| Author | Message | ||
     Crusty |
Pizza I love Pizza. It’s one of my favorite foods. I love it for dinner, or lunch, or for a snack, or especially, I love cold leftover Pizza for breakfast. I can’t say that I’ve never met a pizza that I didn’t like, but I like most of the pizzas I’ve tried. Some have been incredibly good and some have been incredibly bad but most have been somewhere in between. I grew up in a predominately Italian neighborhood (my maternal grandparents were Sicilian) and I learned about Pizza when I was quite young. My Great Aunt and Uncle lived a couple of blocks away, and there was a Pizza shop in one of the storefronts on the street in their building. It was only there for a short time, but Pizza joints come and go like that. Sometimes, the little hole in the wall joint has incredibly good food, but they don’t succeed for other reasons. There was also a bar on the corner named Saldi’s that sold Pizza on weekends. When my folks would send me down to get a Pizza from there, I had to go knock at the back door and order my Pizza then wait outside. (A Small cost .75 and a Large was $1.25) The cook would bring it out to me when it was ready. Kids were absolutely forbidden inside. It was, after all, a bar. One truly memorably bad Pizza was one that was served to my friends and me in Montreal, Quebec when we went to the Expo 67. I think the cook measured out the sauce with an eyedropper, and it had horrible tasting cheese on it. Another memorable experience was what the waiters brought you at the Pizza Garden of the Jacaranda Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. Kenya is NOT noted for the quality of their cheeses, and justifiably so. While my stay in Kenya was notable for many good reasons, the Pizza was not one of them. On the other side, however are some Pizzas that are just unforgettably delicious. My ex, stepdaughter and I went to a dirt track in Monticello, NY. There was a little Pizza joint in a strip mall close to the motel we were staying at where we ate dinner. The Pizza was fabulous. I keep meaning to go back there one of these days. For years, I heard about Caserta’s in Providence, RI; when I finally went there, I realized why. Their Pizza has unique qualities, and is very, very good. It’s worth a 1 ½ hour ride without question. I also really like Nana’s Pizza in Everett, MA. They make a truly wonderful thin crust Pizza that tastes like Pizza should. I try to get some every time I go into the City. There used to be a Greek Pizza (pan style) Pizza place in Waltham, MA called Angelo’s. When it first opened, back in the mid ‘60s, it was somewhat of a novelty. The Pizzas were quite a bit smaller than we were used to, but they were good. The proprietor was also somewhat colorful. My friends and I gave him a good bit of business over the years. There also used to be a little hole in the wall Pizza and Sub shop in Waltham called Joe & Mary’s. They were only in business for a year or so in the early ‘70s, but the people there had Enthusiasm and it showed in the quality of what they sold. One thing that I’ve noticed is that opinions on Pizza vary with individuals. My ex and I had different opinions on which Pizza was better, and I’ve noticed that seems to be true among people in general. The Pizza I love, someone else might only consider fair, and the converse is also true. One thing for certain is that none of the big chain stores have good pizza. I can eat their offerings, but I don’t think anyone will ever sing their praises. Now that I’ve gone and worked up an appetite, I think I’ll stop at Espresso’s and get a couple of slices for lunch while I’m out running errands. | ||
| Jaimec |
As a "Noo Yawkuh" through and through, I've discovered one simple truth: The farther I get from the Long Island/New York metro area, the WORSE the pizza gets. Worst pizza I ever tasted was in Venice, Italy... a slice that had seven different kinds of cheese (and ALL the flavors clashed). One exception to the rule is Deep Dish pizza in Chicago... but most New Yorkers don't consider that "real pizza" so maybe it doesn't count. | ||
