News

California pizza concept offers 'create-your-own' beer

October 26, 2016

A new pizza brand is setting up shop on the California coast called Blast & Brew. The fast casual Neapolitan pizza restaurant offers artisanal pizzas and more than 30 taps of self-pour craft beer. The Milano International brand has already made agreements for 12 units on the central coast area of the state, according to a company press release.

The restaurant offers diners a chance to choose from more than 40 locally sourced and regionally tailored ingredients, along with house-made sauces before pizzas are "blasted" in the oven. The chain is also offering split-focaccia sandwiches, fresh salads and appetizers, like Carnitas pork sliders with jalapeno slaw and a brie crostinis with honey and balsamic glaze.

The restaurant also allows diners to customize beer through a pre-paid program that gives them access to 30 local and regional craft brews that they pour themselves. The brand will also offer guests some guidance in the form of their staff of "Beer Geniuses," who help diners make the best choices to pair with their meals.

"People have always had control over their pizza, but Blast & Brew offers a 100 percent customer-crafted dining experience, from the meal to the beverage that accompanies it," said Milano Restaurants International CEO John Ferdinandi, in a news release. "Our team has been hand-crafting pizzas for over 50 years, and has partnered with California-grown craft breweries since the 90s —  creating a recipe for success at Blast & Brew."

The concept opened a franchised location in San Luis Obispo last March and has made a 12-unit agreement with Cristallo Ventures LLC to open units in Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties over the next eight years. Milano Restaurant International Corporation operates a portfolio of five distinct restaurant concepts, including Me-n-Ed's Pizzeria, Piazz del Pane Italian Cafe, Blast Pizza, and Angelo and Vito's Pizzeria with a combined total of  more than 70 locations primarily in central California.

It's now seeking franchisees for Blast & Brew locations in the southwestern U.S., including Phoenix, Dallas, and a number of college towns. A press release said start-up costs range from $700,000 to $950,000.