OT: National Pizza Day

Our family favorite is Dad's homemade, so much so that it is our official Thanksgiving meal every year. I like it because it is a little different every time. I prefer to be able to make my dough the day before, but I didn't see this post until I got home this afternoon, so a short rise will have to do. Sometimes it's thin crust, more often it is thick; sometimes it's sauce-cheese-toppings, but sometimes it is sauce-toppings-cheese (the family doesn't really care for Detroit-style). I used to make what I called Five Pound Pizza, which was a 16-18" with absolutely everything on it that did weigh in at over four pounds, but tonight, since it is just the two of us, I'll make a 12" with ham, garlic-sauteed mushrooms, bacon, seasoned ground beef, and bell peppers. 

Sorbillo’s in Naples, Italy.  I think they have opened in NYC recently.

It may have been the way the day went and what that pizza represented but the best Pizza I remember having was at the Wild West Saloon in West Yellowstone, MT.  We had had a really rough day as my daughter had gotten badly hurt necessitating a one hour drive to the nearest hospital.  On the way back from the hospital we asked her what she wanted to eat and she said pizza and we went to this place.  The pizza was good the crust was tasty and I thought the way the toppings and cheese were laid out was good too, there was good music playing and the beer selection was impressive as well.  

Maybe if I went back I would find it to be over-priced tourist crap.  But after the day I had had it tasted like mana from heaven.

Pizza Crossing in Logan Ohio is a legendary local place. I live within walking distance, so at least I get some cardio picking up my meal. Stop in if you're ever visiting the Hocking Hills. I especially love that my younger daughter doesn't like pepperoni so I get hers as well. 

Grimaldis hands down. Had it multiple times in Las Vegas, twice in LA, and once in Phoenix. The original is located under the Brooklyn Bridge.

They opened one over by Detroit somewhere but it didn’t last long, I’m not sure why.

Lou Malnati’s Sausage deep dish.  I’m drooling just thinking about it. 

Lots of great places out in this big beautiful world, but if you happen to be in Elmwood Park, Elmhurst or Arlington Hts IL, do yourself a favor and get a pizza from Armand's.  Thin crust.  Yum.  Consider the Brimley special of ham and green olives.

Seconded Notty Pine in Troy, NY. When I lived in Troy, we had so many great pizzas from there. Kay's on Burden Lake makes a great pie, as does Purple Pub in Watervliet and Roma Pizza in Latham -- "up the hill" from Troy on Route 2. Ralph's on Central Ave in Colonie was a great place for pizza after bowling at Sunset Lanes.

So much good pizza in the Capital District of NY.

Franco's in Walker MI used to be a favorite. Mario would yell and mispronounce my name every time I picked up pizza. Miss that. Vitale's has a similar taste as the old Franco's, but they don't have Mario.

Buddy's

Sylvia's in Allen Park, MI. Greasy cups of pepperoni. Sadly closed now.

 I've had most of the big names in Michigan, NYC, and Chicago. Supinos in Detroit is great. But end of the day give me some Cottage Inn Pizza made with love and that's one of my favorites!

One last choice for me Is Charlie's in Albion, MI. My gf now wife took me there 30 years ago and I loved the dumb simplicity of a shot, a beer, and little square slices.

How has no one said Freddie the pizza man? Primos is decent too 

During the pandemic I've become pretty good at making my own pizzas. I've developed a decent repertoire of a few different kind of pizzas:

1) Detroit Style

2) Windsor Style

3) New England Bar

4) Spicy Sicilian

5) New York/New Jersey

6) Chicago Deep Dish

Real enjoy doing making them and it doesn't take all that much work once you get the recipes down

Backroom.

Tomatoes Apizza in Farmington Hills.

Grew up in Hamtramck: Angeline’s or Johnny’s delivered. Buddy’s on Conant or Louie’s on Dequindre was the best.

Hamtramck specialized in perch dinners: Midtown Cafe or Old Mill.

Those were the days.

1. Mariella's on Lexington Ave., NYC. Have  a slice of Sicilian, thank me later.

2. Buffalo chicken pizza at The Distillery in Rochester, NY. Just perfect chunks of buttery, tangy white meat on a pretty good pie foundation.

I've yet to find a decent pizza here in Minnesota. But maybe someday.