| 86129squids |
  The past couple of years we've had our garden, we've made our own "from scratch" pizza sauce and canned it- then, I work at a restaurant that makes great focaccia bread for table service daily... there's gonna generally be a little surplus bread from day to day... Cut the focaccia laterally lengthwise, and c'est voila! Instant KILLER pizza crust! Add fresh/frozen peppers from the garden, fresh herbs, whatever meats and other toppings... DANG it's good! Last Christmas we traveled to visit my old neighbor and his son in Hot Springs AR, then to my sis in Little Rock... I was required to make pizza two nights in a row! Sis never got any bread or pizza, went down the gullet of the teenager first... I've come to hate Papa John's... their product is so-so, you pay WAY too much for it- give me a DiGiorno's or Freschetta any day instead of that stuff. The best pizzas come out of a wood-fired oven- I've never experienced any from a coal-fired oven, but rumor has it that's a good way to go too! (Message edited by 86129squids on December 19, 2014) | ||
| Jaimec |
The single FUNNIEST sketch Jon Stewart has EVER done sums up PERFECTLY how "Noo Yawkuhs" feel about their pizza: http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/0ect4f/me-lover- s-pizza-with-crazy-broad | ||
| Bob_thompson |
Jaimec: "One exception to the rule is Deep Dish pizza in Chicago... but most New Yorkers don't consider that "real pizza" so maybe it doesn't count." I agree Jaime and will add; being raised in the big windy I also came from a big Italian/Irish neighborhood and was raised on pizza. Later in the burbs my wife and I regularly went downtown to a deep dish pizza place called Unos for some of the best pizza in Chicago. Others will have their favorite places but after Lou Malnaties evolved from a relative of that place years ago and is now all over Chicago we still have the same deep dish pizza shipped to us, frozen, next day air, and enjoy it like we were still sitting in that little joint on the north side of the loop. And one last thing, if you get far enough away from the big cities, as in Utah, these people don't even know what pizza is. My wife (Mrs. Thompsonelli) makes home made pizza that is the absolute best in all the rural west. Period. | ||
| Jaimec |
Pizzeria UNO used to have restaurants here on Long Island, but they all closed. For years I had to head to the midwest to satisfy my "Deep Dish Pizza" jones, but recently Pizzeria UNO opened up a more casual establishment called "UNO Fresca" right by the office. I can now get authentic, personal pan pizzas for lunch when I'm in the mood again! | ||
| 86129squids |
 Jaimec, thanks for posting that up! I saw that when it aired, and fell out! Good stuff! | ||
| 86129squids |
Speaking of comedy and pizza- I do believe tonite is David Letterman's last night on the air, and he's doing that Christmas special thing where he has the two NFL quarterbacks try to knock a pizza off the top of the Christmas tree... hope I'm home in time to catch that. Also, sadly tonite is Craig Ferguson's last nite at the Late Late Show. Hate to see him go, but all good things must come to an end I guess. | ||
| Jaimec |
By the way, I'd like to thank Crusty for starting all of these interesting discussions that have NOTHING to do with politics or religion (though "Pizza" comes dangerously close to "religion" for some of us). Thanks, Crusty! What a perfect nom-de-guerre for a Pizza lover, by the way... | ||
| 86129squids |
 "By the way, I'd like to thank Crusty for starting all of these interesting discussions that have NOTHING to do with politics or religion (though "Pizza" comes dangerously close to "religion" for some of us)." Life happens, regardless of politics or religion. I do BELIEVE in great Pizza, and may convert to Pastafarianism someday... In the meantime, cut me some slack. | ||
| Thumper74 |
I try NY pizza twice a year, when I got to NYC. Not sure what the big deal is. I REALLY like the deep dish stuff I had when I visited Chicago. | ||
| Court |
>>>>Not sure what the big deal is. Tells me two things . . . .
