The Dish | Fall Sports & Pizza

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Easy as Pie Make Kicking Off Gameday Chef Talk

Big-play touchdowns that bring us to our feet, huge third-down stops, the tastiest of tailgates — heck yeah, we’re ready for some football.

America’s most popular sport is back with full slates that cover Saturday AND Sunday, all day long. But the fall season offers more than just tackles, changing leaves, and crisp air. Baseball heads into its final stretch, and the playoffs are looming. The most competitive international soccer leagues are back on the pitch.

Students are also back in school, playing their own jam-packed sports schedules, and getting hungry in the process. It’s the time of year that we sports fans need the ultimate fall sports food — hot, cheesy, irresistible slices of pizza.

As the leader in pizza for nearly 70 years, Performance Foodservice brings a fan’s passion to Italian cuisine. We love everything about pizza and pizza restaurants — from unique, family recipes, to the most authentic ingredients, to the smells of the kitchen,

even the ovens and equipment that heat up your amazing pies. Performance is passionate about helping pizzerias achieve success. And we do it, above all, with quality and service.

In this month’s Dish, our team of MVP chefs have crafted four fall pizza recipes, featuring highly sourced seasonal items from our exclusive Italian brands. But we also know that the best Italian meals start with appetizers, like fresh salads, loaded shareables, cheese plates, and pastas — so there are creative options for those as well. We dig even deeper into what our brands can offer with snapshots of Italian sandwiches, wraps, dips, and snacks to grab your guests’ attention and turn them into regulars.

This is the Performance Foodservice kickoff to fall. We’re here to help you bring in the sports crowds with recipes and products that won’t overhaul your menu or stretch your budget. And with other major fall pizza events, like Halloween, in the coming months, we can assist in ramping up takeout and delivery too. Let the pizza games begin!

Get inside our chefs’ minds and find out what inspired their dishes.

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Bases Loaded

Sports fans don’t agree on much — just try to get Packer and Bear fans to agree on anything other than the joy of brats.

They are all likely to agree, however, that it’s tough to beat a loaded shareable on gameday. Check out this Loaded Parlor Chip plate, a clever alternative to nachos or fries, with in-house fried potato chips smothered in a dizzying array of colorful, meaty toppings.

Dig into crispy Roma Skin-on Chips coated with a mouthwatering combo of Bacio® Shredded Mozzarella and Roma Crumbled Gorgonzola; a trio of Roma Cup and Char Pepperoni, Bacon Toppings, and Beef Toppings; jazzed up with olives, red sweet peppers, banana peppers, and pesto — all from the legendary Roma brand. Whether they are chowing down at your bar, at the tailgate, or at home in front of the game, your guests will savor the flavors of a classic pizza parlor in every bite.

Do the Hoagie Pokey

It’s fitting that Roma founder, Mr. Louis G. Piancone’s first business was a small deli in Bradley Beach, N.J. The term hoagie is thought to have been coined by Italians about an hour away, in the nearby Philadelphia area. This Crispy Eggplant Hoagie lays Roma Round Eggplant Cutlets on Roma Fresh Mozzarella Slices, inside a Roma Hoagie, with veggies, peppers, and a zesty sauce for an extra blast of flavor. Bite into a deli sandwich that Mr. P would approve!

Roma 12-inch Hoagie 329669 | FC340

Roma Round Eggplant Cutlet 803859 | FR412

Roma Fresh Mozzarella Log 541963 | PB720

ROMA® SKIN-ON POTATO CHIPS

583074 | DA784

Thin-sliced and ready-to-fry

235317 | NJ012

Fully cooked and ready-to-use, right out of the bag

ROMA BEEF TOPPING

ROMA CUP & CHAR PEPPERONI

268857 | NJ032

Packs in the flavor with a perfectly crunchy edge and chewy center

ROMA PESTO

234153 | CN726

Frozen and naturally preserved for longer shelf life, 100% yield

Loaded Parlor Chips

Servings: 2-4

Ingredients

6 oz. Roma® Skin-on Potato Chips, 583074 | DA784

Brilliance® Oil for deep frying

3 oz. Bacio® Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, 294204 | NE860

3 T. Roma Crumbled Gorgonzola Cheese, 263722 | JJ690

8 ea. Roma Cup and Char Pepperoni, 268857 | NJ032

3 T. Roma Bacon Topping, 379358 | FA310

1 ½ T. Roma Pitted Kalamata Olives, quartered, 288570 | FC208

1 ½ T. Roma Sliced Green Olives, 231824 | FC272

2 T. Roma Beef Topping, 235317 | NJ012

1 ½ T. Roma Red Sweet Peppers for garnish, 682956 | FJ400

1 T. Roma Sliced Banana Peppers for garnish, 528702 | HB946

2 T. Roma Pesto for garnish, 234153 | CN726

Method

Heat fryer with oil to 350°. Drop basket in oil then add potato chips and cook until golden brown, about 1-2 minutes. Drain excess oil on towel-lined pan then reserve for service.

