How To Get Invited To Hudson Valley Celeb Chef's Secret Pop-Up

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — For many of us, water cooler talk about National Pi Day or the latest NFT trends makes our eyes glaze over; bring up the subject of pizza, however, and we are all ears.

Bedford celebrity chef and restaurateur Christian Petroni is about to launch his first "Edible NFT" for pizza pop-ups and exclusive invites just in time for National Pi Day.

The first pizza pop-up will be in a secret location in NYC on March 20. Future pop-ups will be around the world for the benefit of purchasers outside the New York area, which will be determined through votes. In order to get invited to Chef Petroni's pop-ups, you have to buy an Edible NFT (non-fungible token), which launches on Monday, March 14, also known as Pi Day.

According to the organizers, the value of an NFT comes from the property it represents, which is generally something that exists in the digital world like an original piece of art or something tied to a benefit in the physical world (in this case, an invitation to a secret pizza party).

Additional perks will include a limited-edition "Edible NFT" claymation artwork, airdrops of secret Petroni family recipes, a Gabagool merchandise item and invitations to the Gabagool headquarters in Port Chester for cooking classes and private dinners.

This is the first Edible NFT drop for Petroni, in collaboration with 8it, a community where industry pros and food lovers collaborate to showcase their talents. Visual artist David Schwen developed the NFT artwork, using his claymation skills to highlight Petroni's garlic butter sicilian pie, along with the chef's playful manner.

SEE ALSO: Hudson Valley Restaurateur Sizzles And Simmers On Food Network

Petroni's first turn in front of the camera came in 2018 when he won the fourteenth season of the network's reality competition "Food Network Star." He has since gone on to appear on other Food Network hit shows, including "My Fave vs. Your Fave," "Tournament of Champions," "Chopped," "Beat Bobby Flay," "Guy's Grocery Games," "Diners Drive Ins & Dives," "Restaurant Hustle: All on the Line" and "Restaurant Hustle 2021: Back in Business."

Foodies in the Hudson Valley, however, are more likely to recognize Petroni as the longtime face of the uber-popular Fortina with locations in New York and Connecticut. He has since stepped away from the Fortina Restaurant group and moved on to new projects through his Gabagool media company, such as "Petroni's Pizza Party."

A minimum of 500 "Edible NFTs" will be sold, at $250 each.

More information about "Petroni's Pizza Party" drop can be found here.

You can also watch Chef Petroni explain his new Edible NFT to his mom, Nonna Fiorella: