Second Edition of Summer Series to Pair Iconic New Haven Pizzerias with Chris Bianco and Wylie Dufresne
BROOKLYN, New York (MAY 18, 2026) — This summer, some of the most revered names in pizza will once again descend on Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn for Blackbird Presents: The F&F Pizza Sessions. Hosted by beloved chefs Frank Castronovo and Frank Falcinelli, the second edition of the F&F Pizza Sessions will pair New Haven’s most storied pizzerias with the legendary Chris Bianco, Mark Iacono, and Wylie Dufresne, as well as international stars like Argentina’s Fernando Trocca and Daniel Pearson of Paris sensation Oobatz.
Each installment of this four-part summer series will be a true one-of-a-kind, with a portion of ticket sales benefiting Slice Out Hunger, the NYC-based nonprofit that fights food insecurity. For the celebrations, Castronovo and Falcinelli will turn the famed garden behind their universally acclaimed F&F Pizzeria and flagship restaurant Frankies 457 Spuntino into a pizza lover’s dream. Guests will get to experience what happens when the visiting chefs and pizzaiolos collaborate with the Franks on an epic lineup of pizzas, ranging from surprise one-offs to faithful renditions of some of the most sought-after slices on the globe.
“Some people swear by New York-style pizza, while others will tell you that it’s New Haven or nothing,” said Co-hosts Frank Castronovo and Frank Falcinelli. “This summer, we’re out to prove that you can have both — and then some — when Blackbird Presents: The F&F Pizza Sessions returns to Court Street for another unforgettable run. We can’t wait to spend our summer celebrating in the Frankies garden with some of the best pizza on earth.”
The 2026 F&F Pizza Sessions will kick off with a bang on June 15th with Chris Bianco and the team from Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, the century-old symbol of New Haven’s coal-fired style. On July 7th, Modern Apizzarepresents New Haven alongside Mark Iacono, the master craftsman behind Lucali. The magic continues on July 21st with Bret Lunsford of the New Haven original, Sally’s Apizza, and Wylie Dufresne, founder of Stretch Pizza, who will bring his inventive approach to the event.
The series concludes on September 1st with the first-ever New York City appearance by Dan Pearson of the renowned Paris pizza restaurant Oobatz (and highly anticipated Gagootz, opening soon in San Sebastian.) Pearson will be joined by third generation pizzaiolos Jim Ormrod and Anthony Pearce of New Haven’s historic Zuppardi’s; and Fernando Trocca, the chef behind Mostrador Marram in Montauk and some of the most celebrated restaurants in Argentina and Uruguay.
For the guests who don’t want the fun to end, each installment will feature a ticketed afterparty at F&F Restaurant and Bar that runs until just before midnight.
Ticket Info
Tickets will be available on Wednesday, May 20th at 12pm at blackbird.xyz/ff
Admission is $125 per session with an option to add on entry to the after party for $50. A portion of each ticket will be donated to Slice Out Hunger.
- The Pizza Session ticket covers all-you-can-eat pizza from F&F Pizzeria and the night’s guest pizzaiolos; and bottomless appetizers and drinks from the Frankies kitchen and bar.
- The After Party ticket covers additional pizza from F&F Restaurant, a welcome drink, dessert from the F&F kitchen and access to the Franks and guest pizzaiolos.
The F&F Pizza Sessions is presented by Blackbird, the loyalty and payments platform powering the future of independent restaurants. Tickets for the four-part summer series are available exclusively through Blackbird, where guests can earn $FLY, Blackbird’s rewards currency, with every purchase.
About F&F Pizzeria
F&F Pizzeria is a Brooklyn-based pizzeria known for its dedication to quality ingredients and technique. Rooted in Italian tradition but distinctly New York in spirit, F&F focuses on naturally leavened doughs, thoughtfully sourced ingredients, and a deep respect for the craft of pizza-making. The brand has quickly become a destination for both locals and industry professionals, recognized for its balance of precision and warmth.
About The Franks
Chefs Frank Castronovo and Frank Falcinelli are the acclaimed duo behind Frankies Spuntino and F&F Pizzeria. With decades of experience shaping New York’s Italian-American dining landscape, they are celebrated for their commitment to craftsmanship, seasonal cooking, and enduring hospitality.
Their work has helped define a generation of neighborhood restaurants—places that feel both timeless and deeply personal—while influencing countless chefs and operators across the country.
The Franks previously hosted three years of the wildly successful Franks Backyard Series in partnership with Resy. The team invited guests to their celebrated backyard in Carroll Gardens, throwing monthly parties alongside a roster of internationally acclaimed chefs who partnered on a menu of unique interpretations of cookout fare.
About Blackbird
Blackbird is a loyalty and payments platform for people who love great restaurants, and the teams who bring them to life. By rewarding diners every time they show up with perks and points across its network, Blackbird is building a more valuable relationship between restaurants and their guests, while helping operators lower costs and unlock deeper insights.
Today, more than 1,400 restaurants are live on Blackbird in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Charleston, throughout the Colorado Mountains, and the Hamptons, with additional cities coming soon. The company partners with leading operators such as Le Bernardin, Grovehouse, Frasca, and Sage, supporting independent restaurants and multi-unit groups alike.
Founded and led by Ben Leventhal, the co-founder of Resy and Eater, Blackbird has raised $85 million from leading investors, including a16z, Amex Ventures, Square Capital and Union Square Ventures. In 2025, the company grew more than 1,000%, underscoring strong demand for a modern platform built specifically for hospitality.
For more information, visit blackbird.xyz
About Slice Out Hunger
Slice Out Hunger is a NYC-based nonprofit that fights food insecurity through a network of over 800 pizzerias nationwide. Founded in 2015, the organization has raised over $2.5 million in aid, most of which is used to fund pizza deliveries from independent pizzerias to those in need at shelters and soup kitchens.