Place chips on oven proof plate, sprinkle with mozzarella cheese followed by Gorgonzola cheese, beef topping, bacon, pepperoni, and olives.

Warm under broiler or in oven at 400°F until pepperoni is cupped and cheese is creamy.

Remove from oven. Top with sliced banana peppers, sweet peppers, and dot with pesto sauce then serve a new favorite.

Take and Bac-on

If you’re interested in a pizza that really leans into the fall aesthetic, consider adding this to the game plan. Visually, the Fall Squash, Prosciutto, and Bacon Pizza brings hints of the harvest to a Roma® Thin Pizza Crust with a tapestry of colors.

As is the case with most white pies, it’s primarily about the cheese. Here, we blend Piancone® Ricotta and Shaved Parmesan, with Bacio® Mozzarella offering that signature Kiss of Buffalo™ Milk. Butternut squash provides a bold orange color, along with its sweet, nutty flavor and tender texture. The squash is a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals for your more health-conscious diners. Handtorn prosciutto from Piancone adds pops of pink color and a buttery saltiness that works well to complement Roma Bacon, spinach, garlic, and olive oil. This is a pizza to make you fall head over heels.

P is for Premium

Named after the gentlemanly Roma founder, a giant in foodservice, our Piancone brand represents a selection of premium Italian products sourced from the Old Country and other prime regions of the world. Your guests will be able to taste almost 70 years of culinary quality baked into your food. From authentic pastas, to pantry staples, to deli items, coffees, and gelatos, Piancone is an innovative Italian cornerstone.

Piancone Ricotta Cheese

465328 | NH004

Piancone Balsamic Glaze 434904 | PB780

Squash Beef the

268476 | NH922

Reduce proofing time, without losing quality or freshbaked taste

ROMA 16" THIN CRUST PIZZA

FIND THIS RECIPE ONLINE!

FALL SQUASH, PROSCIUTTO & BACON PIZZA

PIANCONE® SLICED PROSCIUTTO

625109 | DJ014

Hand-selected and hand-trimmed for top quality

PIANCONE SHAVED PARMESAN CHEESE

267652 | CF100

Aged over 10 months with an authentic, nutty flavor

What are some easy ways to add delicious and cost-effective toppings to pizza?

Give diners the adventurous flavors they crave on pizza, minus the back-of-house complexity with Burke® Mexican-Style Beef Crumbles. These new Mexican-inspired meats are fully cooked and ready to pack a powerful punch of flavor on pizza or fall appetizer menus.

Pesto Pizza Magic

Chef Talk

Swap or add Peak® Sweet Potatoes and Purple Potatoes for an eye-popping delight. To craft fusion fun, purée Contigo® Chipotle Peppers into the pesto for a spicy, smoky bite. Kick up the crust with a brush of Brilliance® Butter Flavored Oil and a sprinkle of Parmesan before baking.

Convenient for easy handling and portioning

430980 | CK408

Hot Potato

Never mind the pigskin, fall is a serious month for potatoes too. We’re talking chips, fries, loaded skins — sports fans can’t get enough taters.

The Pesto Potato and Caramelized Pie is a play on a Roman classic, with russet potatoes peeled, cut, and boiled, then tossed in a flavor-rich, vibrant Roma® Pesto Sauce. The perfectly crunchy Ultimo® Raised Edge Crust is draped in Roma Alfredo, topped with red wine caramelized onions, and finished in a warm blanket of creamy Bacio® Mozzarella Cheese — each bite a swirl of saucy, cheesy layers. Potatoes for the win!

Let’s Go Buffalo

When fans are watching sports, they need pizza with stretch as big as the action. Exceptional cheese from Bacio gives fans what they want, and it gives restaurants what they need: a uniquely crafted combination of mozzarella and the signature Kiss of Buffalo Milk™ for a delicious, unparalleled performance. Bacio helps customize your options, and you can get cash back through the Bacio Gold Club Rewards program.

Bacio Block Mozzarella Cheese

287632 | NE856

Bacio Shredded Mozzarella Cheese 294204 | NE860

Chee-Cuterie

Picture this: There’s a group of rowdy football fans settling in around a high top just before kickoff. They order a round of cold beers but could use a shareable snack for the table to go with these tasty beverages.

