What to Expect at the Pizza Cup Launch Party Oct 17-18

The Beijinger's 2015 Pizza Cup Launch Party is this weekend, October 17-18, and it's bigger than ever.

This year we're doing two days instead of one, we've amped up the stage entertainment, and most importantly of all, we have even more pizzas for you to sample. Eighteen of Beijing's finest craftsmen of crust will be tossing, spinning, and baking their products on site, giving you a chance to sample as many as you can possibly fit in that pot-bellied stomach of yours before Pizza Cup voting begins October 24.

The weather forecast for the two days is warm and mostly sunny, taking advantage of Beijing's fine autumn weather. For the second consecutive year we're holding the event at Galaxy SOHO, conveniently located near the Beijing Subway's Chaoyangmen station (Line 2 and Line 6), and close to most destinations in Chaoyang.

Cousin Kippy will be DJing throughout the weekend. There’s a full lineup of entertainment on each of the afternoons, including live music, pizza demonstrations, and more:

Saturday, October 17:
1-1.30pm: Pizza Express’s pizza spinning show
1.30-2pm: Gung Ho! Pizza’s dough throwing competition
2-2:30pm: Metro Radio’s Lip Sync Battle
2.30-3pm: The Metro Radio Band
3-3.15pm: Tube Station’s pizza spinning show
4-5pm: Live band Violette and the Hunters
5-5.30pm: Gung Ho! Pizza’s dough throwing competition
5.30-6pm: Pizza Express’s pizza spinning show

Sunday, October 18:
11-11.30am: Pizza Express’s pizza spinning show
11.30-noon: Metro Radio hosts interview the Tasting Group on stage
12-12.30pm: Gung Ho! Pizza’s dough throwing competition
1-2pm: Harrow International School Student Band Leaves on Toast
2.30-2.45pm: Tube Station’s pizza spinning show
3.30-4pm: Pizza Express’s pizza spinning show
4.30pm-5pm: Gung Ho! Pizza’s dough throwing competition
5-5.15pm: Tube Station’s pizza spinning show

Here's a preview of the vendors you'll meet this weekend:

THE PIZZAS

Tube Station: Fresh off over a week at the China Open tennis tournament, Tube Station keeps it outdoors, serving up their massive pies, cold Corona beer, a pizza toss performance and small promotional gifts. Look for their big tent occupying three full spaces.

Bottega: The Italians from Italy will be making their traditional pizza, along with Baci (a special type of mini ball-shaped pizza), calzone, not to mention Italian beer, limoncello shots, soft drinks and water as refreshments.

Bocca Della Verita: One of Beijing's newest pizza slingers, this fine venue will be showcasing its authentic Roman style thin-crust pies for all to enjoy.

Gung Ho! Gourmet Pizza Kitchen: The 2014 Pizza Cup winner returns to defend its title. It will be serving a number of pizzas off its award-winning menu, along with snacks, and maybe even a game or two for the kids.

Pie Squared: It's all about Detroit-style, deep-dish pizza from this Shunyi restaurant. Their thick pizzas are square and cut into slices, making them ideal for sampling and sharing at an event like this. They will also be bringing along an array of soft drinks and beers.

Pizza Express: The Sanlitun favorite and UK-founded chain will be spinning up some of its best-known pizza, along with serving soft drinks and a photo booth for everyone to turn the Pizza Cup into a massive photo opp.

Hutong Pizza: It's all geometry at Hutong Pizza, with square pizzas cut into triangles. They're coming all the way from the inner city to share them with you, and are also bringing along healthy salads for folks who want pizza as more of a side than a main dish.

Pizza+: The square slice folks are being a bit tight-lipped about their Launch Party menu, but we expect they'll bring their A-game, including some square slices of their famous Forest Pizza and some other pies too.

Haven: Houhai newcomers are expecting to surprise us at the Launch Party with off-the-menu pizzas. They are also supplying negronis and pineapple and basil mojitos to ensure nobody gets thirsty.

Whale's Pizza: Perhaps our most uniquely named vendor, this off-beat pizzeria will be on hand to show off some of their creative pizza combos, perhaps including similar offering as last year like Hot Pot Pizza and Pig Ear Pizza.

Fly Pizza: Fly Pizza will be doing their Korean take on pizza alongside offering chicken dishes from their sister restaurant, Hoodadak chicken. 

iFreshpizza: another newcomer to Beijing's pizza scene, located in the Tsinghua Science Technology Park in Zhongguancun, will be slinging their California-style thin crust pizzas.

Loft Eatalicious: This Italian eatery keeps it real with their wide variety of Italian specialties including their thin-crust Neapolitan pizzas, which you can expect to sample at the event.

Q Mex: Along with their spicy Mexican-style pizza and some other offerings, the Courtyard Four Mexican restaurant will be chilling some Corona beer and mixing some margaritas to warm up the autumn afternoon and evening.

Yuppie Yummy (YY) Restaurant: A new entry for both the Pizza Cup and the Launch Party, Xiushui Nanjie's relatively new American food entry Yuppie Yummy will be serving up their YY mini pizza，along with other non-pizza deliciousness including baby back ribs，lobster roll，and a rib roll.

Luga's: The Sanlitun stalwart has promised pizzas and mini-burgers from its well-known menu. Luga's empire has included everything from Mexican to Vietnamese to Italian, with the latter on show this weekend.

Andy's Craft Sausages: Even the sausage king of Beijing is getting in on the pizza game, with a pizza sandwich, pittaza (pitta pizza), and of course, grilled sausages. You might even see his sausage appear on other vendors' pizzas.

HA (High Altitude) Cafe: This cafe will be offering pizza alongside their signature coffee, in addition to Corona beer and Evian sparkling water.

Saffron-to-Go: The paella purveyors will offer potato tortilla, mushrooms with sun-dried tomatoes and pine nuts as snacks, along with their own take on pizza and pizza rolls.

SNACKS AND DRINKS

Vandergeeten: The big beer guys will be providing Beijingers' favorite beverage to wash down what everyone else is serving. Expect Italian craft beers, Belgian and German draft beers, and a pizza or beer-themed game.

Fresh Juice: Fresh Juice will be squeezing and otherwise juicing various beverages on site. We're really, really hoping that they do some kind of pizza-in-a-blender thing.

CHEERS: Probably no pizza here from the wine chain, but they will have wine, sparkling wine, mulled wine and wine cocktails, along with Shangri-La Beer.

McCain Fries: McCain Fries will be serving up fried potatoes all kinds of ways, giving Beijingers a break from crust, sauce, and cheese, and offering an alternative to anyone who doesn't actually like pizza.

Vai Milano: The premium gelato maker hasn't told us yet what they're bringing, but we suspect it will be cool, creamy, and delicious.

Members of the Beijinger team will be on hand to see how everyone is enjoying their pizza, and offer some games for younger Pizza Cup participants, as will the Beijinger's sister publication beijingkids.

The Beijinger's 2015 Pizza Cup Launch Party takes place Oct 17-18 (Saturday & Sunday) from 11am-8pm at the Sunken Plaza in Galaxy SOHO (Chaoyangmen). RMB 10 entrance at the door. More details here.