Monical’s Menu helps this Mom ‘Git-R-Done’
Monical’s Menu helps this Mom ‘Git-R-Done’
Growing up my elders always told me, “the older you get the quicker time goes by” and man, were they right! Like many working mothers I wear many hats and I have found, after having children, that time speeds by even faster. My daughter, Josephine, is 17 months old and my son, Gavin just turned 3 on February 7th.
To celebrate we had a party and of course this party had to have a theme, activities, prizes and not to mention a fantastic menu. The theme was easy, Disney Pixar CARS as Gavin is a HUGE fan! Decorations, no problem! Some handmade some store bought. Goody bags….check! Name the character trivia for the game and car related prizes such as car wash – piece of cake! Coloring books, crayons, stickers and more to keep the kids occupied – fantastic. Now the burning question….what will the menu be and how can I relate it to this theme?
Hmmmm. I pondered for a while then thought, “my family LOVES Monical’s and the Manteno, IL location always gives great service and the food is out of this world”. That settled that question but now, how can I make it fit the theme? Looking at the menu and recalling the names of character in CARS it hit me; we will have – Ramone’s Rollies, Sally’s Salad, Route 66 breadsticks, Francesco Cheese Fries, Guido’s Italian Special Point Pizza and Tow-Mater and Cheese Pizza! 
What a hit!! Everyone revved their engines and raced to the food table to fill up their tanks and enjoyed every bite!
Car related puns aside, the service and food as usual were fantastic and left them craving more! Thank you Monical’s for being a true “Family Pleaser” and for helping to make my son’s birthday party a true success!
Re-heating that “Magical Moment”
Top Tips for Re-heating Monical’s Thin Crust Pizza
We love to tell our guests then when it comes to our pizza, we are experts at creating that “Magical Moment.” You know, that moment when the cheese settles and the pieces separate into deliciously crisp, bite-sized squares of flavor-filled perfection. While that moment lasts through the meal, we get questions all the time about how to create that moment at home without taking home one of our team members. Whether you’re working with take home Monical’s or even leftover Monical’s here are a few of the top re-heating tips we’ve put together over the years.
Re-heating Overview:
Once you’ve got that pizza in your house, you have a decision to make – do you just want it warm, or do you want it warm and crispy? The Monical’s Magical Moment we’re trying to re-create is all about the pizza being crisp and warm…so that’s where we’ll spend most of our time. But if you’re in the microwave crowd, don’t worry – we’ve got a ”hot” tip in here for you, too.
No matter which method you choose, when it comes to re-heating pizza, you always have to start with pizza that is at room temperature. So before re-heating, pull your pizza out of the refrigerator and let it sit for approximately 15-20 minutes. (Reminder: do not leave pizza unsupervised during this process – our pizza has a tendency to mysteriously disappear when left unattended.)
Stove Top:
Get out the trusty old frying pan (bonus points if it’s a cast iron skillet) and turn the burner on low for a 1-2 minutes to warm up the bottom of your pan. While the pan gets warm, prepare a tin foil dome to act as a cover. *For a crispier crust, one family member suggests brushing a very slight layer of butter on the bottom of each pizza slice. With the pan warm and the dome ready, place your room temperature pizza in the pan and heat at medium-low heat for 4-5 minutes while the pan is covered with the domed foil lid. The foil will help reflect heat back to the toppings without trapping steam inside.
Oven:
How you re-heat using an oven will vary between oven types and based on what you are placing the pizza on for warming. If you are using a pizza stone, place that in the oven. If you do not have a stone, place a sheet of foil directly on the oven’s surface. Set the oven to preheat to 450 – 475 degrees and lay the room temperature slices on the stone/foil. Leave the pizza in until the oven finishes pre-heating or until you see the cheese bubbling.
Toaster Oven:
Toaster ovens are a good option if they are available. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and put your room temperature slices on some foil for about 10 minutes or until cheese is bubbling.
Microwave Oven:
This is the least preferred method for heating, but we would be remiss to leave this option out. Crispiness is not really an option here, but we do have a trick to keeping the pizza crust moist. Place your room temperature pizza in the microwave, with a cup of water, and use the defrost setting in 30 sec. increments to prevent overheating. Remove when warm.
If you have tried one of these or have your own way we may have missed, please take a minute to share your thoughts.
I’m Dreaming of a Great Pizza
Here is our twist on a Christmas Classic. We hope you enjoy is version as much as we do!
We love trying your recipes too!
With the cooler weather quickly approaching, why not try this amazing meatloaf! This recipe was submitted by Christine Loy, a loyal guest. She says: “The sweet and tart makes all the difference. It is awesome!” If you are not near a Monical’s location, you can order our dressing online by clicking here.
