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Perpetual Pizza Thread

d'Kong76 Jul 18 2017 12:56 AM

When we start a week off right, pepperoni and fresh garlic pie.

themetfairy Jul 18 2017 01:45 AM Re: Perpetual Pizza Thread

I'm not a pepperoni fan, but I'd substitute sausage. Or a nice mushroom pizza is always a good choice. And it has to be a New York style pizza. None of this tomato pie bullshit that they try to push off as pizza down here!

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jul 18 2017 02:32 AM Re: Perpetual Pizza Thread

Good sausage over pepperoni, all day, every day. For my money, pepperoni is the dullest of pizza toppings.

41Forever Jul 18 2017 02:37 AM Re: Perpetual Pizza Thread

We have a favorite pizza place here -- we always get pepperoni -- and one time I told the owner that their pizza is the closest I've found to New York style since I moved to the Midwest. Turns out that they, too, we're New York area transplants! I've grown to like real Chicago pizza, but it is an entirely different animal.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 18 2017 11:05 AM Re: Perpetual Pizza Thread

I got no problem with Chicago Pizza, especially if you're in Chicago. If I'm at a slice joint I'll get pepperoni only because that's the topping most likely to be available (or the guy will just deal a few slices on before warming). I'm turning into one of those insufferable dorks though who will insist on us getting pizza at the proper chef-led, fire-grilled place over the slice joint. We have 2 such places we can walk to. Fennel sausage Monzese from Fornino.

MFS62 Jul 18 2017 02:15 PM Re: Perpetual Pizza Thread

There's a pizza place in my town where Joe Girardi often eats (and has his picture taken). He has a house on nearby Candlewood Lake. I go to the other place in town for my pizza. They're both within a few blocks of each other. My wife asked me what I'd say if I met him, and I told her I'd say,"I remember when you were a backup catcher with the Cubs". Later

d'Kong76 Jul 18 2017 02:42 PM Re: Perpetual Pizza Thread

We like the combo of the pepperoni and fresh garlic. If we're doing sausage, we get sausage and peppers or sausage and mushrooms. If we do individual pies, our local dive has a really good spicey chicken I get sometimes. Our favorite place closed several years ago, everyone still talks about the food and pizza. Unfortunately, they didn't believe in paying taxes.

Ceetar Jul 18 2017 02:54 PM Re: Perpetual Pizza Thread

I mean, plain pie is the best. Stop dumping all that other stuff all over my pizza. it's fine on it's own, as are those toppings. pepperoni if anything, though it's often a little too greasy to be worth it. Better stuffed into a calzone. yum. place we order from does a pretty nice meatball slice topping though.

cooby Jul 18 2017 03:10 PM Re: Perpetual Pizza Thread Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jul 18 2017 03:13 PM

I like thin crust cheese pizza, but pepperoni is fine if it's well done (not chewy) Mushrooms are okay. Sausage also okay. The idea of biting into a crust and having cheese ooze out makes me want to hurl (are you listening Pizza Hut?) We have plenty of pizza places in our small town because of a nice Italian background so pizza chains are mostly nonexistent. Papa Johns has failed several times here, mostly because their pizza sucks but also because they were obviously more drug joints than pizza joints. Every time. Not that the drug business there didn't do well.

Lefty Specialist Jul 18 2017 03:12 PM Re: Perpetual Pizza Thread

I'm a meatball guy. Sausage if it's done right.

dgwphotography Jul 18 2017 04:14 PM Re: Perpetual Pizza Thread

Chicago pizza is good, but it's not pizza - it's quiche. Nothing beats a good, thin, crispy cheese slice. Depending on my mood, mushroom and onion is also good. My oldest had me try a Hawaiian pie - my initial reaction was ham and pineapple on a pizza is just wrong. But it was really tasty. When it comes to New Haven Pizza (Sally's, Pepe's, etc), don't bother - they are terribly overrated tourist traps, and the best pizza in the area is Zuppardi's in West Haven.

