Lou Malnati's Ships Its Italian Combo Beef-Za Nationwide

Two of Chicago's most sacred foods just merged onto one deep dish — and now you don't have to live in Chicagoland to get it. Lou Malnati's Italian Combo Beef-Za, the limited-time pizza that stacks a classic Italian combo sandwich on the brand's legendary Buttercrust, is now available for nationwide shipping through TastesofChicago.com.

The pizza was built in collaboration with Food Network personality and Chicago-based chef Jeff Mauro, better known as the "Sandwich King." It layers Italian beef, sausage and giardiniera over a deep dish base — a hometown mashup that first ran in restaurants during Italian Beef Month in May and quickly became a guest favorite.

What's on the Beef-Za

This isn't a novelty topping dump. The build is a genuine ingredient collaboration between Lou Malnati's and Mauro Provisions:

• Mauro Provisions Italian Beef, produced exclusively with Certified Angus Beef
• Honey G Pepper Relish, made with finely diced Mauro Provisions Medium Craft Giardiniera and Grade A honey for crunch and sweet heat
• Lou Malnati's exclusive sausage blend
• Vine-ripened tomatoes and Wisconsin mozzarella
• The brand's signature Buttercrust

Each pizza is handmade, flash frozen to lock in freshness and shipped ready to bake at home. The nationwide run comes in a Small Deep Dish and is available for a limited time through Aug. 26. Mauro Provisions Craft Giardiniera and Honey G Pepper Relish are also available to ship through Tastes of Chicago.

Two Chicago Names, One Collaboration

For more than 55 years, Lou Malnati's has built its reputation on quality ingredients and authentic Chicago deep dish. Considered the oldest family name in Chicago pizza, the family-owned company operates 70 locations across Chicagoland, Arizona and Wisconsin, with a signature deep dish made from a secret recipe handed down through four generations.

"When we introduced the Italian Combo Beef-Za in May, we knew Chicago food fans would appreciate the combination of two local favorites," said Marc Malnati, owner of Lou Malnati's. "We're excited to make it available through Tastes of Chicago so even more people can enjoy it."

Mauro Provisions, founded in 2020 by Emmy-nominated Food Network host, chef and best-selling author Jeff Mauro, crafts elevated Chicago-centric staples known for Craft Giardiniera, Honey G Pepper Relish, Italian Beef and Craft Seasonings.

"Lou Malnati's has been perfecting their deep dish game for generations, and my family and I have been eating it since we were kids," Mauro said. "This pizza keeps the heart of what makes the sandwich special while giving people a whole new way to enjoy it, and it's all on top of the best deep dish in the game."

Why It Matters

This launch is a tidy case study in how legacy brands can extend a hit LTO beyond the four walls of the restaurant. The Beef-Za proved demand in-store during a themed month, then converted that momentum into a direct-to-consumer, ship-anywhere product — turning a local promotion into a national revenue channel without new real estate.

For operators and product teams, there are a few takeaways worth borrowing:

• Test in-restaurant, then scale via e-commerce. A proven guest favorite de-risks the national rollout and gives marketing a ready-made story.
• Co-brand with a credible name. Pairing with Jeff Mauro and Mauro Provisions layers celebrity reach onto a shared regional identity — both brands win, and the ingredient sourcing (Certified Angus Beef) reinforces a quality message.
• Lean into regional authenticity. "Italian beef on deep dish" travels precisely because it's unapologetically Chicago. Specificity sells in a crowded frozen and DTC space.
• Use scarcity intentionally. A hard end date of Aug. 26 creates urgency and a clean read on demand for a potential encore.

Add-on cross-sells — the Craft Giardiniera and Honey G Pepper Relish shipping alongside the pizza — show how a single hero SKU can pull an entire product line into the cart.

How to Order

The Italian Combo Beef-Za ships nationwide through Aug. 26 in a Small Deep Dish. To learn more or place an order, visit tastesofchicago.com.

Chasing more chef-driven collabs and regional flavor plays? See how Red Robin became the first national chain to pour Kelce-owned Garage Beer and how Flo Rida took an equity stake in Beyond Juicery + Eatery. Would you ship a hometown mashup coast to coast? Tell us in the comments.

Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Top 40 Under 40” for founding American Wholesale Floral. Politz is also the founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.