Don't feel bad . . . . with 18,000+ restaurants there are lots of "just ok" places to keep those 475,000 (avg) folks who visit NYC daily . . . away from the "NY places". | ||
| 1313 |
You had me at Pizza! ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! I cannot control myself around it. If I am full eating pizza I continue until I'm absolutely STUFFED. I've had a good variety of pizzas in a variety of locations. The (apparently Northern) Germans love to vacation in Italy and there are a LARGE selection of "authentic" Italian restaurants around Berlin. The pizza is 'different', but in a good way - a DARN GOOD way. Ham instead of typical sausage usually, but pure yummyness! Heck, even the Pizza Hut pizza in Berlin is a little 'different' than US Pizza Hut pizza. Pizza with spinach in Chicago; pizza was good, spinach um...OK, I guess. One thing that I can't get down here in my local groceries freezer section is Jack's Naturally Rising pizza. A taste of Wisconsin, that I try to experience everytime I'm back home. As well as Rocky Rococo's - ain't got them here either. I had an EXCELLENT pizza in Indy one year I stayed with a former Buell rider on my way up to Homecoming. Don't know the name of the proprietor, but I'd love to put some in my belly again. Deep dish, stuffed crust, Philly cheesesteak, Bacon cheeseburger, taco pizza...damn I'm getting hungry... Oh yeah, I have actually had some pizza that I didn't not like - ONCE! When Cici's Pizza changed their recipe (after they cut back on their salad bar), it was absolutely deplorable. Good reason why that restaurant is no longer 'in town'. Beer and cold pizza - the breakfast of champions! 1313 | ||
| Strokizator |
I was surprised to find excellent pizza in Flagstaff, AZ at a place call Pizzicletta. Some guy from Italy flew out and built their wood-fired oven. The margherita pizza was tasty! I've had NY pizza and when we moved to our new office in 2004, I had a bunch fed-ex'd to us. (Message edited by strokizator on December 19, 2014) | ||
| Aesquire |
Not a native New Yorker.... and live in western N.Y. so not the same cult. Grew up with pizza hut and still like it but it's not N.Y. pizza. More middle thick crust generic. The local pizza ranges from poor to great mid crust. You can get N.Y. pizza or Uno locally. The N.Y. style stuff also ranges poor to good. So I assume I've never had the real deal. Local has Emphasis on toppings rather than sauce......and it's the sauce plus crust that makes the real difference. That said, I'm pizza agnostic. Like any style but not every pizza. One local chain has a veggy pizza with garlic sauce, cauliflower, onion, spinach, and lots of cheese to tie it into a good solid topping. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Love pizza. Bad pizza is like bad sex, it's still pretty good. Except for Chuck e Cheese. That is REALLY bad sex. | ||
| Thumper74 |
Court, I'm planning on visiting in the spring, so I'm open to suggestions. I don't go to NYC and eat chain food. Ever. I also need to bug you about exhausts in NYC, so I'll PM you. -Grays Papaya- good drinks, hotdogs were just hotdogs. -I could eat Katz' deli's Reuben everyday, for each meal, and not complain! My last trip taught me not to go to a restaurant in China Town of the beaten path with health inspector paperwork from that day. Chuck e Cheese's pizza is pretty terrible and more than 15 minutes there usually has me thinking about playing in traffic. Some of the better pizza I've had recently was the Kroger generic DiGornio. It was pretty good! | ||
| Blake |
Another great thread by Crusty! Could you spare a piece of your pizza? I'm really hungry.  | ||
| Crusty |
Gladly. | ||
| Buellish |
I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a pizza today! I wonder if Wimpy liked pizza? | ||
| Jaimec |
Thumper: That Daily Show video I linked above named the best pizza joints in and around Manhattan. The Grimaldi's by the Brooklyn Bridge is no more, unfortunately, but they do have at least one other location. | ||
| Court |
I can't divulge the location . . . . . but I thought I'd toss this in the mix. . .    | ||
| Court |
Another "undisclosed" location . . . private place not technically in Manhattan and no accessible by roads. But . . . if you're not scared of helicopters or boats . . . it's a memorable journey. We may need to add this to the Chris and Court's Most Excellent Adventure!     | ||
| 86129squids |
Court- I've always appreciated your photography and now you've gone into food porn! That Margherita almost made me stick my head through the 'puter... If anyone is lucky enough to pass through Tellico Plains TN on a Saturday, stop by Tellico Grains Bakery- they make great sandwiches every day but Sunday, and on Saturday they use their wood-fired oven for awesome personal pizza. Don't show up too late, they get BUSY... No better meal before or after running the Cherohala Skyway! | ||
| Reepicheep |
Good to know Squids, thanks! | ||
| Court |
