Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza announced that it will soon open its first international location, in Toronto, Canada, this September. The restaurant, which will feature a 2,500-square-foot interior with seating for 50, will open in the heart of Toronto’s Dundas Square (10 Dundas Street), near Tim Hortons.
Blaze Pizza is a fast-casual pizza concept serving custom-built pizzas, freshly made salads, blood orange lemonade, and s’more pies since it opened its first location in Irvine, California, in 2012. Each restaurant features an interactive open-kitchen format that allows guests to customize one of the menu’s signature pizzas or create their own, choosing from a wide selection of ingredients. The pizzas are then sent to a blazing hot open-flame oven—the centerpiece of the restaurant—where employees ensure that the thin-crust pies are fast-fire’d and ready to eat in 180 seconds.
The Dundas Square restaurant will use Canadian flour to make its own dough from scratch with a recipe developed by critically acclaimed executive chef Bradford Kent. The recipe requires a 24-hour fermentation period to produce his signature light, crisp crust. For pizza fans with specific dietary needs, the restaurant will offer gluten-free dough and vegan cheese. The restaurant will also feature a selection of wine and craft beer.
To create the perfect vibe inside the restaurant, award-winning design architect Ana Henton added several localized elements, including an oversized wall graphic featuring the Toronto skyline, which will be custom-built to suit the space. Additionally, in support of the company’s commitment to “Intelligent Choices for Our Pizzas, People & Planet,” the restaurant will use both recycled and sustainable materials and energy-efficient LED lighting, and will feature eco-friendly and compostable packaging.
“We’re thrilled to be bringing Blaze Pizza to Canada, and couldn’t ask for a better place to begin than the food-forward city of Toronto,” says Jim Mizes, president and COO of Blaze Pizza. “At Blaze, we’re all about carefully sourcing ingredients, cooking by fire, and letting guests enjoy high-quality artisanal pizza at crazy fast speed. We think that the authenticity of our food, plus our service culture that genuinely focuses on the happiness of our guests and crew, will be key to our success in Canada.”
Blaze Pizza is looking forward to building strong roots within the community, offering a spot where guests can connect, create, and enjoy. To that end, the restaurant will promote a turn-key fundraiser program that returns 20 percent of event proceeds back to local organizations, helping schools, sports clubs, and other local groups “cause a scene for a good cause.”
