Tag Archives: harvard

2014: A Year of Giving Back

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Since opening its first little slice shop on Congress Street in Portland in 2009, giving back has been an big part of what OTTO does. From day one, co-owners Anthony Allen and Mike Keon believed that it was important to better the communities in which OTTO does business, and this sentiment reverberates through the growing independent chain today.

10414491_806020339409898_4134071848483003687_nIt is not lost on us that without having been embraced and supported over the past 5+ years by our communities, we would not be able to grow this sentiment into an integral part of the chain’s culture.

We are now running weekly fundraiser series in four locations in two states. In addition to these, we provide many in-kind donations to many deserving charities and community organizations throughout the year.

OTTO has been fortunate enough to have donated to over 250 organizations in Maine, Massachusetts and beyond in 2014. We are extremely grateful to be in a position to do so. Perhaps more so, we are thankful for the many wonderful organizations (and those who keep them operating) who tirelessly work to better our communities in so many ways.

As we look back on 2014, we want to acknowledge some of the great organizations that we have had the pleasure of working with in some capacity.

Thank you for all you do.

MAINE:
48hour Film Festival10491185_10154228467515464_5172975192474676961_n
American Diabetes Association
American Red Cross
An Evening of Promise
Animal Refuge League
Art Play Nursery School
Barbara Bush Cures for Kids
Bayside Community Health Fair
Borgen Project
Boys and Girls Club of Southern Maine
Camp Twitch & Shout
Cape Elizabeth Girl’s Volleyball
Cape Elizabeth High School Baseball
Cape Elizabeth High School’s Mock Trial Team
Cape Elizabeth Project Graduation
Children’s Association for Maximum Potential
Children’s Museum of Maine
Co-op Nursery School1979493_879431622068769_3191938351394253805_n
Coastal Studies for Girls
Cultivating Community
Deering High School
Easter Seals ME
Empowering Young Women
Environmental Health Strategy Center
Family Crisis Services
Florence House
Free The Children
Freeze out Hunger
Friends of Feral Felines
Gorham High School Girl Up
GLSEN
Hall School
Hardy Girls Healthy Women
Holy Cross School10174868_10152261591462839_5044234833510577421_n
Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership
Husky Harvest
Junior League of Portland
King Middle School
Knights of Columbus Cheverus Council
Learning Works
Levy Day School
Longfellow Elementary School
Love, People
Lucy K Fund
Lucky Pup Rescue
Lyric Music Theater
Magic Matinee
Mahoney Middle School
Maine Books for Maine Kids
Maine Cancer Foundation10155329_770606132951319_527890677_n
Maine Children’s Cancer Fund
Maine Freedom Project
Maine Island Trail Association
Maine Military Museum
Maine Narrow Gauge
Make A Wish Maine
March of Dimes
Maine Children’s Cancer Program
Mechanics Hall
Michael Pecha Cancer Fund
Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization
Muscular Dystrophy Association
Musica De Filia
National Tourette Syndrome Association
Parkside Neighborhood Association
Pets for Vets10310591_793342390677693_2702114172873646891_n
Planned Parenthood
Port Resources
Portland Buy Local
Portland Education Foundation
Portland High School
Portland Public Library
Portland Stage Company
Portland Sunshine Rotary
Portland Trails
Portland Veterans Acupuncture Clinic
Portland Youth Dance
Preble Street Teen Center
SailMaine
SealsFit
Sexual Assault Response Services of Southern Maine
Silent Sidekicks
South Portland Food Cupboard1545826_738917119453554_1571773475_n
South Portland High School
South Portland High School Robotics
South Portland High School Soccer
South Portland Swim Boosters
South Portland High School Project Graduation
SPACE Gallery
Spindleworks
The Children’s Trust
The South Portland Historical Society
The Telling Room
UNE Medication Collection
Voter Education Brigade
Winship Memorial Fund
WMPG
Women in Harmony
YMCA for Adaptive Services

