The aroma of freshly baked pizza filled the air at the AgriCenter International recently as Memphis celebrated its inaugural Pizza Festival.
Originally set to feature 22 pizzerias, the event saw 17 local pizza makers showcasing their unique talents to an enthusiastic crowd on a hot Sept. 21 afternoon.
“This is the inaugural Memphis Pizza Festival. It’s a culmination of a lot of work from a lot of people in the community,” said event promoter Darryl Parker. “We are bringing together about 20 different pizza makers who are making pizza fresh on site at the AgriCenter. Your ticket gets you unlimited samples of pizza. There’s also live music, live bands, and a whole bunch of fun stuff inside.”
In addition to the mouth-watering pizza offerings, the festival featured live entertainment from various musical artists, creating a vibrant atmosphere for attendees. Local businesses and vendors also participated, adding to the diversity of the event.
The festival hosted two insightful panel discussions. The first, “How Pizza Came to Memphis,” featured esteemed local restaurateurs Jerry Coletta of Coletta’s Restaurant, David Grisanti of Ronnie Grisanti’s Italian Restaurant, and Miles Tamboli of Tamboli’s Pasta & Pizza.
All three agreed: The Coletta Family is responsible for bringing pizza to Memphis.
Jerry Coletta recounted how sailors from a local navy base began requesting pizza—a dish unfamiliar to Memphis at the time. To meet this demand, his grandfather, Emil Coletta, sent his father, Horest Coletta, to Chicago in the early 1950s to learn the art of pizza making.
Upon his return, they introduced pizza to their restaurant with a Southern twist by topping it with barbecue, a classic Memphis staple, to appeal to local tastes. The barbecue pizza quickly became a best-seller and was even one of Elvis Presley’s favorite foods. Today, it remains one of their signature items.
The second panel, “Knead to Know: Tips of Artisan Breadmaking,” showcased local breadmakers Josh Steiner and Danny Blanchard. They provided valuable tips and techniques on artisan breadmaking, engaging the audience with their expertise and passion for the craft.
Local pizzerias expressed their gratitude for being invited to the festival. “Man, we’re out here today to let Memphis get a taste of Slice of Soul,” said a representative from Slice of Soul. “The first inaugural pizza festival we were invited to, so we’re just trying to show the Memphis area what we have to offer.”
While the festival planned to announce a People’s Choice Award, technical difficulties prevented the voting from proceeding as intended. However, online voting is now underway, and results will be announced soon. Attendees are encouraged to participate and support their favorite local pizzerias.
The festival not only celebrated the city’s culinary talents but also fostered a sense of community among local businesses and residents. Attendees enjoyed unlimited pizza samples, live music, engaging panel discussions, and the opportunity to connect with the people behind their favorite pizzerias.
The success of the inaugural Memphis Pizza Festival hints at a promising future for the event. As Memphis continues to embrace its local artisans and businesses, festivals like this play a crucial role in highlighting the rich culture and flavors the city has to offer.
