More Than A Pizza Night
"There's something about pizza cooked outdoors that just tastes like summer. Whether you're feeding the family after a day on the lake or inviting friends over for sunset, pizza night is one of the simplest – and most memorable – ways to gather around the table."
Pizza has always been about bringing people together.
Long before it became a Friday night tradition or the centrepiece of backyard entertaining, flatbreads topped with simple ingredients were shared by families throughout the Mediterranean. The version we know today traces its roots to Naples, Italy, where traditional wood-fired ovens transformed humble dough, tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil into something extraordinary.
More than a century later, not much has changed.
The ingredients have certainly evolved, with endless combinations to suit every palate. The scenery has changed too. But the experience remains beautifully familiar: friends gathered around the table, the anticipation of the next pizza emerging from the oven, and laughter carrying through the evening air.
In Muskoka, pizza night feels perfectly at home. It invites everyone to slow down, roll out the dough, choose their favourite toppings, lend a hand, and savour a summer evening together.
Perhaps that's why pizza has become one of the world's favourite foods - not because it's complicated, but because it's meant to be shared.
Peter from Muskoka BBQ & Outdoor Kitchen Centre with one of the Alfa pizza ovens, helping Muskoka families turn pizza night into an experience worth gathering around.
Today's artisan pizza ovens bring that centuries-old tradition home. Reaching temperatures that conventional ovens simply can't, they create crisp, blistered crusts, bubbling cheese and authentic flavour in just minutes. Whether fuelled by wood, gas or a combination of both, the result is the same: an unforgettable meal that naturally draws people together.
At Muskoka BBQ & Outdoor Kitchen Centre, the Alfa pizza oven collection is helping more cottage owners turn an ordinary dinner into an unforgettable evening. Because in Muskoka, it's never just about the meal - it's about the memories made around it.
This Week's Recipe
The Classic Muskoka Pizza
Dough
1 prepared pizza dough (homemade or artisan store-bought)
We highly recommend the frozen pizza dough from Stephen's Butcher Shop in Port Carling.
Sauce
½ cup tomato passata
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tsp olive oil
Pinch of sea salt
Fresh basil
Mix together and spread a thin layer over the dough.
Toppings
Fresh mozzarella
Ontario pepperoni
Local mushrooms
Roasted red peppers
Fresh basil
Freshly grated Parmesan
Finish with a drizzle of hot honey for the chef's kiss.
Cooking Cook in a preheated Alfa pizza oven at approximately 750-900°F (400-480°C) for 90 seconds to 2 minutes, rotating the pizza halfway through for an evenly blistered crust. Cooking times will vary slightly depending on your oven model and whether you're cooking with wood or gas.
Host Tip Set out all of your toppings in small wooden bowls and let everyone create their own masterpiece. Some of the best conversations happen while deciding whether pineapple belongs on pizza - or whether pepperoni should always go under the cheese.
A Parallel Moment As the sun begins to dip behind the pines, pour another glass of your fave bevvie, linger a little longer, and enjoy one more slice. Some of the best evenings in Muskoka aren't found on a schedule - they're created around a table, shared with family and friends, one pizza at a time.
MUSKOKA BBQ & OUTDOOR KITCHEN CENTRE
📍 Muskoka • 📞 705-765-5544
www.bbqmuskoka.com