ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The debut of a new annual food event has arrived: WNC Pizza Week, a seven day celebration of specialty ‘za from around the region.

WNC Pizza Week 2025 begins today, Monday, March 10 and extends through Sunday, March 16 at 17 different pizzerias.

Participating locations include:

The “Gotta Have Seoul” pizza from Fahrenheit Pizza features a Korean BBQ base and a hot honey ginger swirl.

Though Pizza Weeks can be found all over the country, local food critic and enthusiast Stu Helm organized this one, the first for WNC. He was inspired by a visit to his nephew in Portland, Oregon.

“When he came home to Asheville, he asked me, ‘how come there’s not a Pizza Week here?’,” Helm recalled. “I was like, oh my god, what’s Pizza Week? Tell me more.”

Helm’s blog, Eating Everything with Stu Helm the Food Fan, is the portal to the event.

“It’s an online event, not a live event. Essentially, it’s a webpage that has a bunch of specialty pies that are only available during Pizza Week from various pizza makers around western North Carolina, and you can order the pies directly off of the webpage,” Helm explained. “It’s just a way, an easy way, for people to see a bunch of special pies. The overall idea, of course, is just a little extra bump to support our local pizza makers this week.”

“The Billy Goat” from Mission Pizza Romana is $10 a slice and feature an exotic array of toppings, including pecorino, parmigiano, herbed goat cheese, candied guanciale and calabrian pepper jam.

Helm hopes to expand Pizza Week to two weeks a year if the first is a success, as well as to highlight other types of food in a similar format. Pizza Week could be joined by Taco Week or Burger Week if the public responds well, Helm said.

Helm wants the event to be as inclusive as possible. The list of Pizza Week deals is accompanied by a map with pins of every pizzeria Helm could find in the region. He’s also keeping the invitation open for pizza joints that belatedly decide they want in on the fun.

“I’m keeping participation open throughout the week. Some pizza makers make not have read my email I sent them, may not have received an email, but then they’ll see the promo and they still have a chance to jump on board,” Helm offered. “For at least part of the week.”

For the full list of pizzas, check out www.stuhelmfoodfan.com/2025/03/10/wnc-pizza-week-2025-is-here.

Happy eating!

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Ingredients

2oz Blade & Bow bourbon

.25 oz Smoked Maple Syrup

4-5 Dashes Hazelnut bitters

Smoke glass with ground vanilla bean

Instructions

  1. Built as an old fashioned.
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