Caliente Pizza & Draft House’s inaugural customer pizza-making contest resulted in a Crafton-area concoction on the menu and some charitable donations.

Caliente Owner Nick Bogacz said 18 contestants vied for a chance at free pizza for a year, a trophy and to have his or her pie on Caliente’s menu for two months. A dollar from its proceeds would go to a charity of the winner’s choice, and $1 would go to the Ryan Shazier Fund for Spinal Rehabilitation.

The contest began in May.

“Any time that we try to do something, we always think of the community first because the community supports us so much,” Bogacz said. “We wanted to think of a way we could give back, and what a better way than to work with Ryan’s foundation that’s done some incredible work and continues to do incredible work? We thought how neat would it be to have the customer pick their favorite organization as well.”

Former Steelers’ linebacker Ryan Shazier was one of four judges for the finals taste test on June 21.

“These pizzas and what the foundation does is going to be able to help so many people overcome like I was able to,” Shazier said. “It just means so much, so I just want to say thank you Caliente for being a part of that.”

Shazier sustained a severe spinal contusion during a 2017 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. He was paralyzed, and through treatments and perseverance he is able to walk again.

Parker’s Pizza Parma, a pie inspired by 3-year-old Parker Thompson of the Crafton area, earned top honors.

It features mozzarella sticks, chicken tenders, parmesan cheese and pizza sauce.

Parker’s father, Zachary Thompson, said the ingredients are all his son’s favorites.

“It’s just been an awesome experience tonight,” Thompson said the day of the contest. “It’s real fun. We had a blast doing it. I told (Parker) coming in to it we were going to come in here and have fun, and that’s what we did.”

He said his younger son had to be treated at West Penn Hospital, and the family wanted to contribute to a cause that helps sick children. Thompson chose St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as his charity.

Caliente has won multiple awards over the years including its “Mee-Maw” pizza being named “Best Pizza in America” in the 2019 Pizza World Championships in Italy.

“We’re known internationally for being able to compete at these competitions, and not just compete but win,” Bogacz said. “We thought how cool would it be in the City of Champions to bring the first pizza competition here to our customers, and a special occasion, too, to celebrate our 10th anniversary.”

Caliente was founded in 2012 in Bloomfield.

More information about Shazier’s charity is available at ryanshazierfund.org.

More information about St. Jude’s is available at stjude.org.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect that Thompson’s younger son was treated at West Penn Hospital.

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