The "Weight" is Over as Zero-Carb Pizza Crust Debuts in Chicagoland: Eshticken Pizza Redefines the Pizza Experience; Carbs and Gluten Out, Guilt-Free Fun in

Hoffman Estates, IL, March 31, 2012 --(PR.com)-- With a growing trend and market demand towards healthy low-carb, gluten-free eating, Eshticken Pizza is taking the pizza experience in a whole new direction. The restaurant’s brand new, patent-pending, Zero Carb Crust was born from the desire of one of the owners to enjoy pizza while on a low carb diet. Truth be told, Zero Carb Crust 1.0 wasn’t ready for prime time at all. However, after two years of patient experimentation and tweaking, their patent-pending crust debuted recently to Chicagoland residents to enjoy as Eshticken Pizza (www.eshticken.com).

Eshticken offers both its Zero Carb Crust as well as traditional crust pizza, for in house dining or take out. Co-owners/founders Mohamed Aly and his wife Eman, along with Dalia Hassballa and Ahmed Elgamal, Eman’s sister and Mohamed’s cousin, won’t share the “secret” of the Zero Carb Crust, but note once patrons do a taste-test and give it the “thumbs-up,” they’re let in on the ingredients that give Eshticken its tasty, proprietary, patent-pending "leg up" on the pizza competition. “The pizza world is fiercely competitive and Chicagoans really know – and are loyal to – their favorite pizza,” noted Mohamed. “We’ve worked hard to bring a zero-carb, gluten-free crust to the market because pizza is a universal food…but one which needed to reposition for a marketplace that is now very aware of carbs and gluten and a desire to eat more healthfully. We’ve created the flavor, taste and texture of traditional crust pizza, sacrificing none of the pizza experience people enjoy! Add to this our high quality, fresh, seasonal toppings and you’ve ‘guilt-free,’ flavorful fun!”

An accomplished star of stage and small screen, Mohamed was an actor in Egypt and came to the US to study directing. He found himself in Raleigh, NC – not exactly "Tinsel Town" – and in the time-honored tradition of many Hollywood actors, found himself learning the food service industry through a series of jobs at a deli and various pizza restaurants, where he honed his skills and perfected the art of hand-tossed pizza. “His drive, passion and talent, along with his imagination as an actor have made him the entertaining Pizza Chef he is today,” said his proud wife.

When queried about the origins of the name “Eshticken,” Eman, a marketing professional, coyly responds the name gives some hint as to their focus on the carb-free/gluten-free offering. “I’m a wordsmith and love playing with anagrams, thinly veiled references and double meanings,” she laughed. “And once you’ve learned our ‘secret,’ you’ll get a great chuckle out of it. However, we’re not just all pizza,” she noted. “We’ve created a crust that not only redefines the pizza experience, but we also have incorporated several of my husband’s family recipes –– lentil soup, house made sausage, roast turkey. The menu also features salads, sandwiches, appetizers such as ‘eshticken tenders’ and ‘eshticken wings,’ as well as specialty pasta dishes. We wanted an efficient lunch spot with variety for people on the go, as well as a family-friendly, seven day a week pizza restaurant that is a regular stop-in for folks.” With its warm, upscale and modern interior of natural stone, wood and red-accent walls, cheerful golden yellow pendant lights and dark-stained wood tables and chairs, the 50-seat restaurant is inviting, vibrant and comfortable. Ample parking is available and the restaurant offers a complete take-out menu.

Eshticken is located at 4660 Hoffman Blvd., in the Prairie Stone Crossing, Hoffman Estates, IL 60192. 847-747-0000. Corporate headquarters for the privately held company is in Elgin, IL.