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Sgt. Pepperoni’s Sweeps Best of 2019 Awards

November 23, 2019/0 Comments/in News /by Jill Cook

October 24, 2019 — Sgt. Pepperoni’s took home four wins in the OC Weekly Best of 2019. The most awarded pizzeria in Orange County, the awards spanned both editor’s choice and readers’ choice categories.

Best of 2019 Readers Choice Wins

Best of 2019 It’s no secret that everyone has their own preferences when it comes to pizza. Some swear Chicago style is where it’s at, while others can’t live without thin, floppy Neapolitan slices. With that in mind, our win for Best Pizzeria is that much more meaningful. The people of Orange County collectively named our New York style pizza their favorite- besting every other style (and pizzeria) in the process. We’re honored!

Voters also named Sgt. Pepperoni’s Best Family Friendly Restaurant. Perhaps it’s our giant gumball machine? Or it could be our fun arcade area. Maybe voters love that our pizza is so easy for little hands to grab while the flavors are the sort that adult palates love? Whatever it is, were proud to be considered your top pick for a place to share a meal as a family.

Rounding out our readers’ choice wins is a nod for Best Food Truck. When we launched the Sgt. Pepperoni’s Pizza Truck in early 2019 our goal was simple: take our pizza on the road and offer on location catering to the masses. We’ve loved the reception the Sgt. Truck has received in its first year and have enjoyed serving New York style pizza at breweries, weddings, and more!

Editorial Wins

Finally, Sgt. Pepperoni’s wrapped up the OC Weekly Best of 2019 awards with a win for… Best Munchies Spot?! This one caught us by surprise, but, they’re not wrong. From OC Weekly:

“It’s a classic scenario: You are stoned to the bone, and everything is going good—until that familiar pang forms in the pit of your stomach, telling you it’s time to refuel. The munchies is a side effect that most of us could do without, but to combat it, one spot rules them all with an iron fist. Sgt. Pepperoni’s has been dishing out delicious pies since the mid-1970s, and if we have it our way, it’ll be around long after our doctors put us on a strict diet (noooooooo!). From its ever-popular garlic knots to its signature New York-style slices, Sgt. Pepp’s has something on the menu for even the pickiest of eaters. And make sure you bring along some quarters because you’ll definitely spend a few extra minutes trying to beat the high score on the impossibly difficult Beatles-themed pinball machine.”

A big thank you to everyone who took the time to vote this year. Thanks for telling all of Orange County where the best pizza can be found!

Sgt. Pepperoni’s Donates $7,000 to Julian’s Lego Corner at CHOC

November 6, 2019/in Giving Back /by Jill Cook

Sgt. Pepperoni’s donated $7,000 and numerous LEGO sets to CHOC

November 5, 2019– In honor of September’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Sgt. Pepperoni’s made its annual appeal on behalf of Julian’s Lego Corner. A fund of the CHOC Foundation, Julian’s Lego Corner provides brand new LEGO kits to children battling serious illnesses at Children’s Hospital Orange County.

Throughout the month of September, customers were encouraged to bring new LEGO kits to the Newport Beach pizzeria. Additionally, guests were asked to make cash donations to support the cause. Furthermore, profits from the September Pizza of the Month (the Quattro Formaggi) and the sale of Sweet Things were also added to the donation.

Richard Dunn, Sgt. Pepperoni’s partner Jeff Roberts, Andrea Dunn

“We’re so proud for all that we’ve done for CHOC Hospital” said Sgt. Pepperoni’s partner Jeff Roberts. “A big thank you to everyone who contributed to our annual campaign for Julian’s Lego Corner. We look forward to making it even bigger in 2020, so stay tuned.”

About Julian’s Lego Corner

Julian and his mom Andrea

Julian’s Lego Corner was created to honor the memory of the late Julian Dunn. Dunn, who battled cancer, was a classmate of Roberts’ daughter, Lauren. Throughout Dunn’s treatment at CHOC, he busied himself with LEGO toys. These toys allowed him to spend more time being a child, and less time focused on his medical treatments. Today, CHOC patients with serious illnesses can receive new LEGO kits to play with while they undergo medical care.

On September 10, Sgt. Pepperoni’s played host to a benefit night for the fundraiser. 100% of the profits from 5 PM until 9 PM were donated to the cause. Additionally, proceeds from a raffle and cash donations collected through the evening added to the fund. The event brought community members together to honor Dunn’s memory.

Sweet Things, Sweet Cause

Another addition to the fundraising campaign was the sale of Sweet Things. Sweet Things is a collection of New York style cheesecake, cupcakes, and select treats available at Sgt. Pepperoni’s. These items are available year-round in the grab and go case and by special order. A community service project spearheaded by Lauren and her Pacifica Christian classmates, Sweet Things had its origins as a lemonade stand. At five years old, Lauren and classmates sold lemonade and cotton candy on Balboa to support Julian’s treatment. Over time, the concept evolved into the sale of baked goods on behalf of Julian’s Lego Corner. For more information on Sweet Things, be sure to follow their instagram.

Follow Sweet Things on Instagram for the latest

The 2019 initiative raised $7,000 for Julian’s Lego Corner. The Sgt. Pepperoni’s team joined forces with Andrea Pronk-Dunn, Julian’s mother, for a check presentation on October 9. In addition to the pizzeria’s donation, Lauren’s Sweet Things project presented CHOC with a $500 check. Lauren hopes to raise a total of $5,000 over the next year through the sales of Sweet Things.

Interested in making a donation to Julian’s Lego Corner? Visit the CHOC Foundation Website. Please be sure to mention Julian’s Lego Corner/Sgt. Pepperoni’s when making your donation.

Trevor Wins Bracken’s Kitchen’s Hungry Games

November 6, 2019/in News /by Jill Cook

Trevor takes the win at Bracken’s Kitchen’s Hungry Games

Thursday, September 19, 2019 – Sgt. Pepperoni’s Pizza Store‘s own Trevor Kotchek won the 2019 Hungry Games. A fundraiser for Orange County non-profit organization Bracken’s Kitchen, the event raised money to battle food insecurity in southern California.

Kotchek’s hand-stuffed raviolo was a guest favorite. (Surprisingly, the dish bested entries from Michelin-starred chef Josiah Citrin and local star Jeffrey Boullt.) The pasta was stuffed with lemon ricotta, sausage, mushroom and topped with vodka sauce and fried basil. “The Hungry Games was so much fun,” said Kotchek. “Bracken’s concept of bringing culinary professionals from across southern California together to help end hunger is incredible. I’m proud Sgt. Pepperoni’s is able to support such a noble cause.” Kotchek takes over the title from 2018 champion Jason “Chicken Wing” Montelibano of Chapter One, the Modern Local.

The second annual hungry games raised over $180,000 to further the mission of Bracken’s Kitchen. To learn more about how the organization is fighting hunger in Orange County and beyond, visit their website. Finally, a special thanks to our friends Tyler “Beer Savage” Bochenek for bringing the beer and Blaire Wayland of Emblem Documentaries for capturing the evening!

About Bracken’s Kitchen: Bracken’s Kitchen is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Orange County California. Founded in 2013 our mission is simple: Through food recovery, culinary training and our community feeding program we are committed to recovering, re-purposing and restoring both food and lives.

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