We the Pizza: Slangin' Pies and Savin' Lives

Poignant stories and 65 knock-out recipes for award-winning pizza, wings, and more from Down North, the mission-driven Philadelphia pizzeria owned and operated exclusively by formerly incarcerated people.

Created and launched by Philly born-and-bred entrepreneur Muhammad Abdul-Hadi, the mission of Down North Pizza is to reduce recidivism rates in North Philly and serve up most insanely delicious food while doing it.

We the Pizza is a testament to survival, second chances, and spectacular pizzas, wings, and more. Recipes for tender, crispy edged, square-cut, sauce-on-top pies are Down North’s signature dish; a whole chapter is devoted to vegetarian and vegan pizzas like No Betta Love made with four cheeses and the arrabbiata-inspired Norf Sauce, while the Meat and Seafood pizza chapter features their most popular Roc the Mic pepperoni pie as well as the smoky berbere-brisket Tales of a Hustler and Say Yes, topped with jerk turkey sausage, roasted butternut squash, kale, ricotta and lemon-honey drizzle.

The pizzas along with classic and creative wings fries, lemonades, and shakes are paired with cinematic photography of the pizzas in their natural setting and out in the wilds of Philadelphia, with lots of journalistic-style photography of the Down North crew making dough and slinging pies. At the same time, readers will find empowering stories recounted by Down North’s formerly incarcerated staff, and pizzas from renown chef-supporters like Marc Vetri and Marcus Samuelsson, creating a cookbook that celebrates ingeniously delicious pizza, as well as the power people have to rise above their circumstances--if simply given the chance.

About the Author

Muhammad Abdul-Hadi is the founder and owner of Down North Pizza, the mission-driven restaurant in North Philadelphia that exclusively hires formerly incarcerated individuals. Down North Pizza is the culmination of Abdul-Hadi’s thirteen-year vision and is a concept that has long been ingrained in him; through Down North and the Down North Foundation, he is able to impact to the economic realities of underserved communities through excellent food and uplifiting endeavors. Abdul-Hadi has won the James Beard Foundation's leadership award, and he and the Down North team have been featured in the New York Times, The Washington Post, Bon Appetit Magazine, the Today Show, Eater, First We Feast, and more.

Author Residence: Philadelphia, PA

Author Hometown: Philadelphia, PA