MASSACHUSETTS:
Alzheimer Association’s RunTriRide
American Red Cross10276025_437417973060256_6145661167063435402_n
Amphibious Achievements
Boston Children’s Hospital
Boston College Relay for Life
Boston Collegiate Charter School
Boston Minstrels
Boston University China Care Fund
Boston University Occupational Therapy
Boston Workman’s Circle
Brian D. Silver Memorial Fun
Brookline Boys Basketball
Brookline Early Education Project
Brookline Food Coop
Brookline High School
Brookline Teen Center
BU 85 Broads
BU Center for Gender Sexuality
BU China Care Fund10367818_794314320580500_6700202918988191713_n
BU College of Fine Arts
BU Ellevate
BU Global Water Brigades
BU Law Public Interest Project
BU Marketing Club
BU Outing Club
BU Pre-Law Review
BU Relay for Life
BU Sargent College- Ghana Volunteer Trip
BU Senior Theatre Arts Majors Productions
BU Sigma Beta Rho
BU Unite for Sight10168161_788494334495832_2633235171370483254_n
BU Water Polo
Cambridge Community Chorus
Children’s Center for Communication
Congregation Kehillath Israel
Coolidge Corner Community Chorus
Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation
Cross Keys Retreat
Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Destination ImagiNation- Lynnfield HS
Edward Devotion School
EMARC
Engineers Without Borders
Evening with Champions
FairTrade (Harvard U.)
Family Equality Council
Fenway Health
Friends of Buker
Friends of Lynnfield Library
Gathering Change
Global Water Brigades
Greenwood Elementary
Harvard China Care
Helping Hands for Homeless
Huckleberry Hill Elementary School
Humanist Community at Harvard
Lawrence School PTO10267777_784309914914274_5710944405256697106_n
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Lynnfield High School
Lynnfield Pioneer Football Club
Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress
Massmouth
Melrose Humane Sociaty
Morse Elementary School
Nashoba Learning Group
NEADS (Dogs for Deaf and Disabled Americans)
Newbury College Alumni Committee
Newburyport River Run
North Shore Scleroderma
Northeast Parent Advisory Council
Omega Phi Alpha
Pan-Mass Challenge Team Paul & Eve
Partners in Health10525905_761604797231921_5668220597958144632_n
River Relay for Real Lives
Rodman Ride for Kids
Safe Passage
Science Club for Girls
Sinclair Firefighters Benefit
Smart Woman Securities
St. Jude’s Childrens Hospital
Stock Our Shelves
Summer St. Elementary PTO
Temple Ohabei Shalom
Unite for Sight
WGBH
With Certainty Project
Wounded Warrior Project

The Verdict on OTTO’s Gluten-free Crust

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Since we launched gluten-free crust on Feb. 28, many people have asked, “How is it?”

glutenfree3We tend to have high standards regarding the food we serve, but we figure the best critics are our guests, especially those who are either already big fans of OTTO, or who are gluten-sensitive and familiar with what’s available in the marketplace.

A few comments from those who have tried OTTO’s new gluten-free crust option:

“The crust was buttery and crunchy! My room mate even said if I hadn’t told her the crust was gluten-free she wouldn’t have even known… I ate four whole slices and didn’t get a stomach ache!…Thumbs up for OTTO’s gluten free pizza!” – Gluten Free Babe (blog)

“Probably the best gluten free crust I’ve had.” – Facebook fan

“It was awesome, thank you so so so so much for getting GF pizza dough!!! I’d say it was actually the best GF pizza i’ve had so far.” – Facebook fan

Come to any of our locations and try our gluten-free crust. We’re pretty excited about it, and we’re always looking for feedback. Our goal is to provide the best pizza for gluten-sensitive diners in all of New England (and beyond!), and your reviews will help us ensure that we meet our goal.

Happy eating!

OTTO To Provide Gluten-Free Crust Option

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On Thursday, February 28, OTTO will begin providing a gluten-free crust option appropriate for guests with mild gluten sensitivities. Guests will also be able to wash their pizza down with a bottle of Estrella Damm, voted the World’s Best Gluten-Free Lager at the World Beer Awards.

glutenfree1Thousands of Portland- and Boston-area gluten-sensitive eaters have been dying to try OTTO’s mashed potato, scallion, and bacon pie, or the butternut squash, ricotta, and cranberry option. Starting Feb. 28, they can dig in.

Every pizza on OTTO’s menu, with the exception of the three-cheese tortellini (which is gluten-based) will be available on the new gluten-free crust.  Gluten-free pizzas will be available as 10″ pies.

