Miss Peaches, rescue dog of Dave Portnoy, inspires South Shore restaurant

PEMBROKE – When Alumni Sports Cafe recently added the “Miss Peaches Pizza” to its specials menu, some regulars were initially skeptical, co-owner Linda Gibbons said.

No middle ground exists when it comes to the pineapple-on-pizza debate: either you’re fervently for the tangy addition or bitterly against it.

As for sliced peaches on pizza? It might be a different story, particularly with its inspiration coming from Dave Portnoy of Barstool Sports and "One Bite" fame, and particularly his dog, Miss Peaches.

The proposition of garnishing pizza with the summery stone fruit inspired similar discourse, at least in a non-scientific poll in a Facebook group dedicated to the South Shore bar pizza scene.

More: Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy takes 'One Bite' out of South Shore pizza scene

But when customers received free tester samples of the pizza – which is topped with sliced peaches, chewy mozzarella, fresh basil and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar  – those who didn’t think the combination would work were pleasantly surprised.

“They all loved it,” said Gibbons, who co-owns the restaurant at 95 Washington St. with her husband, Pat.

Plus, it doesn’t hurt that it’s all for a good cause.

Miss Peaches may now be more famous than her owner, Dave Portnoy

Miss Peaches refers to the 6-year-old American pit bull rescue adopted earlier this year by Portnoy, the unofficial authority on cheese pizza. His videos reviewing pizza across the country frequently go viral and spur big business for the shops he visits.

The description of the $14.99 menu item explains that Portnoy has raised money (about $500,000 as of the end of March, according to reports) for animal shelters across the country and promotes the motto “adopt, don’t shop.” It also recommends that patrons pair the pizza with a peach-flavored High Noon vodka seltzer and that a portion of the proceeds from the dish will go to a local animal shelter. They'll keep it on the menu and raise money through the first week of May.

Regardless of how many pizzas they sell, Gibbons said the restaurant plans to donate $1,000 to Buddy and Friends Animal Rescue in Pembroke.

And, should Portnoy decide to give a “One Bite” review of an Alumni Sports Cafe slice, Gibbons certainly wouldn’t mind. Each video posted on YouTube gets between 200,000 and a few million views. She looks past his controversies and appreciates how he supported small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic and his fundraising for animals.

“I would love to have him,” she said. “He gets a lot of grief, but he stepped up and helped so many little guys. I don’t have anything bad to say about him at all.”

Portnoy sticks to topping-less cheese slices when he rates pizzerias. But if he or any customer gives the Miss Peaches bar pizza a try, they’ll be met with a subtle sweetness that is not as overpowering as a pineapple topping. The morsels of smooth, juicy peaches are complemented by the flavors of the basil, mozzarella and balsamic vinegar. (This writer is a fan of pineapple on pizza, if that means anything.)

In the Gibbons household are their two Goldendoodles – 15-year-old Molly and 2-year-old Remi – as well as their son’s 3-year-old pit bull rescue named Karma. Gibbons typically starts her day with morning coffee and scrolling through Miss Peaches’ Instagram feed. The dog herself has one million followers on the platform.

“I’m in love with Miss Peaches,” she said.

The restaurant has raised money for veterans and other causes in the past, but wanted to try something different.

“We always love to give back to our community. Whenever something comes up or someone's in need, we try to be there,” Gibbons said.

Don't think you can do the peach pizza? You can always just donate directly to the shelter, too.

Hannah Morse covers growth and development for The Patriot Ledger. Contact her at hmorse@patriotledger.com.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Alumni Sports Cafe has Miss Peaches pizza to raise money for shelter