The Roman Empire was quite possibly the most monumental force behind the creation of modernity and life as we know it. This innovative group of intrepid explorers sought to map not only the geographical world, but also the outer reaches of the human spirit, propelling our humble species into uncharted territories of language, religion, technology, art, literature, architecture, and engineering. What’s more, all of this ingenuity was accomplished in perhaps the most comfortable fashion to date, a toga.

So it’s no wonder that one of the earliest iterations of pizza can be traced back to this magical land and people. Perhaps realizing the timeless importance of the recipe, in the second century BCE a Roman historian by the name of Cato the Elder chronicled a dish comprised of round bread slices topped with herbs and olives. A hundred years later, the historian Virgil wrote of a similar meal, the historical veracity of which was demonstrated when cooking tools to make such dishes were excavated from the ruins of Pompeii, suggesting that ancient Romans may have been chowing down on this fabled food under the violent eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.

In celebration of all things pizza and Roman, The Beijinger will be hosting the 2019 Beijing Pizza Festival on Oct 19-20 at Galaxy Soho. From 11am to 8pm hordes of pizza lovers will gather amongst some of the city’s best pizza purveyors, stuffing their faces with mouthfuls of gooey cheese, delectable sauces, and a mountain of toppings.

To help you spiritually connect with the forbears of pizza goodness, RMB 60 will get you a ticket to the festival, plus a toga, waistband, and olive branch wreath. For those of you who would rather wrap yourselves in your finest 600-thread count bedsheet, entry to the festival runs a measly RMB 20. If togas aren’t your style, but you still want to represent your love of all things pizza, then RMB 50 will get you a ticket to the party and an official Pizza Fest t-shirt.

In addition to the massive amounts of pizza on offer, there will also be an opera challenge, an emperor and empress toga costume competition, live music, games, and drinks to wash it all down.

Tickets can be purchased here.

Photos: The Beijinger, Alamy, Uni You

Over 1,500 years ago, there ruled one of the largest empires in the world: the mighty Roman Empire. As a civilization, the Romans proved themselves to be untouchable, accomplishing feats in almost every facet of society – language, religion, technology, art, literature, architecture, and engineering – and irrevocably altering the path of mankind. Then came the pizza.

Fast forward to 2019 and we, the Beijinger, look to honor the brave, the enterprising, the at times incredibly debauched men and women of Ancient Rome with our very own toga and pizza party.

As Julius Caesar famously uttered upon emerging victorious from the Battle of Zela in 47 BC, “Veni, Vidi, Vici” – I came, I saw, I conquered. Our motto? Veni, Vidi, Edi – I came, I saw, I ate. Because the 2019 Beijing Pizza Festival will be one to go down in history.

A Beijing toga pizza party – it’s what the Romans would have wanted

To get you in the frame of mind to befit such an occasion, we’re giving each and every one of you the opportunity to buy the entire toga outfit along with your ticket ahead of our 2019 Pizza Festival on Aug 17-18, 11am-8pm. There are several options depending on how deep you want to get (and we all know deep and pizza are a match made in heaven):

1. RMB 20: A ticket to the fest plus an olive branch wreath
2. RMB 60: A ticket to the fest plus a toga, waistband, olive branch wreath (including delivery)
3. RMB 50: A ticket to the fest plus a 2019 Pizza Fest T-shirt and olive branch wreath
4. RMB 60: Three tickets to the fest plus a picnic blanket

To avoid disappointment,
buy your tickets for this year’s Pizza Fest here!

Picnic blanket, you say? If the promise of you, your friends, and family slamming slices in the finest of historical garb wasn’t enough to get you hot and ready, then our new venue will. That’s because we’ve managed to secure what may be one of the best-kept secrets out there: Dongfeng International Sports Park. Located directly northeast of Tuanjiehu Subway station, this sprawling oasis is ripe for a day out, lazing in the sun. Just take a look at this beauty:

Just imagine this but with endless ‘za

On top of all of that, we’ll have the usual collection of the city’s top pizza vendors, drinks providers, live music performers, and entertainment galore. Better yet, the entire party will move to Sanlitun’s primo hip-hop club PH Global on Saturday, where all Pizza Fest guests will get free entry and discounts on drinks all night long. Much more on all of that in the coming days!

Pizza Fest cometh!

So, save the date, grab your tickets, and start learning how to wrap the perfect toga!

Images: Ray Town Studio, the Beijinger

With temperatures waning and weather this fine, your cravings for a summer holiday are hopefully beginning to diminish. If they’re not, however, then you must only hold on for another few weeks as we’re bringing a taste of Roma to you in the form of our fifth annual Beijing Pizza Festival on Sep 22-23, 11am-8pm!

This year’s event will take place in the serene and grassy surroundings of Chaoyang Park

This year’s edition of our pizza bonanza is extra special for two reasons: 1) It will take place at a completely new location, namely in the grassy, open-air venue of Chaoyang Park Center Island Theater (near West 3 gate) surrounded by cool water for a pizza oasis in the northeast of town, and 2) this year’s theme is “Roman Holiday,” recalling the iconic and romantic adventures of Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn in the film of the same name (see a slightly altered still from the classic above).

And of course, let’s not forget the main attraction: thousands of slices of Beijing’s finest pizza sold by the capital’s best pizzaiolos as well as a huge spread of Italian desserts, ice creams, beverages, and snacks to whisk you away to the rustic alleys of Italy.

There’ll be plenty to drink too!

So save the date, come dressed in your most stylish Italian threads, and chow down on some delizioso food alongside open-air film screenings, dance performances, live music, and DJs for China’s biggest celebration of pizza.

Tickets are now on sale and early bird ticket buyers will receive a complimentary vintage bandana, while group ticket buyers (three tickets and up) will receive a free picnic blanket. Tickets are RMB 20 for early birds or RMB 30 on the door and can be purchased by scanning the QR below via WeChat:

This ticket is for entry to the Beijing Pizza Festival only. It does not include the RMB 5 Chaoyang Park entry fee, which you can pay in cash at the gate, or swipe your transit card. The nearest gate to the festival is West Gate 3 (西3).

For a taster of what’s to come, feast on images of last year’s extravaganza here.

Photos: the Beijinger, Paramount Pictures