The Ultimate Los Angeles Pizza Tour - Curated by Alessandra

∙ BBQ CHICKEN PIZZA (bbq chicken, crispy shallots, bbq sauce, hot honey and buttermilk ranch) ∙ CACIO E PEPE PIZZA (pecorino, parmesan reggiano, fresh mozzerella, cracked black pepper, olive oil, finished with arugula dressed with lemon vinaigrette) ∙ CALABRESE (red sauce, spicy calabrese ham, fresno chilies, fresh mozzarella, pecorino romano) ∙ MEAT LOVERS (red sauce, shredded mozzarella, fresh mozzarella, italian sausage, pepperoni, meatballs, bacon) ∙ WHITE PIZZA (shredded mozzarella, scallop potato, garlic confit, fresh mozzarella, chopped parmesan cheese) ∙

The first stop on The Ultimate LA Pizza Tour, curated by my love. I’ve never been a huge fan of LA, but my Italian guide had selected some of the best spots for pizza. We did not expect to begin the 4 stop tour in 2 days with 5 pies. At the hotel we were staying, there just so happened to be a pizza restaurant on-site.

Nothing but praise and gratitude for the Hotel Ziggy team, who put on an absolute show to start the tour. Thank you so much for the hospitality and delightful pizza tasting experience.

The team made sure we wouldn’t miss a single element of their mastery. Boasting the best pizza in West Hollywood, they certainly showed out. Now on to the pies:

BBQ Chicken

Amazing. As my love said, this is the pizza you visit a restaurant for. I am so pleasantly surprised. I typically avoid BBQ sauce bases (given how dominant the flavor can be), yet I’m so happy I didn’t miss out here. The sauce isn’t overpowering at all – lightly tangy & gracefully smooth. I love hot honey – a fantastic addition that only highlights the sauce instead of making it too sweet. The pie is incredible. The onions…wow – the fried onions provide the tender succulent umami crunch you crave. The dough is a bit thick, somewhat bready, but not stale whatsoever. If nothing else, it feels necessary to support such a serious serving. The chicken is juicy and tender, not overcooked, nor rubbery at all. Well done by the chef. The buttermilk ranch counters the BBQ sauce so well. Again, visit Ziggy to listen to some jams and go to B-Side for the BBQ Chicken pizza.

Meat Lovers

The crust is lighter and thinner. I’m a sucker for cupped pepperonis – indicative of a natural casing which shrinks faster than the ronis while cooking. The sausage is tender and kind of spicy. While the pie is cheesier than the last, it’s still great. IMO, 2nd best crust behind the cacio e pepe.

Calabrese

This pie is EN FUEGO – it will light you on fire like an avid arsonist. Fair warning to you softies – grab a glass of milk, because these chili’s don’t mess around. My lady thinks it is salami as opposed to ham, but it is great nonetheless. The pecorino is a nice touch to dull the heat – a crucial addition to the fire pie.

Cacio e Pepe

The lemon vinaigrette hits immediately…it is fairly distracting. That said, the zesty touch cuts the cheese nicely. Arugula is perfect for this pie – the slightly peppery ruffage gives it the natural pepe flavor. The crust is a bit crunchier than the others – the pizza let’s it shine with how subtle the flavors are. Perhaps a little less vinaigrette? Maybe I’m the one who is soft.

White Pizza

This pie is garlic forward. Sorry, no makeout session for you after this one. The potatoes are very creative – thinly sliced, and have a bit of a crunch following the cook. The crust with the garlic is the star here – fuck your dominoes herb crust.

Result

Don’t order five pizzas for two people. Just don’t do it. We ate the entire BBQ chicken pizza, and half of the rest. I’ve never been a white pizza guy, but it was fun to try the cacio e pepe and their white pizza. The toppings were very creative. I’m pretty good with spicy food, but the Calabrese was a little much for me. I still ate the entire half (after removing a few chilis). I don’t know if the meat lovers was just pepperoni and sausage, or if it was a different pie. Old trusty gets it done once again. Obviously the BBQ Chicken pizza is the winner.

One hell of a way to begin a pizza tour – courtesy of the fantastic team at Hotel Ziggy. Great spot. Visit for the BBQ chicken pizza!