Despite the pandemic, there were a few gems that stood out through the darkness. The Pizza Person and Bread and Better are two home-businesses that were launched to raise money for SickKids Foundation. Read their inspiring stories below & be sure to order their beyond cravable pizza and sourdough.

The Pizza Person

Behind the Business

Business & IG: The Pizza Person@thepizzaperson

Tell us about your cause! I make pizzas every week and give them away for free – in exchange I encourage people to make donation, if they are able to, to the SickKids Foundation – and am trying to raise $10,000 this summer for this amazing foundation and hospital. SickKids is an amazing world-renowned facility we are fortunate to have in Toronto, and they rely on the generosity of the community to fund their critical initiatives and investments. I know so many people that have benefited from the incredible care at SickKids and it felt natural to find a way to support them through a unifying love of pizza!

And your product…what can people expect? In the summer, I make Neapolitan-style pizza in my Gozney Roccbox. I make a 72 hour fermented dough from 00 flour, yeast, salt and water, and every week offer a range of different pizzas depending on what ingredients I find that week – ranging from a traditional Margherita, to my take on a spicy pepperoni pizza made with pickled jalapenos and hot honey. Each pizza is made fresh to order and cooks in about 90 seconds at 900 degrees.

How do people order? The amazing team at Ambassador has set up a new ordering page for me (https://thepizzaperson.ambassador.ai/) – every week, a few days before I plan to make pizzas, I’ll post in my Instagram (@thepizzaperson) stories how many pizzas will be available, what kinds, and when. On my order page you can go in, select your time slot for pickup, and type of pizza. Pizzas are pick up only at my house.

More about YOU!

We’d love to learn more about you – a few rapid-fire questions:

1. Did you have a background in cooking? Nope! Self-taught, have been making pizzas at home for 3 years. 
2. How’d you get into making pizza? Just LOVE pizza – seemed like something that would be fun to learn. 
3. How many hours / week do you spend cooking for your cause? 10-12
4. Ultimate goal with this business? Raise $10,000 for SickKids!

Discovering the Middle of Somewhere in Toronto

Your favourite 1-3 places to #shoplocal in Toronto?

• Rain Sushi (St. Clair and Lansdowne)
• Oakwood Espresso (Oakwood and Holland Park) and Wallace Espresso (Westmount and St. Clair)
• Mattachioni (Dupont)

Somewhere in Toronto you love to spend a day? I’ve got two young kids (4 and 18 months), we love to go down to the lake either by Humber Bay Park or Colonel Samuel Smith Park and ride bikes by the water.

A Toronto restaurant/shop/landmark you’re dying to check out? I also LOVE all food Japanese – and have yet to try Yasu so that’s definitely on my list!

Bread and Better

Behind the Business

Business & IG: Bread and Better @bread__and__better

Tell us about your cause! I started Bread & Better as a fundraising initiative to help a close friend reach her $1 million dollar goal for SickKids Hospital. She’s on a mission to build safe, calm spaces for parents and caregivers that provide relief and rest when they are in a time of crisis. 

And your product…what can people expect? I’m making small batch sourdough, sourdough focaccia and sourdough starter kits. I’d like to think it’s unlike any sourdough you’ve had before. Possibly because I pour my heart into every loaf.

PS – we’ve tried it, and it is our favourite sourdough in the city! Literally so, so good.

How do people order? People can order by sending me a DM on @bread__and__better, or by clicking the link in my bio. Bread is pickup only.

More about YOU!

We’d love to learn more about you – a few rapid-fire questions:

1. Did you have a background in cooking? I have always loved to cook, but do not have a formal background in cooking. Though, I like to say I come by it naturally. My father owned a restaurant many years ago and my husband happens to be a chef. 
2. How’d you get into making sourdough? My husband is from Australia and we couldn’t find sourdough in the city that lived up to the bread we eat in Oz. So when the pandemic hit, we started experimenting.
3. How many hours / week do you spend cooking for your cause? There was a point that I was spending 4 hours a day making bread. I’ve dialed it back for the summer though!
4. Ultimate goal with this business? I’m trying to raise as much money as I can. There is no long term goal at this very moment!

Discovering the Middle of Somewhere in Toronto

Your favourite 1-3 places to #shoplocal in Toronto?

• Ecoexistence for housewares and cosmetics (St. Clair & Christie)
• Shunoko for sushi (St. Clair and Dufferin)
• Futura for an unbelievable frozen treat (St. Clair & Oakwood, near Dufferin)

Somewhere in Toronto you love to spend a day? Wychwood Barns on a Saturday. Check out the farmers market before taking a stroll through the neighbourhood.

A Toronto restaurant/shop/landmark you’re dying to check out? I’ve heard Conzo pizza is out of control.

PS – We can attest it is!!