An app platter, or some kind of cheese dip, is often a go-to, but consider a trick play to light up their taste buds. Stats show that charcuterie boards are growing in popularity, and this innovative take on apps showcases hot and cold cheese selections. They’ll immediately be drawn to the housemade mozzarella sticks, starring Bacio® Mozzarella. But quickly, they’ll turn their attention to the brûléed Piancone® Burrata, atop a drizzle of balsamic glaze.

Cubes of Roma® Feta, rolled in mint and herbs, can be spooned over crisp crackers, and the ramekin of honeyherb whipped Piancone Ricotta was made for gameday dipping. Surround this tray with even more crackers and salty nuts to complement the beer.

And, you guessed it, the rowdy table is a group of Green Bay Packer fans.

In the Navy

Every fall sports menu features dippable options, and Nana’s Navy Bean Dip is a versatile selection for the whole family. Creamy beans from Peak Fresh Produce are whipped with Piancone Ricotta and can be accompanied by garden veggies for a healthier dip experience. Peak Produce is picked at peak time to provide safe, high-quality products with crisp freshness and flavor at the best value.

Peak Navy Beans

695456 | 10966

Warm and slightly bitter, with a hint of sweetness

Sourced from the U.S. and Mexico

PEAK® OREGANO 855532 | CK108

PEAK BASIL 855571 | CK134

Football

Pieces Fall to

Chef Talk

Depending on your method, we found that slightly warming the Alfredo sauce helps for a spreadable and consistent portion. It’s also recommended that thin pear slices be placed in a lemon water bath before mixing. Lightly drizzling with hot honey tableside will make this presentation an instant favorite and a musthave that guests won’t soon forget.

FIG IN FALL PIZZA

ROMA® EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL

288560 | CN134

Produced from the first cold press of the finest sun-ripened olives

Fig Out

Fall flavors and fresh garden splendor abound on this Fig in Fall specialty pie. Creamy Roma Alfredo and Bacio® Mozzarella are paired to form a gooey base that sports fans and regulars alike will sink their teeth into. And melt-in-your-mouth prosciutto adds hints of savory throughout.

But it’s a trio of toppings that make the Fig in Fall a serious contender. Peak® Arugula provides a crisp, peppery, tartness to go with earthy green shades, while Peak Pears are sliced thin for mild crunchiness and notes of gentle citrus. Rounding out the big three are Magellan® Dried Figs, intersecting with the other fall components for a chewy, honeyed balance.

I Want Candy

PEAK® ARUGULA

601221 | GC928

Peppery, Mediterranean flavor

Success in athletics often comes down to the pairing of a dynamic duo — a one-two punch, like Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. Add some excitement to your fall bar service by pairing sports and the growing snacking trend. Candied Roma Kalamata Olives are a little salty, a little sweet, and a little chewy to the bite — sophisticated enough for unique palates and craveable for football fans. These candied snacks can add a little sugar to upsell opportunities.

Olives, Large 288570 | FC208

Roma Kalamata

Sach Lunch

There’s no one-size-fits-all with respect to sports fans and menu preferences. Not every Cowboys supporter is looking to load up on a plate of nachos. Offering a few elevated items means you are covered for parties with different tastes.

This exquisite Gorgonzola and Pear Sacchetti with Fig Crema is as scrumptious as it is appealing to the eye. So, you might wind up with a discerning Giants fan posting pics of these light, airy Piancone Epicureo Sachets on social media to pile up the clicks. When added to boiling water, the sachets only take about three minutes to cook, saving you time and labor. Whisk a quick sauce of Roma® Alfredo and fig jam for a drizzle of fall flavor, and sprinkle in bits of hand-torn Piancone® Prosciutto for a touch of saltiness with pops of pink color illuminating this elegant plate.

Looking to up your appetizer game for sports fans?

A third of consumers visited a sports/concert stadium in the last six months, and french fries are still #1 in stadium concessions. Give your app and LTO menus the All-Star treatment with Simplot®. Simplot offers a wide selection of fries in every shape and flavor profile. From unforgettable SIDEWINDERS™ to fast-cooking Infinity® Fries, there are options for every type of operation.

PIANCONE EPICUREO® PEAR & GORGONZOLA SACHETS

617153 | CN388

Fresh pears, folded with Gorgonzola and ricotta, wrapped in an egg pasta purse

Chef Talk

The sauce can be easily batched and created ahead. Also, the walnuts and prosciutto can be toasted in advance, separately, and added on top in the final presentation. This gives the dish an extra element of sophistication while improving back-of-house efficiencies.

Iceberg Right Ahead

Occasionally, a football fan is faced with a dilemma: kick the extra point or go for two? With this Loaded Romaine Wedge Salad and Bacon Brittle, going for two has never been easier. Guests can get the creamy crunch of a chop salad WITH the fried app comfort of onion rings.