Best ever - Giordano’s in Chicago.

Best near me - Russo’s in Macedonia

Best within driving / delivery difference - Fat Bob

Tacconelli’s in Philly (Fishtown).  Tomato spinach pie (house special) is mind blowing. Can’t take any home though because your car will smell like garlic forever.

special mention: favorite NYC pizza- Totonno’s

I really dig the Mitten. I might be swayed by the beer and the fact you can get a pizza flight, but I’ve never been disappointed. 

I can't eat pizza until I lose my Holiday weight. Right after Halloween, I became a junk food junky that lasted all the way until New Years. I had lots of pizza and beer, along with all sorts of chips, cookies and candies, and in one evening I ate an entire package of double stuffed Oreos. I'm just one pound away from the 10/31 weight but I want to lose 20 more pounds to get back down to my college weight. Then I can start drinking beer and wine in moderation of course and have some pizza every once in a while but keep eating healthy food.  I like local pizza joints but occasionally will get little cesars, dominos, papa johns and  godfathers.  I stay away from pizza hut, way too greasy.

I remember as a kid back in the late 60s, my Grandparents use to take us out to Buddy's pizza. I think it was the original one in northwest Detroit on Friday evenings. I think they may have turned into a chain?

The original Fricanos in Grand Haven— nothing like it anywhere

Sicily Pizzeria in Flint. Sadly, also closed.

So many great places but this place was awesome. I enjoy variety and like deep dish but not all Chicago pizza is deep dish.  Sad day. 
 

https://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/ct-father-son-pizza-logan-square-closing-20190711-hwybykmdjvcflamheqsx77dzfu-story.html

Some great Detroit pizza:

Niki’s in Greektown.  
Vince’s on Springwells in SW Detroit. 
z’s place/z’s villa by Wayne state.

all slightly different but good.

honestly, i know people were joking about this earlier, but I do love a good Little Caesars pizza. One made well, not quick. There was a great Little Caesars in Henry Ford hospital back in the day. 
 

and, everyone once in a while, I have flashbacks of the pizza at a play place, like the old Little Caesars Family Fun Pizzeria in Clawson, or Major Magics in Madison Heights or by Lakeside. In fact, every so often, I think I have a seizure where I smell Major Magic pizza around me.

Just to add to the discussion… I live in WA state now and there isn’t a single decent pizza place in the whole state. I have no idea why they can’t manage good pizza out here but it’s a real bummer. The town I live in does the whole “local paper best of town” awards thing and Papa Murphy’s Take and Bake has won best pizza place like 5 years in a row. How bad does your town’s pizza have to be for that to happen?

I'm a little late to the pizza party, but Pizzaiolo in Oakland is often included among the best pizzas in the US. I like their fennel sausage spinach and onion pizza.

Cheeseboard Pizza in Berkeley in Berkeley is also a Bay Area institution. They make only one type of pizza each day, and its always vegetarian, but not matter what they make its always good as hell.

If we're talking a more traditional Pizza though, Peppinos in Grand Rapids is a long time favorite. I try to get their BBQ Chicken pizza every time I make it to GR.

The corner pepperoni square with hot honey from Mama's Too at 106 and Broadway, NYC, changed my life.

DeLuca's corner of Inkster and Warren,when I was a kid my dad took me and my brother to Budde's Industrial Bar for a fabulous pizza.I think the owner's brother played for the Chiefs.The bar was somewhere in Detroit.Dad was an old 299 Teamster and knew Detroit like the back of his hand.Pizza bread at Villa Bakery in G.C. is also a gamechanger

Pepe's is still great, but if you are in New Haven and Pepe's is busy, or you want to try a different apizza, check out Modern Apizza. It is just as good and not nearly as busy. I usually stop there now when I'm driving through. 

Sally's used to be great as well, but they sold out a while ago. 

My favorites are Shield's (Detroit area) and Zackary's (Oakland, CA).

I tried Lou Malnati's and Giordano's in Chicago, but unfortunately one of them had an oven malfunction and part of the pizza was raw, and the other had an inept waitress who got us our pizza cold.  In both cases, it wasn't possible due to timing to send it back.  I probably would have liked both of them a lot if not for that.

I also remember liking Alibi and Green Lantern, but that was long ago as a kid.