Throughout the pandemic, we have been constantly impressed by the number of people that have taken their free time while staying at home, and turned it into something positive. Whether it's selling DIY items, vintage furniture, or creating an at-home takeout spot––a great example of the latter is Mac's Pizza.
Josh McIlwaine, the founder of Mac's, is no stranger to the food scene. His cooking career jump-started in Montreal, where he worked in kitchens that ranged from tacos to fine-dining. A few years ago he transitioned into the corporate world, but his love for food never went away.
When COVID hit, he learned the ropes of pizza making and began to sling pies at home––constantly testing, guinea-pigging his friends by serving up new recipes and continuing to perfect his craft. Once he was confident in his product, he launched an Instagram account to begin bringing his pizzas to the public. He started out by selling 10 pizzas every Saturday but the demand quickly grew, causing him to look into scaling up––eventually landing a kitchen space at the Century Park Tavern.
His pizzas are 'New York style', with a focus on using as many local ingredients as possible, like milled flour and cheese from Toronto. At Mac's, you'll find simple pie; from an OG cheese 'za to some fun options like a spicy bacon or a white pie.
McIlwaine says he hopes to eventually open a stand-alone shop in the west end. For now, Mac's is available to order through their website. Orders open on Wednesday at 4 p.m. for the following Saturday, and the 'za goes fast, so work quickly!
