Lyn Dowling

For FLORIDA TODAY

Asked about how he would celebrate Halloween, Charlie Genna, chef-owner at Genna Pizza and young father, leaned back in his chair and laughed.

“I’m going to be working,” he said. “Halloween is the biggest day of the year for us, so we’ll start making and sending out pizzas (for delivery) starting late afternoon, one after the other, bang, bang. Halloween is huge for pizza. Everyone thinks it’s Super Bowl Sunday, but no. It’s Halloween, and then the night before Thanksgiving.”

Statistics compiled by Mental Floss put Super Bowl Sunday first, though industry experts say pizza statistics are slipping on that date; some say wings are the biggest game-time snack. A study undertaken by Under Armor’s MyFitnessPal nutrition site puts Halloween first for pizza, as of last year.

Regardless, Pizza Hut alone will sell nearly a million pies this Halloween, according to company spokespeople, and sales rise an average of 25 to 35 percent during trick-or-treat time, say various industry reports.

What do the members of 321 Flavor: Where Brevard Eats, FLORIDA TODAY’s Facebook group say? For the most part, they concur, with chili a close second, followed by hot dogs, other dishes and a variety of seasonal specialties.

“We are going to a friend’s (house) to pass out candy (and) they always order pizza,” April Medzius wrote.

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“I’ve ordered pizza for 17 years because my first year in Florida, one of my kindergarten students came to trick or treat and was dressed as a slice of pizza,” said Delaine Mullins Roneker. “Pizza had just arrived, so he ate with us (and) he’s eaten pizza with us every year since. He’s in college but still stops by to eat pizza on Halloween.”

Chili also is a Halloween tradition in some homes.

“I have had chili every Halloween since I was 5 (years old),” Kathi Hooper Landers said. “That’s a long time. It used to be a neighborhood driveway party, then when we moved away, it was my mom who made it. Now it’s my sister.”

“(Our tradition is) chili, but it’s too warm in Florida (to serve it),” Pam Shaia said.

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“We are having a little Halloween party at my house (and) everyone is going to bring food,” she said. “I am making some meatballs, bruschetta and grilled cheese for the kids. (They will) play a few games and/or watch some cartoons, and then we are all going to take the kids, a bunch of 4- and 5-year-olds, trick-or-treating.”

Others simply will wait for the costumed crowds.

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“(We’ll have) junk food while watching ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ (and) hopefully giving out candy to trick-or treaters, usually pizza,” Suzanne Nealis Ellis wrote. “(It is our) first year in Florida and (we are) hoping for trick-or-treaters.”

Somehow, it usually gets back to pizza, and pizza industry organizations, as well as local pizza makers, suggest ordering early.

“We get calls the day before Halloween,” said Genna, who admitted that after earlier rounds of pie-making finish each year, he “sneaks out” and leaves dough-throwing to other cooks to celebrate with his wife and young children in their Halloween-crazed neighborhood in Melbourne.

Love talking food?

Get in the discussion. Join facebook.com/groups/321FlavorWhereBrevardEats.

Tweet @lyn_dowling or email 321foodreviews@gmail.com.

Want more local food coverage? Visit floridatoday.com/food.