Handsome wedges of fresh Peak Romaine Hearts are coated in Roma® Gorgonzola Crumbles and Roma Bacon Toppings. Toss on Peak Cherry Tomatoes to add juicy visual accents, along with droplets of zesty green goddess dressing — featuring West Creek® Whole Egg Mayo, Nature’s Best® Sour Cream, Ascend® Lemon Juice, and other authentic Performance ingredients. The warm crisp of golden-brown Roma Onion Rings is a winning complement to the icy salad. For two points and the lead!

Peak Fresh Italian Parsley 310169 | NH686

Peak Fresh Basil 855571 | CK134

Peak Fresh Tarragon 855514 | HB886

20%

317277 | NH688

Harvested daily and uniquely cut for a handcrafted look

423589 | FD264

Juicier than larger varieties

PEAK CHERRY TOMATOES

of millennials have had a slice of pizza within the last day — a testament to its popularity and rate of opportunity.

PEAK® ROMAINE HEARTS

PEAK® CHIVES

855514 | CK126

Sourced from the U.S., Colombia, and Israel

Loaded Romaine Wedge Salad w/ Bacon Brittle

Ingredients

2 heads Peak® Romaine Hearts, 317277 | NH688

½ pt. Peak Cherry Tomatoes, 423589 | FD264

8 ea. Roma® Onion Ring 3/8” Gourmet 535474 | DA742

¼ C. Roma Gorgonzola Crumbles, 263722 | JJ690

½ C. Roma Bacon Topping, 379358 | FA310

¼ C. Silver Source® Sugar

2 T. Water

1 T. Corn Syrup

½ tsp. Nature's Best® Butter, unsalted

¼ tsp Heritage Ovens® Baking Soda

Pinch Course Sea Salt

2 T. Peak Chives, chopped, 855514 | CK126

TT Green Goddess Dressing (Recipe Online)

Method

Servings: 3-4 FIND

Pre-heat convection oven and fryolator to 350°F.

To make brittle: combine sugar, corn syrup in water in pan and bring to 290°F, remove from heat, and stir in butter, baking soda, and bacon pieces. Mix to combine. Pour out onto parchment lined sheet pan, dust with light amount of sea salt, and allow to cool. Break into random size pieces.

Toss grape tomatoes with EVOO and salt/pepper, bake at 350°F for 10-15 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.

Deep fry onion rings until crisp and golden brown.

For the salad: cut 1-1 ½” cross sections of lettuce and lay one on each serving plate, drizzle with dressing, top with another lettuce section. Garnish salad with roasted tomato, Gorgonzola crumbles, and drizzle with additional green goddess dressing.

Top each salad with onion rings, bacon brittle pieces, course sea salt, fresh cracked pepper, and chives.

Happy as a Clam

With fall in the air, it makes sense to go big, fusing seasonal ingredients from the land and the sea. The Forest Mushroom and Clam Pie combines earthen flavors that evoke the look and feel of a fall bounty.

The briny delight of Roma® Whole Baby Clams captures the autumn air and intensifies the creamy blend of Roma Pesto and Alfredo with Bacio® Mozzarella. Slices of Roma Mushrooms offer even more meaty alternatives to the rich, white pie, topped by sweet red peppers and chiffonade basil as a colorful nod to the coming winter season.

On Your Mark

Sports fans are flocking to your restaurant to fill their need for action and Italian culinary excitement. But it’s important to reach them wherever they are.

Get the most out of your takeout and delivery game with pizza boxes and containers that allow specials to maintain their quality and consistency. First Mark® boxes combine industry-leading sturdiness with top heat insulation design, keeping your pies warm on chillier nights. And here, a First Mark round container with Contigo® Hot Sauce maintains the integrity of a fresh Pesto and Feta Wrap, ready to be dipped and snacked on, whenever and wherever your guests prefer.

Run Forest Run

FIRST MARK® PIZZA BOX, 16"

469652 | FA408

Boxes available in a variety of flutes and sizes

What makes for the best base in pizza?

According to a ‘22 Mintel report, 91% of consumers say a good crust is essential to a good pizza. With Ardent Mills® 00-Style Flour’s renowned ability to create the perfect Neapolitan-style pizza, you can achieve a thin, crisp, yet tender crust that will stand out. Roma® Neapolitan Premio ‘00’ Fine Ground Flour is also ideal for high-heat ovens. You can rely on its consistent quality and performance.

Fall Sports & Pizza

For more recipes, trends, and great ideas to inspire your menu, visit performancefoodservice.com/thedish