conversation, it’s this one. Years in the making, our Pan Pizza was built to impress.”
Starting a conversation about the new pizza offering itself—not so much winning a Michelin star—is probably what this initiative is really about. Nevertheless, Papa Johns makes its case by pointing to the specialty pie’s garlic Parmesan crust, six-cheese blend (mozzarella, provolone, fontina, asiago, Parmesan and Roman) and “fragrant Italian seasoning.” Moreover, the chain says it has demonstrated “mastery of technique” through “years of testing, iterating, proofing and perfecting for that crispy edge and cloud-soft center.”
To kick off the Michelin bid, Papa Johns will transform a Manhattan location into “one of the hardest-to-book dining rooms in New York” on Thursday, February 19. The reservation-only dining experience will feature a three-course, chef-curated menu built around the new Pan Pizza; Pepsi pairing flights led by a “soda sommelier” to “intensify, brighten and complement the flavors”; and an “elevated, softly lit atmosphere crafted to showcase the artistry behind every slice.”
For a little added context: While no pizzeria has ever earned a Michelin star, about 60 have been listed in the influential Michelin Guide, and 36 have earned the guide’s Bib Gourmand Award for “exceptionally good food at moderate prices.”
The latter list includes legendary East and West Coast shops like Una Pizza Napoletana, Roberta’s and Speedy Romeo in New York City; Del Rossi’s, Pizzeria Beddia and Angelo’s in Philadelphia; and Pizzeria Mozza, Pizzana, Quarter Sheets and Grá in Los Angeles. Representing the Deep South are pizzerias like Antico Pizza Napoletana in Atlanta; Pizza Grace in Birmingham; and Hog & Hominy in Memphis, among others.
