When living in a world that seems to be perpetually on fire, sometimes you just gotta toss some dough on the flames. At least that’s the MO for Eat Free Pizza, an Instagram sweepstakes-turned-culinary phenomenon that is spreading the good, oven-fired word throughout Chicago.
The Eat Free Pizza trio consists of filmmaker Billy Federighi, 38, and Green Door Tavern manager Brad Shorten, 42, the aforementioned pizzaiolos, and full-time model Cecily Rodriguez, 29, who serves as social media guru for the team. With nearly two decades of friendship between Shorten and Federighi and a marriage between the latter and Rodriguez on the horizon, Team EFP’s pie-in-the sky dreams have been a long time coming.
To date, EFP has amassed nearly 6,000 followers and has hosted the Dove’s Luncheonette crew in their backyard, catered the opening party of the Hoxton hotel, and donated a chance to dine at their “chef’s table” to fund-raisers across the city. Breweries including Wiseacre, Solemn Oath, and Boulevard Brewing Company have contributed frosty bevs to the cause.