Find this and other recipes right here on our blog by clicking our ‘Recipes’ link above (or click here).
A duo meant for the ages… “Sweet & Tart”
For 50 years, Monical’s has been famous (in part) for our Sweet & Tart Salad Dressing. Our Guests have learned to use it not just on salad, but also on pizza, breadsticks, sandwiches and just about anything else on the menu.
The original Sweet & Tart recipe dates back many years, and the recipe is not easy to reproduce or duplicate. The slightest variation in the way it’s made can cause changes in color, texture or taste. Because of the incredibly loyal following this dressing has, our Guests or our Management Teams notice changes immediately. It’s then that our Quality Assurance Team must spring into action and work with vendors to find a solution.
We not only purchase the dressing in large quantities for restaurant use, but also sell it (a lot of it) in pint bottles. We recently developed a “light” version with a nearly identical taste profile that is (shameless promotion to follow) for sale online or in our restaurants.
Due to the extreme popularity of our Sweet & Tart Salad Dressing, we know we must do whatever is necessary to monitor and protect the quality and consistency of this product. Salad dressing may not seem like a big thing to many restaurants, but to us and our Guests, it’s a significant part of what makes Monical’s special.
Join Monical’s in taking a bite out of Childhood Hunger
Monical’s Pizza Joins Share Our Strength’s Dine Out For No Kid Hungry™
September 18 – 24, 2011
Restaurants Across the Country Embrace Week-Long Event to End Childhood Hunger in America
Bradley, IL… Monicals’s Pizza is proud to announce its participation in Share Our Strength’s Dine Out For No Kid Hungry™, a week-long national restaurant event in cities across the United States. From September 18-24, Monical’s will be offering 20% off a one topping Family Pleaser® and making a $1 donation for every one purchased to NO KID HUNGRY. Participating store locations are available at DineOutForNoKidHungry.org and www.monicalspizza.com/shareourstrength.
20% off Family Pleaser offer Aug. 29-Sept. 25, 2011
This is one of the many ways thousands of restaurants all across America will be raising funds this September to support No Kid Hungry™, Share Our Strength’s national campaign to end childhood hunger in America by 2015. More than 17 million children in America—almost one of four—struggle with hunger. With the support of thousands of restaurants like Monical’s Pizza, dozens of corporate partners and millions of consumers, Share Our Strength is changing that.
“Monical’s has been a an active supporter of numerous community services throughout our 51 year history. I can think of no better effort than to eliminate childhood hunger in America. That’s a cause we can get behind,” states Janelle Reents, President.
“We are asking everyone—private citizens, businesses, policymakers and other nonprofits—to help us end childhood hunger in this country,” said Bill Shore, Founder of Share Our Strength. “We continue to be amazed by the generosity and commitment of the restaurant industry and its customers. Last year, they raised more than $1.5 million through Dine Out For No Kid Hungry, a record high and twice what was raised the year before. Our goal is to involve as many restaurants and their customers as it takes to make No Kid Hungry a reality by 2015.
“I encourage everyone to dine out often at participating Dine Out For No Kid Hungry restaurants in September, then visit our web site, Strength.org, to learn what more they can do to make sure every child in America has access to the nutritious food they need.”
Share Our Strength’s Dine Out For No Kid Hungry is sponsored by Sysco, Ecolab, American Express, USA Today and the National Restaurant Association.
About Monical’s Pizza
Founded in 1959, Monicla’s Pizza consists of 63 restaurants in Illlinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. More information about our company can be found at www.monicalspizza.com.
About Share Our Strength
Share Our Strength®,a national nonprofit, is ending childhood hunger in America by connecting children with the nutritious food they need to lead healthy, active lives. Through its No Kid Hungry® Campaign—a national effort to end childhood hunger in America by 2015—Share Our Strength ensures children in need are enrolled in effective federal nutrition programs; invests in community organizations fighting hunger; teaches families how to cook healthy, affordable meals; and builds public-private partnerships to end childhood hunger, at the state and city level. Working closely with the culinary industry and relying on the strength of its volunteers, Share Our Strength hosts innovative culinary fundraising events and develops pioneering cause marketing campaigns that support No Kid Hungry. Visit Strength.org to get involved.
Here is a quick and easy recipe for Sweet & Tart Taco Salad! It’s great for Dinner, Picnics or Pot-Lucks! Swing by Monical’s today to get your Family Garden Salad and Sweet & Tart Dressing! If you are not near a Monical’s location, you can order our dressing online by clicking here.
Find this and other recipes right here on our blog by clicking our ‘Recipes’ link above (or click here).
