One pizza created by students in the Advanced Culinary class that is part of GCISD’s Career and Technical Education program will land on the menu of Wise Guys Pizzeria in Grapevine starting March 1.
Which entry will win? Will it be the Maui Mobster, the OG Twist or the Don Maca-Loni?
Co-creator of the Don Maca-Loni Macy Lanier is a junior at Colleyville Heritage High School, and she said their team came up with their concept after noticing that fried mac and cheese balls were on the Wise Guys menu.
“Cheese pairs well with cheese so we decided fried mac and cheese balls would go well on a pizza,” she remarked. Alfredo sauce and mozzarella round out their cheesy creation.
“We think it’s going to win because it’s simple,” she added.
Classmate and Grapevine High School senior Jorge Garcia said his team also came up with an Alfredo-based delicacy, but with a Hawaiian twist. Their Maui Mobster is topped with Canadian bacon, red onions and pineapple.
“We both wanted to do an Alfredo-based pizza and then we brainstormed to give the pizza a bit more ‘pop.’ It’s not loaded with a lot of ingredients, but it’s also not too simple.”
Meanwhile, CHHS junior Albin Jacobson said that for his team’s OG Twist concept, “we wanted to come up with something that people liked and was marketable, but was also different from the rest of the things on the menu.” Their stuffed-mozzarella crust pizza is topped with more mozzarella cheese, garlic oil, spicy marinara sauce, ricotta, basil and capers.
It wasn’t just about coming up with ingredients. As a learning opportunity, students also had to determine food costs and create a marketing flyer, something which they learn through CTE since students take Principles of Hospitality and Culinary I before entering the Advanced Culinary class.
In the advanced class, they also have an opportunity to cater events and prepare to take the industry-based food manager certification, a 90-question college-level exam that demonstrates knowledge and proficiency in the food industry.
Representatives from the pizzeria will visit the class Friday, February 21, to announce the winner. Wise Guys Pizzeria has been a community partner with the school district, including participating as one of two businesses that support Stars of GCISD, which celebrates district employees who are always putting their best foot forward for students. After visiting the school to observe the program, Wise Guys extended the special pizza opportunity.
Stay tuned to learn which student-created pizza lands the coveted spot on the menu.
Story update: Wise Guys Pizzeria in Grapevine, announced that all three of the students' pizza creations will be featured on the menu on a rotating basis starting March 1, 2025, so guests can decide which one is the best. Check out their social media to see which pizza is featured each week. Get a sneak peek of the pizzas by checking out the district’s Facebook post from the day the class learned that all three entries will be featured on the menu.