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Summer pizza menu: hot dogs, lobster, flatbread, and yes, a bit of cinnamon

Summer is in full swing, and pizzerias everywhere are putting a special twist on their version of summer food, taking advantage of hot weather food trends and upcoming holidays.

June 22, 2015

Summer is in full swing, and pizzerias everywhere are putting a special twist on their version of summer food, taking advantage of hot weather food trends and upcoming holidays.

Villa Italian Kitchen has introduced two flatbreads to its menu featuring pesto caprese and spinach and artichoke at participating Villa locations nationwide, beginning this month through  September 28, according to a company press release.

The new pesto caprese Flatbread features fresh dough, cherry tomatoes, Galbani mozzarella cheese, and basil pesto with Italian seasoning. The spinach and artichoke flatbread pizza features alfredo sauce, spinach, Galbani mozzarella cheese, cherry tomatoes, artichokes and roasted red peppers. Guests can create a value meal with a slice of flatbread, one side and a drink, at a special price, at any participating Villa Italian Kitchen location, the company said. 

"Our two new Flatbreads are a great addition to the menu using fresh ingredients and flavors our guests will enjoy," said Mimi Wunderlich, Villa Italian Kitchen, brand manager. "Both flatbreads are delicious, light and, offer a vegetarian option for swim suit season!"

Paso Robles Pizza Parlor and Sports Bar Marv's Original Pizza Co. launched two flavors to its pizza products.

The Tri-Tip and Green Chili pizza features chunks of tri-tip and spicy diced green chilies and the Margherita pizza, designed to be a lighter pizza with an olive oil and garlic crust, boasts basil, tomatoes, mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.

Uno Pizzeria & Grill unveiled its limited time menu of seasonal favorites such as lobster, wings, steak and strawberry shortcake.

The summer-inspired menu features a classic New England lobster roll, lobster sliders, lobster and shrimp scampi and a new fisherman's platter, with Yuengling battered fried shrimp, deep-fried fish and a lobster slider. The lobster roll, lobster sliders and platter are served with a side of coleslaw.

In addition, Uno's created a Fireball Whisky BBQ Sauce, available for Brewmaster's Grill NY Strip and Uno's chicken wings. The company's strawberry shortcake features layers of sliced strawberries with whipped cream and sweet vanilla cake.

Uno's also developed two fresh brewed iced tea cocktails to complement its summer menu: the Angry Orange Tea with Stoli Ohranj, Blue Moon, and the Angry Orchard Cider and the Tropical Red Sun Tea with Stoli Razberi, pineapple juice and lemon juice. Both are served in Mason jars.

Already available in Australia, Thailand, the Middle East and the United Kingdom, Pizza Hut unveiled its Hot Dog Bites Pizza in June. The American rendition features 28 mini hot dog bites baked into the crust and served with a side of French's mustard for $11.99.

"We are committed to bringing more flavor and fun to the pizza category than anyone else, and our new Hot Dog Bites Pizza is an absolutely epic flavor mash-up inspired by two of America's favorite foods," VP Jared Drinkwater, marketing, said in the announcement. "Last year, Americans ate an estimated 150 million hot dogs over the July 4th holiday. We've taken the appropriate steps to notify the National Sausage and Hot Dog Council that they will need to adjust their statistics in 2015, thanks to Pizza Hut's introduction of the Hot Dog Bites Pizza."

The introduction of the limited-time offer coincides with the hot dog-eating season, including the official start of summer, Independence Day and July as National Hot Dog Month, the company said. The Pizza Hut Hot Dog Bites pizza is available in traditional or salted pretzel crust flavors with a free side of French's mustard.

"We definitely wanted to make this pizza unique compared to how it's been seen in other parts of the world, which is how we landed on offering the hot dogs as bite-sized, incorporating our crust flavors and offering the mustard on the side," said Drinkwater. "We think the latest innovations will make the Hot Dog Bites Pizza a huge hit in the United States."

Following the release of garlic knots last month, Papa John's has introduced cinnamon knots, eight pieces of dough topped with a cinnamon sugar drizzle and oven baked, the company announced.

"At Papa John's, our job is to surprise and delight our customers," Bob Kraut, Papa John's chief marketing officer said in a statement. "The strong response we received from our Garlic Knots snapped us into action and in just a few weeks' time, we are able to offer Cinnamon Knots. We hope our customers will enjoy a choice of both a savory and sweet treat and find that our newest knot lives up to the quality and great taste they expect from Papa John's."