By Adam Frisk Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
A new culinary venture, Haliburton Pizza Pasta Plus, celebrated its grand opening last month that saw several menu items selling out.
The pizza joint, owned and operated by Highlands East firefighter Scott Muirhead, had a preliminary run on the weekend of April 25. Muirhead said the high volume of orders required a complete inventory restock ahead of the official opening.
“The feedback has been really great,” he said. “We actually sold out a lot of things but we’re back in stock and ready.”
The business prides itself on the fresh production and local sourcing of ingredients and menu items. The dough, Alfredo sauce, spaghetti sauce, and pizza sauce are prepared in-house daily, starting at 8 a.m. The restaurant’s popular Philly cheesesteak pizza utilizes slow-cooked ribeye sourced directly from a local, inspected farm, Muirhead said.
The firefighter previously operated food businesses in Thamesford and Gooderham, and after some research, he made the decision to open a dedicated pizza and pasta shop in Haliburton village.
“I noticed this place for lease, and my oldest daughter’s moving here. So it’ll be something for her to kind of take over as well,” he said. “And I just saw the need [for a pizza shop] based on the feedback from a little poll I did on Facebook, so it seemed like a good choice.”
Muirhead said that after the hiring of an initial support team and a delivery driver, the high demand has created a need for more staff. He said he plans to hire at least one more kitchen staff member and another delivery driver.
While Haliburton Pizza Pasta Plus is officially open, the owner said that permanent signage is still pending. Temporary banners are currently in place until weather conditions allow for the installation of permanent building wraps.
The shop, located at 41 Maple Ave., is open Thursday through Sunday, and delivery is offered from 4 p.m. to close.
