In response to the devastating earthquake in Haiti, employees of Lou Malnati’s were given the opportunity to make a donation out of their paycheck.  Malnati employees contributed more than $6,000 to relief efforts.  In addition, the company matched that amount, and contributed a total donation to the Red Cross of $12,600.

This is not the first time Lou Malnati’s employees have generously made donations to people in need.  In 2005 employees donated more than $13,000 to aide the Tsunami victims in Southeast Asia, and those devastated by Hurricane Katrina.  In 2001 employees donated more than $10,000 to the American Red Cross to the relief efforts of 9-11.  In all cases the company was proud to match employee donations dollar for dollar.  We would like to recognize and thank all of the employees who reached into their hearts to help those in need.

Lou Malnati’s pulled together its staff and managers from 17 of its Chicagoland pizzerias to make a large delivery to Willow Creek Church this past fall.  In October, Lou’s delivered 18,400 slices of deep dish pizza to Willow Creek on the Sunday of their anniversary celebration.  All 4,501 pizzas needed to be delivered at the same time to feed their hungry congregation who were eating together.

We delivered 6,800 slices of pizza on the Saturday of their anniversary, and then rose to the occasion again in December when they asked for 9,000 slices of deep dish pizza to be delivered – again all at the same time.  Nineteen of Lou’s locations pulled together to meet this task, delivering hot, fresh pizza on time to Willow Creek Church. (See photos below, courtesy of Willow Creek Church)

“It was a company record for a one-time delivery, and I am proud of the effort and teamwork of our crew to deliver this many pizzas, all at one time, with the same quality and service as we would deliver one pizza to a family who lives down the street from our pizzeria,” said Marc Malnati, owner.

Enjoy an annual tradition and bring in the New Year (early) with your family at one of Lou Malnati’s full-service restaurants.  The Lincolnwood, Lakewood, Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove, Schaumburg and Naperville pizzerias are hosting a family celebration, including pizza, soda, a mock count down, sparkling cider toast and a balloon drop. 

Each store has two seatings (around 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm, but times vary at each location), and reservations are required.  Please call the restaurant directly for specific times and to make your reservations and place your order.  Carryout and delivery are available on New Year’s Eve until 9 pm at these locations.

Lou’s pizzerias will be closed on Christmas Day, but open on New Year’s Day.  Happy Holiday’s from Lou Malnati’s. 

Lou Malnati’s will host its 39th annual cancer benefit on Monday, October 19th, 2009.  This year, Lou Malnati’s will partner with The Second City to provide the entertainment for the evening, and the performance will feature Chicago Blackhawks right wing Adam Burish.  The event will be held under a tent at Lou Malnati’s corporate office, 3685 Woodhead Dr., Northbrook, IL. 

Tickets cost $150 each, and only a limited number of tickets will be sold.  Tickets are currently still available.  The doors open at 6:00 pm, and tickets include food, drink and the performance.  The Second City show starts at 8:30 pm.  To purchase tickets, please go to www.events.org/lmcb2009, or visit www.lmcb.org for additional information.  A live and silent auction will also be part of the evening, and will include great items such as premium sports tickets, a package to the Bears game in San Francisco including air and hotel, a puck-shooting opportunity at a Blackhawks game including great seats and a signed jersey, and a Cubs batboy/girl package that includes tickets and an opportunity for the winning child to sit in the Cubs dugout during batting practice.

All proceeds benefit cancer research and treatment programs at Northwestern Memorial hospital, Gilda’s Club of Chicago, and Children’s Memorial Hospital.  Lou Malnati’s cancer research fund has donated more than $3 million to these causes over the last few decades, and is proud to continue their support of these important programs.

Lou Malnati’s is not only famous in Chicago, but also across the country and in other countries!  Lou’s recently traveled to Belfast, Ireland to participate in the first annual Belfast Taste and Music Fest.  This four day fest took place in August, and some of the finest chefs in Chicago (including Lou’s own Jim Freeland) and Northern Ireland prepared their specialties in a unique international culinary partnership.  This event was inspired by Chicago’s own Taste of Chicago – which made Lou’s a perfect fit for the summer event.

