Viva La Rosa

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LaRosaTheSlices

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve driven through the streets of Philadelphia, and found myself on the gritty and more genuine feeling of Broad Street.

For the past 8 years I’ve been going to many a show, concert, and sporting event at the nearby South Philadelphia Sports Complex.   I know, what an imposing, yet inspirational name for it.  Well, maybe not inspirational, maybe just there.

My point is, I love Philadelphia, and I’m happy to now be embracing the pies that encompass this beautiful city.

Once again, I don’t know how many times I’ve gone past certain locales and thought nothing of them.  And now, over a year into this blog I actively look for pizzerias of all shapes and sizes.  One of those places is…

…a few blocks up the street from this sports and entertainment venue is La Rosa.

LaRosaFront

I wish I had come here sooner.  This is at about as palpable and authentic as it gets.

I had no idea what to expect when I walked in.  The outside may look imposing.  But here, as in life, never judge a book (or a pizzeria) by its cover.

I’m grateful that I did.  The lady behind the counter was randomly bringing slices out of the oven and placing them on trays.  It felt like cafeteria style.  And that could imply grade-school but I’m not making fun.  I found it refreshing.  There were no seats and the hallways were as narrow as a studio apartment or efficiency.  Oh I love Philadelphia.

The lady working could not have been nicer.   She was quick to explain what slices were which.  Did I mention that these were square-shaped?  I love ’em this way and it’s a pleasant deviation from the norm.

The slices looked buttery, thick, but not intimidating.  This isn’t a deep-dish or gargantuan concoction. This is a happy-medium that I think everyone, whether you’re a local or an outsider, is going to be appreciate.

There is a one source of frustration I will get to, after I go over the three slices I purchased.

I got the mushroom, the sausage, and the white spinach.  Can you guess the winner?

LaRosaMushroom

The mushroom was nothing spectacular.  I think they came from a can, which is alright.  But it didn’t really work here.  We know how bona fide mushrooms taste, and this wasn’t it.

The sausage was eons better than the former.  I was told that it actually comes from the city itself. I’m all for local and it shows.  It added a strong dimension to the slice.  It had the perfect blend of cheese, sauce, and the beef.

LaRosaWhiteSpinach

But the prize is the white spinach.   I could eat a hundred of these. Actually that’s a lot. How about just one for now?  This tasted like real spinach and the white cheese is on par with any of the best blanca slices I’ve had in some time.  May I have another?

The slight charring, mixed with the buttery and slightly crisp crust really won me over.

And the three slices didn’t even total $10.  That sounds like another win.

So why am I frustrated?   Before a planned visit to a place, I’ll do a little research. Sometimes I go in blind.  I prefer the latter but I wish this time I did a little preparation.

I found out later that their potato pie is their centerpiece and their big draw.  I wish I knew that ahead of time.   I don’t like to do repeat places too often but in this case I may make an exception.  I heard the sausage and potato pairing is what to go for.   Ah this is eating at me.  Oh wait…

I’ll have to come back.  Any excuse to return to Philadelphia is alright with me.

LaRosaBox

For my previous Philadelphia posts (alliteration is my addiction) you have your choice of here, there, and this one.  And here’s another.

Take care,

Ideen

 

My Kind of Town

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LaCucinaPair

Honestly, I had no idea a place like Havre de Grace existed, until I moved to the area several years back.   What have I been missing?  Now I look forward with eagerness and anticipation each time I make the 20 minute drive.  Sometimes on the way back from Philadelphia or further up north, I’ll purposely make a stop just to look around and enjoy the view. It’s breathtaking.

The main streets and nearby neighborhoods are something out of a movie set.  It’s peaceful but then eerily quiet at times.  I may be understating this fact a bit.  I’ve been in the vicinity and have been the only one in the area.   It may sound creepy but I find solace in making this town all my own, for a few minutes.  Those moments are to be cherished and are so few and far between.  We all get them periodically whether we notice them or not.

LaCucinaFrontHolidays

What on Earth does this have to do with pizza?   Well you know every great neighborhood needs a great pizza place.  I only wish La Cucina would have delivered. No, I don’t mean actual food delivery, even though that van out there looks fun.  I mean on having great slices.

