L'ora Di Pasta (Lima, Peru)
We ate many incredible meals while visiting Peru to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. We also ate very interesting local delights including alpaca and guinea pig. Alpaca is delicious. We were exploring Miraflores, a touristy area in Lima, on our last night in the country. We happened upon Mercado San Ramon – a very cool food court-style setup with many restaurants. Of course I saw this restaurant and had to see what Peruvian pizza was all about.
Pepperoni
I didn’t have high expectations for this pizza, and it wasn’t bad! Peru isn’t well known for their pizza, but it was surprisingly everywhere.
The dough was very thick and bready. The sauce barely made an appearance. Was there even sauce on this pie? The oregano sprinkled on top was a nice touch, basically covered the pie to ensure that flavor was present.
I went with the pepperoni because they didn’t have a marg, and the ‘American’ pizza had ham, which I’m not into. I grew up eating pepperoni pizza, and this was pretty well done.
International pizza is a must when it’s available on my travels – this was borderline obligatory. I’m happy I got to try!
Escape From New York Pizza (Portland, OR)
I told you I’d be back! After more than 4 years, this pizza is just as trusty as ever – they haven’t missed a beat. You’re here to stuff airy NY-style slices that leave you satiated but not weighed down. My favorite NY slice in the PNW is the same as I’d hoped. I’d highly recommend this spot for a crust that is so easily digestible, you could feast on an entire pie.
B-Side Pizza - Hotel Ziggy (West Hollywood, CA)
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!
Fox's Den (Annapolis, MD)
∙ Pepperoni & Pepperoncini (pepperoncini, pepperoni, marina, mozzarella, parmesan, mint), Sausage Party (basil pesto, Calabrian chili oil, crumbled Italian sausage, mozzarella, caramelized onions, parmesan) ∙
Uhh…sausage party? Hilarious flick, serious pizza. The combination of caramelized onions with freshly cooked sausage is incredible. Is it the addition of chili oil on a delicious pesto base? Yes. This is the pie you visit a restaurant for.
matchbox (Bethesda, MD)
∙ Holy Grail Margherita: (Crushed Tomatoes, Basil, Shredded Mozz + Fresh Herb Mozz. Add Pepperoni) ∙
Okay first of all, I have an embarrassing confession to make. I’ve avoided this DC area restaurant chain for no good reason. Mostly because I thought it was stupid that they had a name and logo so similar to a local realty company. Who’s stupid now? Never judge a book by its cover.
I feel like you can’t accurately gauge a pizza after delivery. It continues to cook in the box and then the insulated delivery bag before it cools. It’s literally all wrong for judging their work. When it arrived to the office, we reheated the pizza in the toaster oven. It was great! I’ll revisit to have a pie in person, but still disappointed in myself for avoiding it because I found the restaurant name to be lame. I hedged my bets though – I added pepperoni to the pie because I expected delivery to ruin it. The cupped ronis were money. Nice pie, worth another try.
Black Shirt Brewing Co and Craft Pizza Kitchen (Denver, CO)
∙ Four Horsemen: (Pepperoni, Roasted Chicken, Bacon, BSB Sausage) ∙
Margherita with Pepperoni ∙
Digestibility of the crust is everything. Absolutely everything. Listen – if the crust isn’t top notch, the pizza can’t be. The toppings were excellent as well. Very unexpected delightful pizza at a brewery with a few tables. Had a couple great IPAs, enjoyed a couple pies. Great stop in RiNo.
Galasso's Cucina Italiana Pizza & Restaurant (Lebanon, NJ)
Toni & Nick Reunion Pizza Tour ∙ Volume 1
∙ Brooklyn Style: (EVO & Fresh Garlic Marinated Plum Tomatoes, Cheese & Fresh Basil) ∙
Cheese slice ∙
This was the first stop on our pizza tour. My friend and I had been dreaming it up for years. Following a FB group chat question posed to pizza enthusiasts in the region, Toni had a refined list. Galasso’s absolutely crushed it out of the gates.
Carting me around, Toni and I showed up around noon. Galasso’s wasn’t ready for our excitement.
When trying to get a feel for a restaurant standard, you have to try their cheese slice. Ehem, It was FIRE. There’s obvious bias with this being the first restaurant on the tour, but the pizza was incredible. The Brooklyn slice came highly recommended, and I’m so incredibly happy that it did.
Cheese: the cheese is light and airy, as is the crust. Shredded basil below the cheese. Tomato sauce isn’t overpowering at all, a compliment that falls into the crust. The slice goes down easier than college girls. A fantastically simple slice.
Brooklyn style: the sauce on this pizza will blow your mind and mess your shorts. Thick dough but not bready, the crust has a beautiful crisp on the bottom. Shredded basil in the cheese. The sauce tastes just like San Marzano tomatoes, garlic and basil. When we left, I peered over into the sauce container and saw only those 3 ingredients.
Toscana Pizza (Allendale, NJ)
Toni & Nick Reunion Pizza Tour ∙ Volume 1
∙ Cheese slice ∙
The third stop on the tour is nestled inside this quaint area. We sat at the bar by the front window, watching pizza go by while my mind was blown by this slice.
The crust continues to amaze. The cheese is great, a fair amount, and piping hot as it pools on top of the slice. It’s not too much, but it’s more than my taste goes for. I’m just being soft, they should never change a thing. The sauce is plentiful as well, there’s no skimping here. The sauce doesn’t have any texture, but compliments the slice well. The crust just can’t be beat around here. The slice is amazing.
Natale's Italian Restaurant (Lebanon, NJ)
Toni & Nick Reunion Pizza Tour ∙ Volume 1
∙ Cheese slice ∙
We arrived to the second spot, and unsurprisingly it was empty given the time of day. Unfortunately I think the pie we had wasn’t terribly fresh. Luck of the draw!
The sauce is like actual sauce, as is the cheese. Not as airy; more pull to it. Tastes like your traditional hometown spot. The crust makes the slice. Thin and light, nice crisp, folds easily. Sauce has less texture almost blended and you can see the Italian spice seasoning in it. Slice does the job better than most, but doesn’t leave you with much. Would revisit at a busier time to see if it was just not as fresh as you would hope for – the crust was good, but folded with straight edges.
DiMola's Pizza (North Plainfield, NJ)
Toni & Nick Reunion Pizza Tour ∙ Volume 1
∙ Cheese slice ∙
This was the fourth and final stop on our pizza tour. It needs to be said: I was full. I wasn’t terribly interested in having another slice in the first place (mind you, this would be slice five after having two at Galasso’s). Then I saw the slice. This is your local hometown spot that you take the kids to get a lot of cheesy pizza. The slice was completely overloaded with cheese, which is not my jam. There is a market for super cheesed up pizza lovers, and I commend you. Just not for me. Would be interesting if it were the first stop, maybe I would have felt differently.
