On March 14, a mathematical constant converges with our culinary cravings for National Pi Day food deals.
It takes a little maneuvering to connect math with the munchies, but here’s how it works:
Pi is the ratio of the circumference of any circle to the diameter of that circle, which was first calculated by the ancient mathematician, Archimedes of Syracuse, somewhere around 250 B.C.
The number’s long line of decimal points gets shortened to 3.14, which makes it obvious why we celebrate National Pi Day on March 14.
From there, it’s a short hop from “pi” to “pie.”
Pi Day was created in 1988 by American physicist Larry Shaw. He and his co-workers at the Exploratorium, a San Francisco museum, celebrated the first Pi Day by eating — what else? — pie.
His daughter later pointed out that March 14 also was Albert Einstein’s birthday.
In 2009, the day was officially recognized as a holiday by the U.S. Congress.
While math geeks around the world often celebrate the day with intellectual competitions, the rest of us stick with enjoying pie, either sweet or savory.
This year’s Pi Day deals at stores with Western Pennsylvania locations mostly involve pizza, but that’s not a bad thing, is it? If you prefer the dessert variety, you may need to visit a local bakery or make your own.
This is what’s cookin’ around the area:
• 7-Eleven — Select stores are offering a large pizza for $3.14. Available in cheese, pepperoni and extreme meat varieties, the deal will be available in stores through 7Rewards in the 7-Eleven app or can be ordered through the 7NOW delivery app for home delivery or pickup.
In addition, 7-Eleven will donate one meal to Feeding America for every whole pizza purchased at participating stores on Pi Day.
• Boston Market — Get a free pot pie with the purchase of another pot pie when you download the restaurant’s app on Pi Day.
• Papa John’s — Order one large pizza and get another large pizza for $3.14.
• Pilot Flying J — Get discounts on pizzas through March 15. Take $5 off whole pizzas when you order through the app.
• Save a Lot — For Pi Day only, the discount grocery store chain is offering Mantia’s ready-made, frozen pizzas for $3.14. Pizzas come in styles such as rising crust, brick oven and thin crust, with a variety of toppings.