This is a review of two visits that I’ll combine into one.   The first was around the holidays and the most recent was last week.

I’m my own worst enemy.  I had such high expectations that only set me up for disappointment and heartbreak.  Maybe I’m getting carried away with the latter, but maybe you know what i mean.

First and foremost, its a sit-down restaurant that is quaint and cozy on the inside.  But they do have slices to go and that’s what we’re talking about here.  I just wish they had more variety.  That’s more my fault for setting expectations than anything else.  But isn’t that good to have lofty ones from time-to-time.

For my first, I got a cheese slice and a white broccoli, mainly because that’s all they had. There was no elaborate display of pizzas which I’m fine with.  But they only had those two. You could add toppings to the cheese but I felt like I wasn’t in a place of wonders like the town outside.  It looked pathetic.

That’s as harsh a criticism as I’ve given in sometime. The carry-out area seemed lifeless. The staff just seemed to be there.  I get it.  Not everyone can be happy-go-lucky all of the time.  The bottom line is…

The slices tasted alright and that’s being kind.  The NY Style Crust wasn’t cooked the best. It felt forced and rushed.  There as no feeling behind it.  It was good enough to eat but that’s not always enough.  The tomato sauce dominated too much of the cheese. The white broccoli tasted old and stale.

LaCucinaCalendar

I did get a free calendar, so that was fun!

LaCucinaFrontSpring

My second visit showed some improvements, but showed me that round one might not have been an aberration.

Luckily, white spinach was on the display case and I jumped right on it.   It was eons better than last time but still something was off kilter.  Same goes for the cheese.  Maybe it’s my professional camera but these photos seemed to display a shinier and more uplifting looking pizza. Maybe there was a little more effort and soul put into this one?  That’s just my observation.

I’m my own emotional roller-coaster.  I wanted this place to badly mirror the tranquility and beauty that the town outside projects.  And maybe it does to many of the locals and visitors.  I just didn’t get that experience.  Perhaps I was trying too hard.

I love family restaurants and only wish this place the best.   It looks like it’s going to be a staple of the town for years to come.

By no means am I giving up on La Cucina.  Next time I’ll grab a seat and see if things have turned the corner.  I’m overly-sentimental, I’m cheesy (whoops), and I romanticize the most simplest of things.  But that’s the fun of this.  I want this restaurant to match the charm of this beautiful city.  Maybe the third time’s the…

Best,

Ideen

 

 

 

 

All The Love

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RosasFreshFront

I tend to remark about how experiences, things, and places find me.  In this instance, I’m so grateful to have found Rosa’s Fresh Pizza, in the great city of Philadelphia.

My random walks here (or in any town) lead me to restaurants and pizza parlors that I didn’t know existed.  I do some advance research, but in most instances I love to stumble upon a gem.  This is one of those diamonds that I may not come close to discovering again. I want to savor this place and this experience. I will attempt to heap all the praise I can.

RosasFreshSign

What first drew me in was the $1 slices.  Who’s going to turn away upon seeing that sign?

Speaking of signs, you may notice a certain tv show the establishment was featured on. I’m intrigued and immediately think this place is noteworthy. Little did I know what an understatement that was.

Their concept is amazing, yet so simple.  The pizza and toppings include only the staples. You got pepperoni, onions, mushrooms, and that’s about it.   You won’t find any unorthodox toppings here. These are your essentials.

RosasFreshPair

I will make this pizza review short, as this is not the point of this post.  The crust is thin.  I mean it’s really thin.  On a warm Philadelphia day, this was perfect.   It’s not a world-class slice nor does it need to be. For how little I paid and the soul behind it, this is masterful. We had a perfect balance of cheese and sauce. And that pork pepperoni felt inventive and original. That’s enough about the food.

RosasFreshWelcome

Rosa’s concept is all about giving  back to the community.   For every dollar donated, a slice of pizza goes to a homeless person.  My heart warmed when I read that.  What a joy to be inside such a house of caring and love.

