Pizza Pizza

[CreightonWarrior]

The worst pizza I ever had was in Nebraska where it came out with American cheese all over the top. No buffalo there I guess or at least not water buffalo.

Where did you go?

[real chili 83]

Was just visiting... business takes me up there about once a month, but this weekend was an MOA trip for the kids.

If you are spending time at MOA, you are definitely a tourist!   

I've heard that the MOA is in the top 5 travel destinations in the country.  That just floors me....a friggin' mall.

Hope you enjoyed your trip to the Cities.

[WellsstreetWanderer]

Where did you go?

Scottsbluff. In the far west of the state

[keefe]

A good New Haven vs. Chicago pizza story here as well as others on New Haven pizza from a documentry film.

Nutmeg

Thanks for the insight. I always knew the CT pizza was a step or two better than what you get in NYC. What caught my eye in your article is that the New Haven pies are made in brick ovens with coal combustion. The place we go to in Stamford is The Coalhouse. As the name implies they also use coal-fired brick ovens. There is nothing fancy about the Coalhouse, even though they underwent renovation during my GE Cap days. But the pizza is phenomenal. As I said, it was always my first meal back in the States after flying in from Asia. Great, great pizza. Is it the best in the world? I think so.

http://coalhousepizza.com/home.html

[Chili]

I have had pizza all over the US and Italy and nobody has the "best pizza" some are better than others and some are drech. . On occasion I like the greasy, oily New Yawk style but on others  the wood fired crispy crusted is what I have the jones for. I buy Malnatti's because it is the best frozen I have found and does have San Marzanos on it .
The worst pizza I ever had was in Nebraska where it came out with American cheese all over the top. No buffalo there I guess or at least not water buffalo.

You obviously haven't had St. Louis pizza with Provel Cheese. It tastes like paste. They put that $hit on everything and it's f-ing disgusting. I have to go to the Lou for work about every 6 weeks and people try and push that crap. Vomit. I rather eat Top Ramen.


As for Milwaukee I always liked Classic Slice in Bayview. Crust was crispy yet chewy and they had a wide variety of toppings. Now in Chicago I pretty much eat Piece exclusively as they do New Haven Style Pizza.

[Coleman]

You obviously haven't had St. Louis pizza with Provel Cheese. It tastes like paste. They put that $hit on everything and it's f-ing disgusting. I have to go to the Lou for work about every 6 weeks and people try and push that crap. Vomit. I rather eat Top Ramen.

Love me some Imos. The square beyond compare

[keefe]

Some of the worst pizza I ever had was in Olongapo City. After a long, hard night of hammering San Miguel's we would slam into one of a number of pizza joints on Magsaysay Avenue to try and take the edge off of the next day's lager flu. The World Famous Iron Claws frequented both the Straw Hat and the Cork Room for their 0300 pizza fix. We knew the pizza was off and only then realized they didn't use cheese on the product in the Philippines. That didn't deter us going forward as we continued to patronize both restaurants.

http://bloggapo.blogspot.com/2010/12/1980s-pizza-war-of-olongapo.html


Outside the Straw Hat on Magsaysay

[Chili]

Love me some Imos. The square beyond compare

Gross. Might be the single worst thing I have ever eaten.

[GooooMarquette]

The worst pizza on earth is at Swank's in Nassau.  Trust me on this.

I will echo the comments about Provel cheese in St. Louis - that crap makes velveeta seem like a fine Saint Marcellin....

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Nutmeg

Thanks for the insight. I always knew the CT pizza was a step or two better than what you get in NYC. What caught my eye in your article is that the New Haven pies are made in brick ovens with coal combustion. The place we go to in Stamford is The Coalhouse. As the name implies they also use coal-fired brick ovens. There is nothing fancy about the Coalhouse, even though they underwent renovation during my GE Cap days. But the pizza is phenomenal. As I said, it was always my first meal back in the States after flying in from Asia. Great, great pizza. Is it the best in the world? I think so.

http://coalhousepizza.com/home.html

I'll have to visit the next time I'm in Stamford.  Look's good.  That's the deal in Connecticut, there's mom & pop New Haven style pizza place like the Coalhouse in most neighborhoods.  My local one is Roseland Apizza which is 10 minutes closer than the New Haven Quinfecta.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

I saw this article in Esquire that seems to mention some of the countrywide pizza places thrown out there in this thread.

http://www.esquire.com/blogs/food-for-men/lou-malnatis-best-pizza-winner-1350398423

[WellsstreetWanderer]

I'm in Boston this March. Will have drive to Stamford to try the za

[keefe]

I'm in Boston this March. Will have drive to Stamford to try the za

It'll be worth the effort. The pizza is Brooklyn-style only better. Everything about it is stupendous. Like I mentioned, I would always get one of these pies first meal back in the States. Most guys wanted steak or 'Que but I always ordered something from the Coalhouse. My wife thought that was odd but then she thought Chicago style was actually pizza.