>>>Court- I've always appreciated your photography and now you've gone into food porn! Hahahaha . . . for a few bucks or a free meal . . . I'll photograph anything. Fortunately . . . I had with me, on this visit, a fellow Badwebber who is far more refined and cultured than my ownfoolself.            Hungry yet? . . . . . If so . . . . I've got a great gig in Brooklyn tonight and you're welcome to come along . . . . same block where Miles Davis lived. By the way . . . . . I wandered upon quite an amazing pizza place 2 weeks ago in one of those moments that can only occur while wandering place in New York City that many would not go late at night. I'd read about a place called "Williamsburg Pizza" and neigh on the wee hours . . . curiosity and hunger crashed into one another. Turns out that the place I sought was the location at Lower East Side 277 Broome St New York, NY 10002 But . . . as a myriad of folks here will readily attest I am neither bright nor a very good navigator. My lack of acuity for the most simple of things . . , ended me up at . . . Williamsburg 265 Union Ave Brooklyn, NY 11211 . . . where . . . .I found a host of wonderful looking slices . . . . ordered a bottle of water and parked myself atop a righted keg where I spent the next 45 minutes sitting . . .watching delivery folks scurry to and fro. Locals stumbled in . . . wandered in . . .passed through . . picked up and shuffled into the light night glow cast by streetlight upon a row of Brownstones . . begging in unison for a little loving maintenance. If was . . perhaps. . .the least fancy meal I'd had in months (although I tend to end up in some pretty sleazy joints) but I must say . . . . I loved every moment. It was like being in a scene from an old-time NC movie. You can learn a great deal in the presence and company of those who roam the streets seeking pizza at that time of the night. Tonight I've narrowed my options to two of my favorite places. One, a private "social club" run by the neighbors that caterers to quite famous musicians in an amazing setting that spent it's early life as a corner Brownstone in a sleepy neightborhood. The other is a place I confess I found quite by accident. I'd heard of it and decided to act like I had more balls than I really do late one night. It's in an areas that was formerly heavily industrial and I had a hell of a time finding it. When I did . . . . it was on a deserted (rare in Brooklyn) street filled with old warehouses . . . docks . . .graffiti and broken street lights. The only way I knew I was in the right place was that the name was scrawled on the door in chalk. I swallowed . . . . as I pulled the door . . . knowing full well I could be wandering into some gang hangout and, once in the door, I was in. The most amazing thing happened . . . as the door opened I found about 18 chairs neatly arranged . . . with a grand piano, which is to this place what the sun is to the solar system, and a couple musicians mulling about. Yeah . . lately . . . I've been working what I call the "rooms" . . folks' living rooms that get converted on Saturday afternoon for an evening crowd. I was going to grow up in 2014 . . . . so I have at least a couple more days to kick the idea around but am beginning to suspect that, like retirement and the elusive exercise regime it's at risk of being pushed back another year as I opt for late nights, irresponsibility, pricey cameras and longer and longer hair. Yeah . . . I've really got to think about growing up. I lost someone very near to me about midnight last night . . . . and I think tonight I really NEED the music. . . and food. Yeah . . . I'll grow up next year. We now return you to your regularly scheduled pizza.          | ||
| Reindog |
I am sitting on the fence about flying out to do a New York City Superbowl fest at my buddies house in the UWS SSR. These photos are making me mighty hungry for some NYC action. | ||
| Mtjm2 |
Lived outside Phillthydelfia as a kid . Great pizza , great deli's ! Deli's may start another thread !? Relocated to the Peoples republic of Maryland . Sucks ! Now live in southern Pennsyltuckey ! Jerry n Sals in Hanover pa . Great pizza ! Thin crust , spicy sauce , and good toppings ! | ||
| Tootal |
This is a wonderful topic! I can just hear Homer Simpson, MmmmmmmmPeeetzaaaaaa! In St. Louis we have a pizza with a super thin crust and Provolone cheese. People from Chicago HATE it! I worked in Pizza Hut when much younger. There was a secret ingredient called "Fairy Dust". When they were bought out by Pepsico, I think, they did not get the recipe for fairy dust so Pizza Hut pizza is just not the same without it. A local wood fired pizza place makes one of my favorites now. It's a buffalo chicken pizza. It uses buffalo sauce with chicken covered with cheese and then baked in the wood fired oven. Once out they put slices of celery on top of the cheese! If you love buffalo wings then this is awesome! | ||
| Sifo |
I do wood fired pizza in my Kamado smoker/grill. It can crank up to about 600 degrees with no problem and the smoke flavor is pretty amazing. For deep dish Nancy's is by far the best I've ever had. I'm pretty sure they are a small local chain. Take out only. Expensive, but amazing. I wish they sold their sauce for my home made creations. That's the one piece I need to find a better source for. |