RosasFreshPostIt

I still didn’t get all the post-it notes that adorned the walls, until I read the messages.   Per our donation, we get to write a note of spiritual healing and hopefulness.   A homeless visitor can trade that note in for a slice. The simplicity and sincerity of this approach gives me chills.

How other companies have not followed suit, or created a similar model is astonishing. This is a trailblazing concept that could not only sweep the city, but maybe across the country, and beyond.

It’s been my personal choice to rarely mention names in a blog.  I like the experience and the food to tell its own story.  However, the owner, Mason Wartman deserves all the support and praise in the world.   Does it get any better than this?

After my visit, I did all the research I could about this splendid and exquisite pizzeria.  I didn’t realize that Mason was the man behind the counter making those yummy pies.   It was an honor to feel that energy.  I’m shaking as I write this and looking back fondly on my experience.  He had a smile on his face and seemed happy in this endeavor.

The simple details only add to the brilliance of this place.  Neo soul was playing over the speakers, the countertops were cozy, and the young lady taking my order was approachable and pleasant.  It’s a magnificent energy that transcends any of us.

There’s plenty of sweet merchandise on-hand to purchase as well.  It all goes to the cause.

RosasFreshGear

My intuition was right.  I had a warm feeling about this place before I even walked in.  But I had no idea I’d feel it ten-fold.  This is such remarkable thing to be able to support and contribute to.

RosasFreshSign2

I’m grateful Rosa’s is so close to me and I will know to make this a focal point of any visit to the city of brotherly love from this point forward.

If you’re a local or visiting the area, I cannot recommend this place anymore than I already have. I don’t think all the words and all the praise will do it justice.

There’s an option to order online but this is more than about the pizza.  This is a win-win for everyone involved.  The business is helping those in need, we do our part, and folks less fortunate enjoy something fresh.  What a simple model that could spearhead a movement, if it hasn’t already.

8500 slices were donated last year.  What does that tell you?  I could watch the video, featured on the main page, repeatedly.

I don’t know how to end this, other than to say go here.   When I look back at old posts of this blog, this might be the standard-bearer.  How do you top this?

This is first-class all the way.

Have A Great Holiday Weekend,

Ideen

These MODern Times

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MOD.Pie3

I know that title is cheesy.  You don’t have to tell me.   And speaking of cheesy, that pie has pictured above has some pretty good looking mozzarella and asiago cheese on it.  I got the wittiness down to a science folks.

Looks can be deceiving.  This is a creation of our own doing from this weeks choice, MOD Pizza.   This is a chain that since it’s debut in 2008, has been rapidly growing and shows no signs of slowing down.

MOD.Front

In a way I’m happy my first discovery of this franchise was their Columbia, MD location, the mecca of chain restaurants and box stores.

I’ve always had a sentimental feeling towards Columbia, dating back to when I was a kid.  I was a stalwart (and in many ways I still am) of the mall located in the heart of town, which is there MOD is adjacent to in its newly created strategic location.

Maybe it was the safe feeling, the folksiness of the locals, or just a sense of peace and calm.  I can’t exactly put my finger on it but even to this day when I pass through I get the warm and fuzzies.

As I’ve gotten older, the pleasures change and many remain constant.  I like what it has to offer in terms of restaurants, shops, parks, and entertainment.  I just wish there were more independent and family owned businesses.  There’s a few, you might have to work to find those.

What does any of this have to do with pizza?   Well in a way, it’s a sign of the times.  We still want things safe but we’re also in a rush.  The fast-food and hyper drive way we want our meals, our stimulation, our instant gratification has exponentially grown.  We want quick results with as little work done as possible. Technology is a main reason these in-and-out pizza joints have become phenomenons within the past five years and change.

The menu has some funky names and I dig it.  I went with the Tristan, for the simple fact I saw pesto and a great complement of veggies to go with it.  For a twist, I requested grilled chicken to go with it.  But as you can see, they never piled that on top.

It was lunch hour and extremely busy.  I understand people make mistakes and forget.  I took this as a sign that this is how it was meant to be eaten.  The chicken wouldn’t have made much of a difference.

