New Haven Pizza Club Celebrates National Pizza Day with Global Call-and-Response Video

The club's creator, Michael Pollack, released an interactive video featuring pizzaiolos from around the world paying tribute to Connecticut's pizza culture.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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In celebration of National Pizza Day on Thursday, the New Haven Pizza Club has released a high-energy, call-and-response video featuring more than two dozen pizza makers, shop owners, and cultural voices from around the world answering the question: "Why does Connecticut have the nation's best pizza?" The video, led by club founder Michael Pollack and New Haven Pizza Crew's Joe Massaro, aims to spark a global conversation around Connecticut's influential pizza culture.

Why it matters

The video showcases how Connecticut's pizza tradition has resonated far beyond its borders, with pizza makers and enthusiasts from as far as Malaysia and Canada tipping their hats to the state's iconic pizza culture. This underscores the deep pride and community that has been built around pizza in Connecticut, especially in the New Haven area.

The details

The short video features pizzaiolos, shop owners, and other cultural voices from Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Florida, Arkansas, Illinois, Arizona, Canada, and Malaysia all answering the same question about why Connecticut has the best pizza in the nation. The video was created by Michael Pollack of the New Haven Pizza Club and Joe Massaro of the New Haven Pizza Crew.

  • The video was released on February 10, 2026, ahead of National Pizza Day on February 13, 2026.

The players

Michael Pollack

The founder of the New Haven Pizza Club and the creator of the call-and-response video celebrating Connecticut's pizza culture.

Joe Massaro

A tri-state pizza aficionado and member of the New Haven Pizza Crew, who co-led the creation of the video with Michael Pollack.

Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro

A U.S. Representative from Connecticut who praised the video for showcasing how Connecticut's pizza culture resonates globally.

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What they’re saying

“Connecticut pizza isn't just something we eat — it's part of who we are. Our small businesses, our families, and our neighborhoods built this tradition brick oven by brick oven and apizza by apizza. Seeing pizza makers from around the world tip their hat to New Haven and to Connecticut shows how deeply our culture resonates far beyond our borders. That's something to be proud of.”

— Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (courant.com)

“Pizza is art, and New Haven is the canvas. This video is a tribute to the people who wake up early, fire the ovens, and keep this culture and our food fight alive. When voices from around the world answer back to Connecticut, it shows that what started here truly matters everywhere.”

— Michael Pollack, Founder, New Haven Pizza Club (courant.com)

What’s next

The New Haven Pizza Club plans to continue promoting Connecticut's pizza culture through interactive events and projects, aiming to further unite pizza enthusiasts around the world.

The takeaway

The New Haven Pizza Club's call-and-response video demonstrates the deep pride and global influence of Connecticut's iconic pizza tradition, showcasing how a local food culture can resonate far beyond its borders and become a source of community identity and celebration.