Lefty Specialist Jul 18 2017 05:29 PM Re: Perpetual Pizza Thread

Pomidoro's on Spring & Mulberry in Manhattan. Better than the touristy Lombardi's right down the street. Big pizzas with a soft crust that holds the toppings. My go-to place for deliveries to the office.

RealityChuck Jul 18 2017 06:59 PM Re: Perpetual Pizza Thread

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I got no problem with Chicago Pizza, especially if you're in Chicago. Chicago Pizza is not a thing in Chicago. Sure, there are places that serve it, but most go for the NY style. What's important to Chicagoans is the Chicago Hot Dog. Any variation on the recipe (all-beef hot dog with yellow mustard, fresh relish, chopped onions, sport peppers, tomato, celery salt, and a dill pickle in a poppy seed roll) will induce scorn. Add ketchup and prepare to die.

sharpie Jul 18 2017 07:14 PM Re: Perpetual Pizza Thread

Like JCL I've become a bit of a pizza snob and pretty much never get the generic slice pizza unless its an office party or something. Sausage totally the meat of choice. i'm a fan of artichoke hearts on my pizza which just shows you what I've become.

Ceetar Jul 18 2017 07:35 PM Re: Perpetual Pizza Thread

This crappy image doesn't do it justice but it's the best I can find but the hands down _best_ pizza is Oreganata from Genevese in Valley Stream. Sicilian Slice heavily topped with oreganata.

G-Fafif Jul 18 2017 10:37 PM Re: Perpetual Pizza Thread

Our local place of choice, Franco's of Baldwin (run by neither John nor Matt), has made it more cost-effective to go with five toppings than three (or, really, none). They call it the Loaded. The first four -- mushroom, onions, sausage, meatball -- are easy calls. The fifth is always tricky. Broccoli as an accent is underwhelming. Pepperoni is overwhelming. We've gone with eggplant, which is kind of hit or miss. You're fine with unadorned, as you should be. You're also pretty good with Sicilian for those odd moments when you're feeling square.

batmagadanleadoff Jul 18 2017 10:45 PM Re: Perpetual Pizza Thread

sharpie wrote: Like JCL I've become a bit of a pizza snob and pretty much never get the generic slice pizza unless its an office party or something. Sausage totally the meat of choice. i'm a fan of artichoke hearts on my pizza which just shows you what I've become. The artichoke sicilian pie at Di Fara's is one of the best pizza experiences I've had in my life. Make sure the artichokes are fresh. Sometimes, when he runs out of the fresh, he'll use canned artichokes.

themetfairy Jul 18 2017 11:16 PM Re: Perpetual Pizza Thread

G-Fafif wrote: Our local place of choice, Franco's of Baldwin (run by neither John nor Matt), has made it more cost-effective to go with five toppings than three (or, really, none). They call it the Loaded. The first four -- mushroom, onions, sausage, meatball -- are easy calls. The fifth is always tricky. Broccoli as an accent is underwhelming. Pepperoni is overwhelming. We've gone with eggplant, which is kind of hit or miss. You're fine with unadorned, as you should be. You're also pretty good with Sicilian for those odd moments when you're feeling square. If they have garlic cloves, then go with garlic cloves!

Ashie62 Jul 18 2017 11:21 PM Re: Perpetual Pizza Thread

I delivered pizza for four years in school, i've had enough.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 19 2017 02:42 PM Re: Perpetual Pizza Thread

I've come a long way with vegetables in my life but artichokes still make me want to puke. I'll eat almost anything else on a pizza happily

d'Kong76 Jul 19 2017 02:54 PM Re: Perpetual Pizza Thread

I like marinated artichokes in my salad, but this is the pizza thread. Never mind.

seawolf17 Jul 19 2017 02:55 PM Re: Perpetual Pizza Thread

The finest pizza in all the land is the sicilian slice from Branchinelli's in Commack/Hauppauge/Miller Place. Side note: went to Pepe's in New Haven this weekend for the first time in a long time, and that place is a wonder unto itself.