“Does this bag make my pizza look hot?”
Over half of all Monical’s pizzas are eaten outside of the restaurant. Because of the special nature of a thin crust pizza (and ours in particular), getting our food to its destination in good condition has long been a significant goal for our company. Packaging is an important part of this goal.
Long ago, we discovered that the best way to package our thin crust pizza was:
1) On a cardboard circle
2) Wrapped in foil
3) Placed inside a bag
We found this system to be the best at providing a hot carry-out or delivery pizza. To be honest, this method sacrifices some crispness in the crust. Putting a thin crust pizza in a box maintains more of the crispness, but sacrifices some heat. We’ve found that most of our Guests prefer the pizza hotter than crisper. As a result of listening to our Guests, we’ve kept our current packaging (thin crust) all these years.
We still continue to explore and experiment with new forms of packaging, hoping always to improve the experience of our Guests when they’re eating Monical’s at home. So far, we haven’t found a better substitute to our current packaging.
However, the quest continues…
Community Programs
One of the reasons I love being part of the Monical’s family is because of the dedication to giving back to the great communities we serve.
We believe that reading is one of the most important things a child can learn. Monical’s promotes childhood literacy through the School Reading Program and Summer Library Reading Program. Both programs instill the importance of reading while making the learning process fun and exciting for children.
Monical’s also helps new families with our Lamaze program (no, Monical’s doesn’t teach breathing techniques for when you eat too much pizza). When expecting parents go through a Lamaze class at a participating hospital, they get a coupon for a free Monical’s Family Pleaser®, something which will help on one of those nights when the new parents are simply too tired to cook.
There are so many great programs here at Monical’s, and it’s more than just about pizza – it’s family. We are privileged to be a part of our communities, honored that our communities include us as one of their own, and we’re thrilled to give back whenever we have the opportunity.
Full descriptions and opportunity for participation by organizations are available for review in the Community Programs area of our company webpage.
Monical’s – My first ‘out-on-my-own’ job!
Prior to 2002, I had been a regular at Monical’s Pizza with my parents. Typically around twice a month we’d have a meal of thin crust pizza, salad, and breadsticks and leave more than pleased. This had gone on for quite some time, as my aunt had worked at one of the Kankakee locations and my cousin worked at the Gilman location.
Towards the end of 2002 we were at Monical’s for one of our regular visits. During this visit, it was busier than normal and my cousin happened to be working alone. I offered my assistance, and while it was declined because I wasn’t employed there, I was given an application and encouraged to turn it in in a timely manner. Not much later I received a call from that location’s manager asking me to come in for an interview. I was eager and ready for the opportunity; it could be my first “out-on-my-own” job. And sure enough, that’s what it became. I was hired as a pizza maker soon after that interview.
Within the first week it was evident that I hadn’t just taken a job. I had never put much thought to the slogan of “Family Pleaser” until that week. Not only did we as a staff exist to bring families together and give them a great experience, we were also a family ourselves. Through my four years of working at that Monical’s location, I can think of hundreds of great moments while working, from customer compliments to laughs with co-workers; enjoyable meetings to late night cleaning events; maintenance tasks to employee get-togethers. It was never just a job that I attended to receive a paycheck. I was interested in learning new positions and everything that I could: I had started as a maker, but I also tended to the ovens, delivered, made dough, did morning prep, took orders, and (only at desperate times) helped serve and bus tables.
As a matter of fact, I enjoyed my job enough to endure forty and fifty hour work weeks while attending at least nineteen college credit hours worth of classes. I lived halfway between college and work, so I would drive to class in the mornings, drive home in the afternoon, change, and head to work. I put a lot of miles on my poor car, but I had moved up to a shift supervisor position at the location and knew I had to keep up with school as well.
When it was time to transfer colleges, I found that I could no longer do both, and chose my education. I don’t regret the decisions I made, but I’d be lying if I said I that I didn’t miss working at Monical’s. From the strange looks that I got from customers while wearing shorts year-round (it was hot in the kitchen!) to the custom food creations, there are plenty of memorable times.
I’m still a customer, whether it’s just my wife and I carrying out or we’re with our parents at one of the many locations. I tend to keep it simple, not asking for any wild concoctions that I may have once created. Although, if I may suggest, everyone should try a pair of garlic breadsticks with all three (nacho, cheddar, and tomato) sauces mixed. Or, if you’re into a little extra spice, try your usual pizza, but ask for it as a “blue flame.” Just after the sauce is spread onto the dough, the crushed red peppers are sprinkled in. It has a good taste, given that you don’t mind it hot.
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# Eric Wilborn
# twitter: @ericwilborn
# web: http://ericwilborn.com