With that being said, the pie was ok.  It didn’t wow me in any fashion.  The dough was cooked fine and the mushrooms, peppers, and onions all tasted fresh. The pesto seemed like it was out of a can.  It just didn’t do anything inspiring. Nor did I expect it to.

I understand the type of place I’m at, so in a way I’m grading this on a curve.  It just tasted like a decent pie you could find anywhere.

Why did I not say anything about the missing topping on my pizza?  It may be passive-aggressive of me, but the staff was very friendly and overwhelmingly busy.  It just didn’t seem right.  They were working hard and the line was growing.  I had no problem waiting a few extra minutes for my pie.  In a way, I found that refreshing.

Refreshing because, pizza is meant to be heated at the right temperature.  A lot of time and care needs to be put into it.   I’m not sure how I feel about these blistering pace pizza joints.  But they’re here to stay.  And I frequent them from time-to-time, so I’m supporting the cause whether I care to admit it or not.

And one mediocre experience will not discourage me from coming back.   Because if I feel I’m in a rush too, I know I can get a pizza swiftly and at an accelerated pace.  But the rush I talk about is all my own doing.   It’s likely all our own doing.

For a similar experience I had, with uplifting results, click here.

To find a location near you, go here.

Taking a minute to breathe and relax is very necessary.  It will make everything better.  It will make the pizza better. And yes, pizza makes everything better.

Thank you kindly,

Ideen

 

Some Like It Warm

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CasaDellaNonnaSlices

This is a different take on an old favorite.   I love pizza and I love writing about it.  My aim each week is to put a spiritual or atmospheric spin on something many of us love.  What makes this blog fun is I can talk about a place anywhere.   I can drive around from place to place knowing I can add to my experiences.    And that’s what I’ve been doing.

CasaDellaNonnaFront

Several months back I found myself in Severn, MD.   It’s a town I have no connections or attachments that I’m aware of.  But with a visit to Casa Della Nonna, that has changed.

I was all set to say what an obscure and hidden gem this place was.   It’s nothing of the sort.  It’s a staple for many in nearby neighborhoods and through various parts of Anne Arundel County.

My time was limited, so I was looking for slices to go.  It’s a fun adventure seeing if the pizzerias will have a myriad of slices on display.  If they don’t, and I’m on a short window of time, I’m out the door.  To my relief they had just what I was looking for.   My one-track mind avoided any perusing of the menu.

Sometimes too many choices that lead to indecision.  That’s more of a personal issue of note.  All they had was a cheese and a white veggie.   It’s just what the pizza doctor ordered.  Well in this case, that’s what I ordered.    Ha, I’m a funny guy.

There was something different in the air.  I felt it before I even walked in.  The young lady at the counter asked if I wanted it heated or wait till I got home.  Was it something in my body language?  She was insistent that it not be warmed up.  I was wondering what was up here.  She was funny and not in at bad way.  I found it entertaining.   She sold me.   Little did I know it was a blessing in disguise.

A friend pointed out to me that eating a pizza lukewarm can tell you how good it really is. After hours (and maybe even days) of sitting on the counter, reheating can cover up deficiencies that one would otherwise never notice.

My first response was I wonder how good these would be if put through the oven again. And did I miss out on something special?  But in hindsight this was perfect.  I was also starving so I devoured both slices in my car expeditiously.

I was looking for a moral here.  But I’m not sure there is one.  Well maybe one is to take something at face value, literally.  As I did here.  Both slices were enjoyable.  The dough was perfect, ever under what I presumed were mediocre conditions.  If you look close, you can tell neither slice reheated.

In the future, even when I’m not in a hurry, I may look to grab my slices and request not to have them cooked.  It would be a fun experiment.

The restaurant is more suited for just that.  It’s food is meant to be enjoyed in a relaxed atmosphere.  I hope to visit again in such a scenario.  I was grateful to visit a new restaurant in a town I don’t venture to that often.

A repeat visit will happen.  That’ll mean a repeat post.

Until then…

Best,

Ideen

 

Extreme Eating

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ExtremeMidEastPie

I didn’t have a clever title nor did I come up with anything so terrible that it could end up being funny.   I made myself laugh just now.   I stuck with the alliteration.