OTTO’s gluten-free pizza is appropriate for guests with mild gluten sensitivity. However, it is not recommended to guests with celiac disease. While the crust is prepared off-site in a 100% gluten-free production facility, current store operations cannot guarantee that each hand-tossed pizza does not contain trace amounts of gluten.

OTTO realizes that the launch of gluten-free pizza will not only be music to the ears of gluten-sensitive eaters throughout New England, but to their families and friends as well, as families and friends often limit their dining choices to restaurants that are appropriate for the whole party.

OTTO looks forward to winning over a whole new wave of pizza aficionados.

Boston Startup School Sings OTTO’s Praises

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On Friday, November 30, OTTO provided lunch for 70 at the Boston Startup School, a “six-week program designed to transform recent college grads into high-impact hires for startup companies” (Boston Globe).

If there’s one cause OTTO believes in, it’s education. While we have supported many educational causes in the past, including elementary reading incentive programs and after-school initiatives, this is the first time we have donated to a group of tech-savvy startup-bound professionals.

OTTO recognizes that early education provides the foundation for life-long learning and development. By the same token, we believe in supporting regional programs which help strengthen the economy and create jobs for the next generation of young professionals.

We were thrilled to be a part of the day at Boston Startup School. And by the looks of our Twitter feed, they thought the day was alright, too.

  1. bryanryczek
    Didn’t eat breakfast because… @OTTO_Pizza for lunch!

    Bryan Ryczek@bryanryczek

    Fri, Nov 30 2012 04:35:17

  2. kmcdizzle
    Today the @BOStartupSchool sales team got us @OTTO_Pizza donated for lunch, which means it was the BEST DAY EVER! #ricottatomyface

    Kelly McDonald@kmcdizzle

    Fri, Nov 30 2012 11:58:21

  3. ryanmdonnelly
    Thanks to @Otto_Pizza for providing @BOStartupSchool lunch. If you haven’t tried their pies, you’re missing out. Run, don’t walk.

    Ryan Donnelly@ryanmdonnelly

    Fri, Nov 30 2012 10:17:54

  4. LucyRosie
    So appreciative of @otto_pizza for feeding @BOStartupSchool! The fresh tomato/basil tastes like love.

    Lucy Meyers@LucyRosie

    Fri, Nov 30 2012 10:17:14

  5. erikagord
    @OTTO_Pizza YUM! I just ate pizza with ricotta & sweet potato & cranberries… deliciously creative! Great lunch today @BOStartupschool

    Erika Gordon@erikagord

    Fri, Nov 30 2012 10:13:36

  6. JJKazakoffEigen
    Thank you @Otto_Pizza for delicious pizza for @BOStartupSchool #learntodo

    JJ Kazakoff-Eigen@JJKazakoffEigen

    Fri, Nov 30 2012 10:13:11

  7. taste_of_mind
    @otto_pizza bacon and apple on a pizza?? You are gods in my eyes. Thanks for feeding us @BOStartupSchool

    Lauren Hom @taste_of_mind

    Fri, Nov 30 2012 10:09:06

  8. GreggCochran
    @OTTO_Pizza thanks so much for the great pizza today! @BOStartupSchool #LearnToDo

    Gregg Cochran@GreggCochran

    Fri, Nov 30 2012 09:49:19

  9. el_fayzeros
    Delicious pizza @BOStartupSchool from @OTTO_pizza today! Thanks guys! #happypizzaface

    Gemma Fay@el_fayzeros

    Fri, Nov 30 2012 09:42:02

  10. onwithsean
    We’ve had a lot of pizza this week at @BOStartupSchool and @OTTO_Pizza is by far THE BEST! #LearnToDo

    Sean Laurence@onwithsean

    Fri, Nov 30 2012 09:40:02

  11. carolynheard
    Ricotta, sweet potato, craisin pizza? #yesplease @Otto_Pizza thanks for supplying today’s lunch for #Boston #Startup School !!

    Carolyn M@carolynheard

    Fri, Nov 30 2012 10:14:49

  12. kathyasi
    I’m dying over how good @Otto_pizza is, honestly some of the best pizza I’ve ever had. Thanks so much for providing the #noms to BSS!