batmagadanleadoff Jul 19 2017 07:25 PM Re: Perpetual Pizza Thread

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I've come a long way with vegetables in my life but artichokes still make me want to puke. I'll eat almost anything else on a pizza happily If you don't like artichokes in general, you ain't gonna like 'em on a pizza. d'Kong76 wrote: I like marinated artichokes in my salad, but this is the pizza thread. Never mind. Di Fara's artichokes aren't marinated. I think they're more in the style of the world famous Roman Jewish Ghetto artichiokes.

batmagadanleadoff Jul 19 2017 07:32 PM Re: Perpetual Pizza Thread

seawolf17 wrote: The finest pizza in all the land is the sicilian slice from Branchinelli's in Commack/Hauppauge/Miller Place. I googled this because pizza. Mmmm. [fimg=555]https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/06/a7/69/c1/its-baked-fresh-and-pushes.jpg[/fimg] [fimg=444]https://s3-media1.fl.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/cIPKOhwoqo21QPkn2-l2Lg/o.jpg[/fimg]

Ashie62 Jul 19 2017 07:48 PM Re: Perpetual Pizza Thread

Looks like roadkill.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jul 20 2017 07:22 AM Re: Perpetual Pizza Thread

A loaded pizza is, like, pizza for people who don't like actual pizza. I mean, you like pepperoni and gorgonzola and artichokes and peppers? Get a damn sanguich. You mess with too many toppings, you mess with the weight and texture of the thing that make the thing the thing. If you're opting for pepperoni over sausage, either you're living with a tongue that craves salt above all else, or your local joint has shit sausage. Our local joint is Louie and Eddie's, so... yeah. We opt for the superior option. Hot take #2: Your default option is topped pizza? Your joint has inferior pizza. Straight. No chaser. Hot take #3: Spumoni Gardens is the best Sicilian, which is a bit like being the best shitburger. You go to Difara's, wait that wait, and you get the thick stuff? COME NOW.

batmagadanleadoff Jul 20 2017 08:15 AM Re: Perpetual Pizza Thread

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: A loaded pizza is, like, pizza for people who don't like actual pizza. I mean, you like pepperoni and gorgonzola and artichokes and peppers? Get a damn sanguich. You mess with too many toppings, you mess with the weight and texture of the thing that make the thing the thing. If you're opting for pepperoni over sausage, either you're living with a tongue that craves salt above all else, or your local joint has shit sausage. Our local joint is Louie and Eddie's, so... yeah. We opt for the superior option. Hot take #2: Your default option is topped pizza? Your joint has inferior pizza. Straight. No chaser. Hot take #3: Spumoni Gardens is the best Sicilian, which is a bit like being the best shitburger. You go to Difara's, wait that wait, and you get the thick stuff? COME NOW. I detest salad pizzas and pizzas with so many toppings, you can't see the actual pizza. But if there's room for just one topping, Di Fara's artichokes are just as good as good sausage. Also, I read your hot take #3 and I can't figure it out. A little help. Are you saying that Spumoni Gardens is good or bad? Or are you dissing the whole sicilian slice experience -- including squares from both Spumoni's and Di Fara's?

MFS62 Jul 20 2017 11:46 AM Re: Perpetual Pizza Thread

"Good Sicilian pizza" is like pasta salad - an oxymoron. Pasta is meant to be served hot, with sauce. Not cold, mixed with veggies and mayo. Actually, pasta salad isn't an oxymoron. It is an infamia. "Best shitburger" may be a tad strong. But its close. There is no such thing as a slice of Sicilian pizza. A slice of pizza is wedge shaped (actually cone shaped). Tsk tsk Everybody knows that. Sicilian pizza is cut into a square or slab. Like concrete, and its just as edible. Later

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jul 20 2017 02:09 PM Re: Perpetual Pizza Thread

#3 was a terribly expressed bit of nonsense (I blame the two Evil Twin Molotov Cocktails I had en route home from work). Sicilian, to me, has always been a bit too bready. I mean, it can be decent, I suppose-- no "shitburger" certainly-- but it messes with the balance of the dish, and the texture doesn't bring anything to the table, as far as I'm concerned. I'm no triangle purist, though. A well-executed nonna/grandma slice, slightly saucy, with a little touch of crisp on the bottom? THAT I'll do. DiFara's thin crust is the grana-padano-dusted tits. I'll stipulate to the artichoke on that, I suppose; I've definitely enjoyed a few of those.