And just this week, Lou’s traveled to Santa Monica, CA to prepare its legendary pizza for L.A.’s famous Chicago transplants and local guests.  We were part of an event hosted by Lettuce Entertain You Enterprise’s new concept, La Grande Orange restaurant in Santa Monica.  In this case, we trucked all our ingredients to California to ensure an authentic experience.  For those from Chicago, they were thrilled to get a taste of home – for others, they were thrilled to get a taste of Chicago!

How often have you heard that the way you live your life has an impact on the way others will live theirs?  It never seems like there is enough time to do all the good we think we should do.  What if there were a place that told you what to give, when and how to give it?  Would that move you to be more involved?  To do that thing that will make you feel like a million bucks and change a person’s life?

 It starts with building a team; forming an alliance with those who have similar interests and passions.  Missed opportunities become reachable goals when we surround ourselves with those who are better than ourselves. We can find information all over the internet that will guide us to doing that one thing that may galvanize and inspire us to become that one missing link in a world of fractured parts.

 It’s hard to comprehend that one thought, idea or person can change a life.  But there you have it; all of us have what it takes to change the world.  What are you willing to do to get started?

Thanks to all our loyal customers who helped us determine what new food items will be part of our new menu, which will be rolling out soon.  After conducting a few “tastings”, our customers weighed in and you will find BuffaLou wings, caprese pizza appetizer, and brownie sundae on the new menu.  In addition, the bruschetta, Italian beef sandwich and some of our pastas are newly enhanced.

These items are currently available in all our full service restaurants, although not yet on the menu.  The new menu, complete with a new design (and no price increases on pizza!), is heading to the printer next week, so keep your eye out for it.  We’d love to hear your feedback on the new food items and the new design.  Blog reviews on the items coming soon, so we’ll include some of your comments.

Did you know that Lou Malnati’s caters?  We learned from the best, Mamma Malnati herself, and we’ve taken all her old-world favorite recipes to deliver to you.   Whether it is a gathering in your home with 10 guests, or a party with 100 guests, Lou Malnati’s catering is easy and affordable. 

Every item we cater is made fresh daily – so it is right from Mamma’s kitchen to yours!  Our friendly catering staff will help you plan a menu customized to your budget and tastes.  Of course you can get our famous deep dish pizza, but we also offer a variety of pastas, salads, sandwiches and desserts.

Lou’s Crew will be visiting all 30 locations in the near future to provide samples to our customers.  Watch for information on when we’ll be at your favorite pizzeria.  And for more information, call 847-562-1918 or visit us as www.mammamalnatis.com. 

Lou Malnati's will again offer its authentic Chicago-style deep-dish pizza hot and fresh at this year’s Taste of Chicago.  As one of the few vendors that actually produce the product at the festival, the production alone is worth seeing.  Each pizza is handmade at the Taste, and loaded into one of the 24 pizza ovens set up in Lou Malnati's custom-designed tent located at Booth 30.

The Taste of Chicago festival features the best Chicago offers, and Lou Malnati's is proud to be an annual participant.  Last year, visitors to the festival ate more than 60,000 slices of Lou Malnati’s famous sausage and cheese pizzas.  This year, in addition to the pizza, other signature items such as Lou’s bruschetta and the Malnati chopped salad are also available at the Taste of Chicago festival.   

Join Lou Malnati's at the Taste of Chicago located in Grant Park on the lakefront for our fabulous pizza and a great view of Chicago’s skyline.  It’s well worth the trip, but if you can’t make it, you can experience our full menu at one of the 30 restaurants or carry out stores located across Chicago and the suburbs.

Celebrate Father’s Day at Lou Malnati’s, and we’ll treat him to a personal-size order of our NEW BuffaLou Wings!  If you dine-in at our Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove, Lakewood, Lincolnwood, Naperville, Schaumburg, River North or South Loop restaurant, Dad will get to indulge in these oven-roasted and then fried Buffalo style wings.  They are tossed in our homemade sauce, which has just the right amount of “giddy up”.

Offer is valid today only at these participating restaurants, and is good for dine-in only.  So bring Dad in today, and celebrate Lou’s style!  Happy Father’s Day…..

Thank you to all our customers and staff who participated in our Green T t-shirt contest.  We had more than 3,000 people vote for their favorite design.  Design #1 won; congratulations to Marie Brender, a 15-year employee from our Schaumburg restaurant.  For a complete list of designers, and to view the winning design, visit http://www.loumalnatis.com/interact/tshirt_designs.aspx.  Or, visit us at the Taste of Chicago (booth #30) to see them in person!  The 10 randomly selected winners have been contacted via email.  Thank you for voting!

