'Down North Pizza' Owner Bringing Book Tour, Pizzas To Bucks Co.

NEW HOPE, PA — Muhammad Abdul-Hadi, the owner of "Down North Pizza," a Philadelphia-based pizza shop committed to reducing recidivism, will be in New Hope on Saturday, May 10 to sign copies of his new cookbook, "We The Pizza: Slangin' Pies and Savin' Lives."

Held in collaboration with Farley’s Bookshop and taking place from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Manoff Market Cidery, guests can enjoy fresh pies from Down North Pizza, local cider, and the opportunity to meet Muhammad Abdul-Hadi, founder of Down North Pizza, along with members of his team. Signed copies of the cookbook will be available for purchase through Farley’s.

“We’re excited for Saturday. It’s not just about great food, but community, opportunity and telling our story," said Abdul-Hadi. "With strawberry season here, we’ve got some special treats lined up —
strawberry lemonade and of course our pies. I hope folks come out, experience what we’re building and take a copy (or two) of the cookbook home.”

Released in February, "We The Pizza" is chock full of poignant stories and 65 knock-out recipes for award-winning pizza, wings, and more from Down North, the mission-driven Philadelphia pizzeria owned and operated exclusively by formerly incarcerated people.

"This cookbook is more than recipes," said Abdul-Hadi. "It’s about resilience, second chances and the impact of good food. I hope readers see how food can change lives.”

Created and launched by Abdul-Hadi, a Philadelphia-born entrepreneur, the mission of "Down North Pizza" is to reduce recidivism rates in North Philly and serve up the most insanely delicious food while doing it.

"Down North Pizza" in Philadelphia and owner Muhammad Abdul-Hadi.

The cover of the new book "We The Pizza: Slangin' Pies ad Savin' Lives."

“At Down North, we give formerly incarcerated people a second chance," said Abdul-Hadi. "We offer people an opportunity to show the world their worth, a chance to be in a positive work environment and make some of the best pizzas you’ll ever taste. It’s a chance to be a part of something that benefits the community."

According to Abdul-Hadi, "We the Pizza" is a testament to survival, second chances, and spectacular pizzas, wings, and more.

Recipes for tender, crispy edged, square-cut, sauce-on-top pies are Down North’s signature dish; a whole chapter is devoted to vegetarian and vegan pizzas like "No Betta Love" made with four cheeses and the arrabbiata-inspired Norf Sauce, while the meat and seafood pizza chapter features their most popular "Roc the Mic" pepperoni pie as well as the smoky berbere-brisket "Tales of a Hustler" and "Say Yes," topped with jerk turkey sausage, roasted butternut squash, kale, ricotta and lemon-honey drizzle.

The pizzas along with classic and creative wings fries, lemonades, and shakes are paired with cinematic photography of the pizzas in their natural setting and out in the wilds of Philadelphia, with lots of journalistic-style photography of the Down North crew making dough and slinging pies.

Within the pages of the book, readers also will find empowering stories recounted by Down North’s formerly incarcerated staff, and pizzas from renown chef-supporters like Marc Vetri and Marcus Samuelsson, creating a cookbook that celebrates ingeniously delicious pizza, as well as the power people have to rise above their circumstances -- if simply given the chance.

An image from the book, "We The Pizza."