Arts & Entertainment
At Pilsen Pizza Cafe, Owners Embrace Their Mexican and Filipino Heritage
There’s a new pizzeria in the Pilsen neighborhood that is putting a modern twist on an Italian classic.
Enrique Huizar, Ryan Catolico and Frances Almeda opened Novel Pizza Cafe in June. The spot is decked out with ‘90s-inspired throwbacks, and the food embraces a fusion of their Mexican and Filipino cultures.
“I grew up in the kitchen with my dad,” Huizar said. “He has been making pizzas for, like, 35 years.”
The Chicago native said the trio wanted to showcase their heritage with unique ingredients.
“We do have some takes on our culture,” Catolico said. “In the Filipino realm of it, we have a longanisa, which is a Filipino breakfast pork sausage. It’s like a sweet/ savory, and we balance that out with the giardiniera. It complements very well.”
Before becoming a business owner, Huizar worked at a factory. And Catolico still works as emergency room nurse for a VA hospital.
“When the pandemic hit, I would be at the hospital,” Catolico said, “but then I would come home and start messing around making pizzas with the ingredients and trying to just work up a recipe.”
Eventually, their love for pizza brought the group together, leading to a business partnership. The trio began selling pizzas at pop-up events before opening their Pilsen spot, which also includes a cafe crafting unique coffees like horchata lattes with ube.
“I just feel like this is home,” Huizar said. “I come here, and I feel like, alright, it’s go time.”
The partners recently celebrated their grand opening.
“We wanted to showcase that anybody can do it if you have, like, the motive and you put your mind to it,” Catolico said.
Novel Pizza Cafe is open Wednesdays through Saturdays.