ExtremeFront

My random travels brought me to Extreme Pizza.  I had only heard about them sparingly but never stumbled upon a location, until now.   Makes sense, since the only one remotely close to me was my stop in Pentagon City/Arlington.

This wasn’t the best first impression. But first impressions in life and in food can be deceiving.  Because of their elaborate menu, of not just pizza, I’ll be back.

Check out some of the eccentric names for these pies.  That’ll draw folks in on that alone.

This may come as a shock but I went with the Peace In The Middle East.  I badly wanted to like this.  It unfortunately didn’t happen.

I got the personal size to go and that was more than enough.   I know the picture at the top tells a different story.  That’s another misleading first impression.   Don’t judge a pizza by its cover.  I’m just full of cliches today.

The biggest problem was that feta and mozzarella were on the same pizza.  In some instances I could see that working. It didn’t happen with this choice. It’s such a dichotomy of cheeses that it didn’t materialize into a masterpiece.  It felt bland.  I love feta and I love mozzarella.  Not here though.  Feta is a sentimental thing for me per family gatherings and other reasons, so this made me distraught.  I’m projecting.

There were too many other moving parts.   I love hummus, tomatoes, olives, and pepperoncini but not all at once.   If you pick the pieces off they’re fine on their own.  I did that quite a bit.  The caramelized onions didn’t work here either.  They didn’t have a place here.   I’m sad to even write that as I adore onions.

While eating I wondered if I should have gotten the wheat or gluten free crust. Maybe that would have improved this pie?  Ironically, the crust was my favorite part.  So that wasn’t the problem.  I get the feeling this is an adventurous pizza that many will love.  But I didn’t.

I took many photos of the slices. It’s gorgeous on the surface but buyer beware.

However, there’s so many magnificent looking pies that I will be back.   Perhaps I’ll try a vegan selection.  That alone is a draw.  I’m all for expanding my horizons.

If you’re near a location, I would recommend a visit.  Maybe you’ll find a gem.  I suspect this chain is only going to grow.  They seem to love California.

If and when I’m back at Extreme Pizza, I’ll be happily writing about it and I believe it’ll be a stupendous pie.  I’m optimistic.

Best,

Ideen

 

Two Joys In One

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SerpicoSpaghettiCheese

Some pies and slices are purposeful, some are marvelous, and then there’s some that are life-altering.   The latter may have happened this week.

I know we’re only talking pizza but sometimes we get those moments that are divine.

You’re mouth must be watering at the picture above.

SerpicoFront

A dear friend told me, in his opinion, that the best cheese slice in the county is from Serpico Pizza & Pasta of Perry Hall, MD.   The best?  I don’t know for sure.  It’s all relative, but it’s high on my rankings.

Per suggestion, I ordered the cheese and the spaghetti slice.

SerpicoSpaghetti

The spaghetti slice is an interesting concept.  Before living and hanging out in the Baltimore area around 2000, I never noticed a spaghetti pizza.  Maybe I’ve been under a rock or just not paying attention.    But ever since, when I see a pie with one of the best pastas, I do a double-take.   It’s a carbo loaders paradise and a health nuts’ nightmare.   In this instance I’ll settle for in-between.

There was no need to peruse the menu, I saw the two slices I was destined to have and I went about my merry way.  Actually no I ate inside and enjoyed the atmosphere.

SerpicoCheeseSlice2

Did I enjoy the food?  Absolutely.   The cheese slice was tremendous.  It just had a little more soul than many cheese I’ve had recently.  The crust was tasty, crisp and reheated to perfection.  The cheese itself just felt real.  It seemed like there was more to it than just putting a pie together.   Maybe it’s the family run energy behind it?   I felt it when I walked in and the staff seemed so kind.

SerpicoCheeseSlice

In what shouldn’t be a rarity for me, I sprinkled on some parmesan and oregano for an added kick.  Not that it was needed but it was gravy.

And speaking of gravy…  The spaghetti was dynamite.  The sauce is something from beyond the stratosphere.   Well maybe it’s from the area.  However, I perfect the dramatics and the pageantry.

