Lunch Ladies: Malawi’s Pizza
The Lunch Ladies enjoyed a visit to Malawi's Pizza.
Eating is fun! Well, at least it should be when at all possible. I’m a firm believer that when you can eat a good meal with good company, something is right in the world. If you can add good conversation, you’ve just moved it up a notch higher!
Take away any one of these three components and you still have something of value, but if you can have all three it is moving things along the “good, better, best” paradigm. So that’s what the Lunch Ladies usually reach for. We go from good (a tasty meal), to better (some great company along with that flavorful meal), to best (some wonderful conversation, fun company, and an appetizing meal).
Now what if you could feel like you were doing some good for society while eating said meal? Perfection? Well, that’s what happened when we went on our most recent lunch outing to Malawi’s Pizza.
Malawi’s Pizza’s slogan is “Pizza with a purpose”: for every meal you buy, they donate a meal to a child in Malawi, Africa. It’s simple. It’s one-to-one. And it’s impacting lives. Pretty neat, eh?
So trust me, us Lunch Ladies were no heroes this lunch hour, but it was pretty cool to know that as we were spending our lunch hour one of the best ways possible with good friends and good food, sharing about our lives and our latest adventures, we were also sharing in some small way with people far from us physically, but maybe not so far from our hearts.
Well, now that I have pontificated quite enough, let’s get down to the actual meals themselves. Here is what the Lunch Ladies ordered:
Jennette: Santa Fe Signature Pizza, $9.95; soda, $2.75
I recently started school again and I started feeling like a college kid again so I was very happy when pizza was suggested for lunch today. I was even more excited to go to Malawi’s! I love their thin crust that becomes crunchy on the edges after being cooked in their brick oven. Delicious! Today I decided to go with a non-traditional pizza and try the Santa Fe style pizza. The thin crust is topped with lime salsa, Santa Fe chicken, black beans, red onions, chilies, guacamole and chipotle aioli. This was a wonderful combination of flavors; I loved it. This pizza had a little bit of a kick so if you don’t like your pizza too spicy, then this pizza isn’t for you. I was very happy to have some Diet Coke to complete my meal. So tasty!
Shellie: Balsamic Tenderloin Salad, $9.50
When we walked into Malawi’s Pizza, I was immediately taken with the décor and feeling of the restaurant. It was the perfect place to celebrate Gabby’s return. I went with the girl at the counter’s recommendation, and ordered the Balsamic Tenderloin Salad. Beef tenderloin with fresh greens, peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes and onions with balsamic vinaigrette. I loved the sautéed peppers and mushrooms, and the balsamic vinaigrette was mild and slightly sweet. Yummy! It was the perfect size; I ate every bite and was completely satisfied. I also enjoyed knowing Malawi’s donates a nutritional meal to a child in Africa for every meal purchased. Talk about a “feel good” lunch!
Sylvia: Thai Peanut Pizza, $9.95; drink, $2.75
The official menu description is Thai Peanut Sauce, Satay Chicken, Peanuts and Thai Vegetable Salad. Sounds intriguing, right? But this pizza was so much more. Oh it had a wonderful Thai peanut sauce and the super tender lightly seasoned chicken was sliced just like it would be on those Satay skewer sticks. But it was the fresh vegetables that really put this pie over the top: julienne cut celery, carrots, green onions, a spring lettuce mix, and bean sprouts. So tasty; I licked the platter clean! Great spot Gabby, we are so happy you are back.
Gabby: Meat Safari Pizza, $9.95 (Gluten-Free Crust $3.00)
Malawi’s menu conveniently designates which meals can be made gluten-free, so there is no guess work or hoops to jump through when ordering. Though tempted by the pastas, salads, and dessert pizza options, I decided to stick with good ol’ traditional pizza this time around. I went with the Meat Safari. This tasty pizza comes with fresh tomato sauce, Canadian bacon, pepperoni, sausage, bacon, spices and mozzarella cheese. The gluten-free crust seemed to be multigrain and was thin and crispy on the edges, while chewy toward the center. The ingredients were very fresh and flavorful, and the amount of toppings was a good balance, enough to definitely satisfy, but not overload your pizza. The cheese was deliciously ample and wonderfully stretchy with each bite. I enjoyed my appetizing meat-friendly meal, and am curious to try one of the many other adventurous options next time I go.
Well, we enjoyed our lunch hour, catching up, and filling our bellies! Everything from the décor and atmosphere, to the friendly staff and the values of the restaurant were an all-around win for us Lunch Ladies. We will definitely be headed back soon!
Malawi’s Pizza: 4801 N. University Ave. #110, Provo. Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, closed Sundays.