[keefe]

I saw this article in Esquire that seems to mention some of the countrywide pizza places thrown out there in this thread.

http://www.esquire.com/blogs/food-for-men/lou-malnatis-best-pizza-winner-1350398423

Interesting that CT placed so many places in the list. I also looked at the Fried Chicken list and was surprised to see Seattle's Ezell's on top. Ezell's is solid but another on that list, Gus' in Memphis, is a far better meal. Like pizza you have to ration out your fried chicken dinners.

[WellsstreetWanderer]

In So Cal it's Roscoe's for chicken and waffles

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

I'm in Boston this March. Will have drive to Stamford to try the za

Elephant,
While you would enjoy the Coalhouse, you want to visit New Haven first for pizza.  There's the Holy Trinity plus 1: Pepe's, Sally's, Modern and the newcomer The Bar.  New Haven is 45 minutes closer to Boston also.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

It'll be worth the effort. The pizza is Brooklyn-style only better. Everything about it is stupendous. Like I mentioned, I would always get one of these pies first meal back in the States. Most guys wanted steak or 'Que but I always ordered something from the Coalhouse. My wife thought that was odd but then she thought Chicago style was actually pizza.

Keefe,
My brother lives in the Twin Cities and his first request when he visits home "is can you please take us for some real pizza and some birch beer."

[KenoshaWarrior]

If you are spending time at MOA, you are definitely a tourist!   

I've heard that the MOA is in the top 5 travel destinations in the country.  That just floors me....a friggin' mall.

Hope you enjoyed your trip to the Cities.

Ummmmm whenever you visit a city you don't live in you are a tourist.  I never understood why people are insulted when they are called one.   

[WellsstreetWanderer]

Elephant,
While you would enjoy the Coalhouse, you want to visit New Haven first for pizza.  There's the Holy Trinity plus 1: Pepe's, Sally's, Modern and the newcomer The Bar.  New Haven is 45 minutes closer to Boston also.

Thanks.  I've taken notes.

[real chili 83]

Ummmmm whenever you visit a city you don't live in you are a tourist.  I never understood why people are insulted when they are called one.   

Nate,

The joke is that no one from the twin cities shops at MOA.  They have a reputation for violent crime on weekends and evenings. 

Since light rail was extended to the mall, tons of juveniles take the train to hang out at the mall.  MOA has introduced some tough trespassing rules for juveniles, but it has not stemmed all of the issues out there.  They literally have a brigade of mall cops as a result of the issues associated with light rail.

[Benny B]

Nate,

The joke is that no one from the twin cities shops at MOA.  They have a reputation for violent crime on weekends and evenings. 

Since light rail was extended to the mall, tons of juveniles take the train to hang out at the mall.  MOA has introduced some tough trespassing rules for juveniles, but it has not stemmed all of the issues out there.  They literally have a brigade of mall cops as a result of the issues associated with light rail.

Chili 83 must live in the Naperville of the Twin Cities.  I was at the mall all day Friday and early-afternoon to mid-evening on Saturday... the only violence I saw was parents forcing their kids to wear Vikings jerseys nearly seventeen weeks after they were eliminated from playoff contention.

[WellsstreetWanderer]

 on my last visit to the MOA I was mobbed by a gang...... of gals on a bridal party scavenger hunt. Merely because I was the first in line for the shuttle back to my hotel they surrounded me and demanded items on their list. I complied with a business card but had to disappoint them on the second item as I informed them I was not wearing any underwear. With a rousing cheer they descended on the Mall en masse. No doubt to assault more unwary tourists.

[KenoshaWarrior]

Nate,

The joke is that no one from the twin cities shops at MOA.  They have a reputation for violent crime on weekends and evenings. 

Since light rail was extended to the mall, tons of juveniles take the train to hang out at the mall.  MOA has introduced some tough trespassing rules for juveniles, but it has not stemmed all of the issues out there.  They literally have a brigade of mall cops as a result of the issues associated with light rail.

Seemed pretty safe to me when I was there a year ago.  But than again so does Mayfair on the days that the teens decide not to run wild.

[LloydMooresLegs]

Love me some Imos. The square beyond compare

+1.  When in St. Louis, Imo's cheese and onion is tops on my list.  Two secrets--the provel, plus smoke flavoreds sauce of some sort.  Mrs. Legs found a recipe and it came pretty close to that distinct flavor and umami feel of the provel.

[Babybluejeans]

"Provel" and "umami" should never be used in the same sentence. Provel: "It's not even legally cheese. It's melted plastic from the 80's."