The crust itself was heavy but that’s the point.  As you will see in a photo,  I couldn’t eat it all.   What’s the fun in that?  It was perfect as a leftover for dinner.  The spaghetti was yummy.  It tasted like mom used to make.  I was grateful to find a few noodles on my plate and chowed down on them separate from the pie itself.  This is an uplifting and revolutionary slice.  I must come back for more.

SerpicoSpaghettiCheese

And how beautiful is the presentation?   I know that only altered my taste buds for the better.  That gravy boat did it for me.

Since I was able to double-down on pizza and pasta, it only makes me yearn for more.  I’ve been told by several sources that their food is top-to-bottom breathtaking.   That’s what I felt and that’s what I like to hear.

Let’s do it again soon.

All The Love,

Ideen

 

Pizza N’ Cinema

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BJ'sPizza2

We’re swiftly approaching the Academy Awards.  And nothing screams awards like a good pizza.  You know it’s true.

It’s been over a year since the last Towson, MD pizza post.  It has been home to  some of my favorites for a number of years now.

BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse  is one of the newest additions to the ever-so blossoming Towson Square area.  It’s a chain I’ve never walked into let alone never heard of. What have I been missing?

They’re menu has something for everyone but I have a one track mind.  And away we go.

My friend and I were on our way to the nearby cinema.  So we just wanted a quick drink and something small to eat.   Lucky for us, it was happy hour on specialty drinks, $1-$2 off certain appetizers, and half-off deep dish pizzas.  The finale got me excited.

I saw many appetizing choices from the pizza section, that I couldn’t quite make up my mind right away. My pal and I wanted something we both could enjoy.  The Mediterranean won out.  And this is a winner indeed.

BJ'sPizza1

I know this isn’t likely a carbon-copy of Chicago Style Deep Dish but I’ve never been to Chicago so how would I know if this compares.  But what I do know is that this was a very good pie that did its job.  We weren’t looking for any award-winning creations.   We just wanted something to make us feel good and feed our bellies.  I would say mission accomplished on both.

BJ'sSlice

Pesto was a pleasant surprise to our pie.   That’s a bit of alliteration on my part.   But the basil pesto really brought the excitement.  Everything on the pie did.  The grilled chicken tasted fresh and vibrant. The Kalamata olives were gold and I love my olives.  The sun-dried tomatoes may have tasted saltier than I wanted but that’s not major complaint.   The peperoncinis were a surprise to me.  I didn’t realize they were on our pie.   But the feta cheese stole the show.  There was just enough that it didn’t overshadow anything else.

My friend pointed out how the deep dish crush wasn’t too thick or greasy.   It was the perfect amount of dough that it still maintained the integrity of a deep crush but without the bloated feeling afterwards.

Our bodacious beverages (more cheesy alliteration) were the Royal Soda and the Sailor Jerry Cherry Soda.  More information can be found in the cocktails menu linked here.  I’d come back for these drinks alone.

The serendipitous part of our meal was near the end.   Our friendly bartender overheard us saying we were headed to the cinema.  She mentioned that they sell passes for the movies for $3 less than buying them at the actual movie theater box office.  A gem on top of a gem.  What an awesome find.

I will say that the deep dish pizzas do tend to get pricey as the size goes up.  Our half-off hour-pizza came out to around $6.

BJ'sOutside

So my friends if you’re in the Towson area, you have my vote of confidence on this spot. I’m not a big beer drinker but they got plenty of that too.

And for the rest of my comrades, here is the link to find a BJ’s near you.

As previously mentioned, if you’re interested in reading my previous posts from the area, you can go to this one here, or maybe this one, or finally these bad boys.

Take good care and see yas next time.

Ideen

Pearl Jam

Posted in New York, pizza by

PearlStreetPie2

When you think of Albany, NY, the first thing that comes to your mind is pizza.  I know. Same goes for me.

All jokes aside, the slices and pies from other parts of the state you might have heard of are coming.  But I was in Albany this past week and since I’m here so infrequently, a pizza recap is necessary.

I was with a buddy walking around down looking for a bite to eat.   There’s quite a few cozy bars and restaurants nearby, and for no discerning reason we walked into The Pearl Street Pub & Dirty Martini Lounge.   The second part of that, the martini lounge, I had no idea about until looking at it today.  Haha.  No martinis on this day.

