Malawi's Pizza, a small gourmet fast-casual chain based in Utah and on a social mission to feed millions, just announced the first of more than 20 Houston locations. Chef and founder Kent Anderson started the restaurant with a simple concept; for each person who comes in, Malawi's provides a meal to a child in Malawi who otherwise would not eat that day. Working through a charitable partner, the chain supplies a nutritional supplement that gets blended with local grains.

The pizzeria signed a 5k SF lease in Sienna Plantation at Texas 6 and Sienna Parkway. A 5,100 SF location is in the works in Midtown, according to the Houston Chronicle. The restaurant will have a large lifelike replica of an acacia tree, symbolizing life and nourishment. The company expects to have four locations in the Houston area open by 2017.

The Weitzman Group's Doug Herman, Ed Heap and Randy Hopper are repping the pizza chain in Texas. Between 4,500 and 6k SF, the locations will be bigger than a typical pizzeria.

If reading this made you hungry, just imagine writing it. [Chron]