Our green goal deadline is quickly approaching.  By July 1 we hope to have all our locations involved in a recycling program.  For some locations this is more difficult than others, but our staff is committed.  We even have some managers taking home the recyclable materials from their pizzerias and putting it in their personal recycle bins.  That’s dedication to a goal! 

Lou Malnati’s is making every effort to be more “green.”  Our goal is to have a recycling program for glass, aluminum, corrugated and paper in place for all our pizzerias by July 1, 2009.  We are also working toward making our pizza boxes and carryout containers reusable or bio-degradable, and using recycled materials for our other paper products.  We have invested in staff training and education so we can be a leader among ecologically-minded businesses.

 Please help us spread the word by participating in our Green-T t-shirt contest.  Lou’s crew created designs for t-shirts to be worn at the Taste of Chicago booth and in our restaurants.  Help us pick the best one.  We’ve narrowed it down to three finalists.  Please cast your vote for your favorite design.  Ballots close Sunday, June 7th at midnight, so don’t delay – voice your opinion now!  http://www.loumalnatis.com/interact/tshirt_designs.aspx

 Ten survey respondents will be selected at random to win one of the new shirts.  Please include your name and email address.  Winners will be notified by email on or before June 19, 2009.  Once entry per person, please.

Our deep dish pizza hasn’t changed, but the look of our Northbrook pizzeria has!  The store has been expanded to serve you better, and there are now two convenient entrances.  Customers can either enter from the front off of Shermer Rd., or from the back parking lot off of Meadow. 

The Northbrook Lou’s will be having an open house, with food samples and a tour of the kitchen (by request, please ask for a manager) Wednesday, May 13 from 6-8 pm.  Stop by and see the store’s new theme, and sample our new and improved fresh bruschetta. 

The address for the Northbrook location is now 1326 Shermer Rd, just one door south of the previous entrance.  We hope to see you there!

As Mother’s Day approaches I am thinking of what the perfect gift would be.  Flowers?  A box of candy?  A tasty Lou Malnati’s Tastes of Chicago package? What would my mom like?    Then I started to think about spending the day with my mom.  I mean really spending the day with her; asking her the questions I wonder about but have never had the courage to ask.  I think about the life choices she has made, which ones she is proud of and which she regrets.  I wonder how I am different from her, and how I am the same.  How does she see me as a mother.

I wonder about Mamma Malnati and the life choices she made.  Why is she still involved in the family business?  Why does she still come to the office every day? Why is she involved in the company’s new catering venture, “Mamma Malnati’s Catering” at this stage of her life?  (Stay tuned for more details on this.) What does Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria mean to her in three words or less?

So many questions to ponder.   So many questions to ask.  I encourage you to sit down with your mom this Mother’s Day and really get to know her and ask the questions you wonder about but have never asked.  You may learn more about your mom and you may learn even more about yourself.

The last time you stopped to think about your life’s journey, where were you?  Have you met your goals and are comfortable with where the journey has taken you?  Or are you complacent and perfectly happy barely getting by?   Does your career give you the utmost satisfaction?  Do you continue to strive to be your best every day and expect more of yourself than others do of you?

You have choices and decisions to make on which paths to take during your journey.  You can stretch for the stars and be constantly motivated, or sit back and be constantly unfulfilled.  As you’re contemplating your journey, take time to stop and enjoy some pizza -- at least your taste buds will reach the level of ecstasy so many of us strive for.

Lou Malnati’s is authentic, Chicago-style pizza, and most people come to Lou’s to satisfy their craving for our fresh gooey mozzarella cheese, sweet tangy tomatoes, and flaky buttery crust.  But we also want to offer great tasting items to go along with the pizza.  We have amazing salads with unique dressings, filling pastas, and a variety of wonderful appetizers.  Now we are looking to make some changes and additions to our menu.

We have invited some of our loyal customers who are enrolled in the Deep Dish Dough program to come out during a few nights in April to select restaurants and taste these new or improved items.   Once we have their feedback, we will decide if they are good enough to make the new menu, need some adjustments, or just don’t cut it.  But, our loyal fans will help us make this decision.

Stay tuned to see what new items make the cut.