I was yearning for pizza somewhere over this random road trip and stay, and didn’t expect it here.  But oh how the universe looks out.   I looked at the menu and like a little kid shouted, “they have pizza!”.  Well not quite that corny but some facsimile.  I did a fist bump and did a little dance around the crowded bar.  No that didn’t happen either.

The online menu differs from the restaurant one.  I see options for pies that weren’t presented to me in-house.

Our server informed me because they were redoing the menu, but that I could still do build-your-own pie.  That’s exactly what I did.  I was excited.

After careful deliberation (10 seconds), I ordered a pepperoni, mushrooms, onions, and peppers.  In essence this was a supreme.  I was forewarned that this was a massive pie that could feed 2-3 people.  She wasn’t kidding.

It was a lot more dough than I could handle.   The photos do not like.   It was soft, squishy, heavy, yet decent.  It’s not a pie that’s going to win any awards.   I don’t think that matters to them.

PearlStreetPie

I was starving so at the time anything is likely going to taste incredible.   The toppings were great.  The pepperoni and veggies tasted fresh and authentic.

The cheese may have been lost by a bit more tomato sauce than I was hoping for.   I barely ate a third of it at the restaurant.   Solely because it was so gargantuan.   The leftovers tasted just fine over the next couple of days.

Pearl was busy was for happy-hour and the folk visiting all seem to be in good spirits.  We were as well.   It helped with the experience as it always does.

For just my second visit to Albany, I’ve found myself becoming sentimental and partial to it.  We all have our reasons why we love coming to a new town or old one.   I’ll be back again.

Stay warm,

Ideen

 

I Love Williamsburg

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I have so many fond memories of Colonial Williamsburg.  This dates back to my first ever trip when I was in the the 5th grade.   I’m sure many folks can relate and remember a similar excursion.

Times have changed.    I’m a young adult who enjoys many of the simple things in life. And when you’re a kid a lot of those pleasures remain when you mature.  I didn’t necessarily say that I matured.   But I believe you see what I’m saying.

When I go with my friends or myself now, the entertainment is familiar but so much has changed.

The downtown area which faces the beautiful William & Mary campus is exactly how I remembered it, with a few additions.  Obviously I wasn’t eating and drinking at fine restaurants when I was a kid, but I recall the landscape.  I recall the energy.  I remember how I felt.  It felt warm and it felt genuine.  It’s the sincerity and positivity that draws me back.

The colonial shoppes are still there and that’s the main draw.  It’s the simplicity that draws me back versus the commotion of a large city.

So what does this have to with pizza?

The last time I was here was May of 2015 and the reasons are so cosmic that it may be best unspoken. But nevertheless, I was here and I’m all for writing about a pies that aren’t local to me in the Maryland area.

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The downside on this weekday night is most things closed by 10 pm and the pizza discovery led me a few miles and a few minutes up the road.

In what feels like a whole different universe, the straightforwardly named Williamsburg Shopping Center, had just what I was looking for.

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Sal’s by Victor is a family restaurant enjoyed by locals, students, tourists, and everything in between.  I had driven by multiple times before and never stopped in.  This sounds about right.

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My photos make it seem like it’s in a secluded and mysterious area.  It was relatively quiet that I could pretend it was giving me the creeps.   I was just happy to get a pie.  No need for dramatics.

Carry-out was the only option as the kitchen was about to close.  I would have been satisfied dining in and the authenticity and vibration of the interior was so welcoming.   That’ll have to happen another time.

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I ordered the Campagnole Pizza which hit the spot and perfect for the long drive back.   The chicken was fresh as was the broccoli and spinach. And that crust was heated perfectly.  Look at that color and texture!    I didn’t taste much garlic as I had hoped but that’s a minor quibble.

For a late order this was very good.   In being objective, I imagine this pizza would taste even more amazing under a relaxed setting with a nice seated table, good company, and a refreshing beverage.

For now it’s a memory created that I’ll grin about for a while.

And I can’t wait to be back in this beautiful Williamsburg.

Warmest,

Ideen Barimani