    Katherine Yasi@kathyasi

    Fri, Nov 30 2012 09:41:39

  13. tinayeung11
    Thanks @otto_pizza for helping out starving students #bostonstartupschool

    Tina Yeung@tinayeung11

    Fri, Nov 30 2012 10:15:04

  14. adamsigel
    Deeeelicious slices from @Otto_Pizza today! Thanks so much for feeding our stomaches so we can keep feeding our minds. #LearnToDo

    Adam Sigel@adamsigel

    Fri, Nov 30 2012 10:14:14

  15. darshinit
    Thank you @Otto_Pizza for the delicious pizzas

    Darshini Thiagarajan@darshinit

    Fri, Nov 30 2012 10:14:18

  16. twedmid
    Thank you @Otto_Pizza for the first excellent pizza I’ve had in Boston! Super creative and tasty!

    Tania Pylyp@twedmid

    Fri, Nov 30 2012 10:15:33

  17. LucyRosie
    So appreciative of @otto_pizza for feeding @BOStartupSchool! The fresh tomato/basil tastes like love.

    Lucy Meyers@LucyRosie

    Fri, Nov 30 2012 10:17:14

  18. @OTTO_Pizza All Gone! http://pic.twitter.com/JqihX9Pd

    Bryan Ryczek@bryanryczek

    Fri, Nov 30 2012 10:40:40

OTTO Pizza Opens New Store on Commonwealth Ave. In the Heart of Boston University Campus

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A shot of the interior at the new OTTO Pizza shop, located at 888 Commonwealth Ave. (in the heart of the Boston University campus) looking in toward the kitchen.

If you follow us on Twitter, you may have already heard the news: OTTO Pizza just opened a new store — our fifth overall, and the third in the Boston metro market — on Commonwealth Ave, right in the heart of the Boston University campus.

@BostonTweet tweeted a great shot of the new space, but it’s something that you really should check out in person.

The new shop, a beautiful space at 888 Commonwealth Ave., emerged in a location that used to be occupied by The Upper Crust. Of course, it’s been completely reimagined by OTTO Pizza owners Mike Keon and Anthony Allen and the vibe now is thoroughly OTTO Pizza, through and through: clean lines, an open kitchen and an understated elegance create a comfortable and inviting atmosphere where you can either linger in casual conversation with a few friends over a whole pie or two, or grab some slices to go quickstyle if you’re in a hurry.

The new OTTO PIzza shop at 888 Commonwealth Ave. seats about 50 people and features the full range of pizzas that are available at each of the other OTTO Pizza locations, including our signature pie, The Masher (Mashed Potato, Bacon and Scallion), recently named by the Food Network Magazine as one of the Fifty Best Pizzas in the United States. We also feature a great selection of vegetarian pies for our friends who don’t eat meat and we’ll have at least eight different varieties available by the slice at any one time, with at least three vegetarian offerings among those eight.

An OTTO Pizza patron enjoys a slice at our newest location at 888 Commonwealth Ave. in Boston.

And if you’re so inclined, you can also enjoy a pint of your favorite beer to go with your slice – we’ve got seven craft beers on tap at 888 Comm Ave. — or select a glass of wine from our carefully selected wine list.

 

UPDATE: As our beer & wine license is still pending, you can’t enjoy a pint or a glass of wine … yet. As soon as we’ve gotten the licenses, we’ll open the taps and pop the cork. It shouldn’t be too much longer. Stay tuned.

The best part is, the new OTTO Pizza at 888 Comm Ave. is open now! We rolled out a “soft” opening on Saturday, Aug. 25, after making sure that the i’s were dotted and the t’s were crossed on all the necessary permits. With the proper paperwork in hand, we opened the doors at 11:30 a.m., and word of mouth has been building a steadily growing clientele since then.

If you want to check out the new shop for yourself, you’ll find it open from 11:30 a.m. to midnight from Sunday through Thursday each week, and from 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Or you can call ahead by dialing (617) 232-0447.

And while we don’t offer delivery from the new, 888 Commonwealth Ave. location yet, take heart! We’re working on it, and we hope to have delivery service up and running there soon. We’ll put the word out here as soon as delivery is available, so stay tuned to the OTTO blog, or follow us on Twitter (@otto_pizza) for the latest updates on all things OTTO.

Peace … out.