Ceetar Jul 20 2017 02:14 PM Re: Perpetual Pizza Thread

I like sicilian well enough but it does feel a little different and the bread ratio is a bit too high mostly. It's a lot like using fresh bread to clean your plate after you eat pasta/chicken parm or something, which is delicious, just different. Though it looks like 'Detroit Style' is basically sicilian with a better ratio and a little less doughy.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 20 2017 03:54 PM Re: Perpetual Pizza Thread Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jul 20 2017 09:05 PM

I don;t mind Sicilian. Often I'll get 1 of those and 1 of the other at a slice joint. I have tried to grill my own pizza a few times with varying success. I struggle manipulating the crust and the pizza invariably turns out doughier and smaller than I would like. But I like making the sauce, grilling the sausage before etc. [fimg=500:ehoafx0k]https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4301/36005441896_f5e5fc2626_k.jpg[/fimg:ehoafx0k]

seawolf17 Jul 20 2017 04:07 PM Re: Perpetual Pizza Thread

batmagadanleadoff wrote: seawolf17 wrote: The finest pizza in all the land is the sicilian slice from Branchinelli's in Commack/Hauppauge/Miller Place. I googled this because pizza. Mmmm. [fimg=555]https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/06/a7/69/c1/its-baked-fresh-and-pushes.jpg[/fimg] [fimg=444]https://s3-media1.fl.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/cIPKOhwoqo21QPkn2-l2Lg/o.jpg[/fimg] OH goodness, this just make me hungry.

G-Fafif Jul 20 2017 04:27 PM Re: Perpetual Pizza Thread

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: A loaded pizza is, like, pizza for people who don't like actual pizza. I mean, you like pepperoni and gorgonzola and artichokes and peppers? Get a damn sanguich. You mess with too many toppings, you mess with the weight and texture of the thing that make the thing the thing. Love "actual piazza". Like a change of pace now and then. Never was one for toppings until I encountered the Gino's Special in my hometown of Long Beach and experienced the magic they could do together. Franco's follows in that tradition.

batmagadanleadoff Jul 20 2017 06:27 PM Re: Perpetual Pizza Thread

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Sicilian, to me, has always been a bit too bready. I mean, it can be decent, I suppose-- no "shitburger" certainly-- but it messes with the balance of the dish, and the texture doesn't bring anything to the table, as far as I'm concerned. Most sicilians are too bready. Or they're too light and airy. Or they're too thick and overly crunchy. That is to say, most sicilians suck -- they're very hard to make. But a great sicilian is a treasure.

sharpie Jul 20 2017 07:14 PM Re: Perpetual Pizza Thread

Re: loaded pizza. Pizza may have up to two toppings, no more. That rule does not extend to fresh garlic or basil which do not count against you in the topping rule. Re: Sicilian. Rarely good, usually too bready although in a crappy slice place it might be ok. Re: Chicago pizza. May only be eaten in Chicago and is not pizza.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 20 2017 08:10 PM Re: Perpetual Pizza Thread

How do I downsize that giant pic?

Frayed Knot Jul 20 2017 08:54 PM Re: Perpetual Pizza Thread

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: How do I downsize that giant pic? Use the fimg= function instead of just the img and insert some number after the = sign (start with 300 and go up or down from there if needed) until it fits better.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 20 2017 09:05 PM Re: Perpetual Pizza Thread

[fimg=500:3lqa9qya]https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4301/36005441896_f5e5fc2626_k.jpg[/fimg:3lqa9qya] hey it worked

Ceetar Jul 26 2017 07:27 PM Re: Perpetual Pizza Thread

Dante's in Ridgefield Park, NJ