Tag Archives: Pizza

Buona Forchetta

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I’m Italian.  Like, very Italian.  So Italian that Donovan isn’t even my real last name.  I had to pick something else because my real last name is so Italian, it can’t be remembered, spelled or pronounced correctly by anyone at any point ever.  Friends I’ve known for a decade still screw it up.  I’m pretty sure at this point, I’d even have to write it down first before I say it. My Grandfather, Guiseppe (not even kidding) was from Calabria, Italy.  My Grandmother, Maria Graciela (no, really) was from Sicily.  They immigrated to the United States in the early 20th century to live in a new world, create new opportunities and spend the last decades of their lives using a language they barely spoke to correct millions more people on how to say our name.  Once upon a time, years after having their 8th and alleged final child, my Grandparents (now in their 40’s & 50’s) discovered they were going to be parents again!  Oh to have been a fly on the wall in that perfect sitcom moment (hopefully with subtitles).  That surprise baby was my Dad.  This unique timeline of events meant that I grew up surrounded by a huge, mostly pretty old and VERY Italian family.  Two things I can tell you about Italians: We make being Italian our entire personality better than perhaps any other nationality and we are some judgy bitches when it comes to Italian food.  It’s just like in the movies.  I’m not gonna say everything you saw in “Lady and The Tramp” was true, but I often sing love songs to my dog while I feed him and every cat I’ve met has been a murdering racist caricature.   

According to family lore, my Grandmother (who passed the year before I was born) was an incredible cook.  She couldn’t read or write in English but she could throw down on a meal that would shame the most classically trained chefs.  Friends, neighbors and even other family members were allegedly terrified to cook for her because she was the best and ol’ girl graded HARSHLY.  My parents would often tell me that the greatest compliment Grandma was capable of giving someone’s food was to say “Like mine.” Her highest level of praise for someone’s cooking was to liken it to her own.  Straight Queen shit, right there.  I wish I could’ve known her.  To see her shaking her head in disgust as I try hopelessly to recreate her best dishes before she finally snaps, punches me in the ribs and forces me to have dinner alone at The Olive Garden.  While she’s cussing me out in Sicilian, my Google translate tells me I have shamed the family and must now change my last name to something unforgivably Irish, like Donovan. 

(These are my Grandparents.  The one on the right, a dear sweet man who loved me to pieces for the first 8 years of my life and the last 8 of his.  The one on the left is a legend.  A series of stories pieced together from the memories of others.  She has lived in my head rent free my entire life.)

While everyone has opinions (including yours truly) about what great Italian food is, the truth of the matter is there is no one kind of Italian food.  It varies by region, by neighborhood. Hell, even by household.  To say nothing of the fact that I’ve never set foot in Italy (I’m hoping to change that, who wants to start the Boy Who Ate Italy GoFundMe?!?) so the food my family makes has always been, like, mid-century Italian/American food at best.  I’ve had some great Italian food in San Diego and some not so great.  I grade on a weird curve, too.  Does it taste good?  Does it evoke that feeling?  Does it taste like something I grew up eating in New England?  For the proper East Coast Italian/American old world Italian food, hit Mona Lisa in Little Italy.  For the authentic, real deal Italian, you go to Buona Forchetta.  Every person I know who has either lived in or visited Italy has pointed to this place as the closest thing you’ll find in San Diego.              

Buona Forchetta prides themselves on providing an authentic Italian experience from it’s authentically Italian owner, Matteo Cattaneo.  The atmosphere is cool, the servers are all <strike>hot</strike> Italian, the pizza is award winning, the pasta is handmade, the OVEN is handmade.  It’s name is Sofia.   They did not come to play.  This place is more Italian than a spaghetti stain on Madonna’s bra strap.      

A San Diego staple with multiple locations since 2011, Buona Forchetta was actually recommended to me for the original Boy Who Ate San Diego blog and I didn’t get to it.  Thankfully, it survived in an unstable economy and, a few years and one global pandemic later, here we are.  I have eaten at Buona Forchetta several times before but I felt like it’s a place people in San Diego should know about.   

I pulled up with the usual Paesanos:  

Aimee-Roommate since the 90’s, BFF, allergic to hot dogs and therefore labeled a commie by many

Amy J-Chief science officer, Michigan Football loyalist, a common floozy

Chris-Attorney, lifelong food snob, loves sandwiches.  Like, a lot.

David-Wonder Woman superfan, musical theatre enthusiast, the narrator’s love interest

Harry-The I.T. guy, equal parts Type A and goofy as all get out, He probably knows how to fix that.

Kelsey-Project manager, Keeper of Christmas, has been known to drop it like it’s hot

Joseph-Music educator, loves just about every food I won’t touch, masterclass Dad joker

Shannan-Medical examiner, pumpkin enthusiast, drives the coolest car you’ve ever seen

We’re not the mob but I promise you the women in this picture could effectively dispose of a body if needed.

Our visit was on a Wednesday night, which made parking easier.  It can really tricky in South Park, especially on the weekends, so you’ll want to give yourself some time to get there.  The neighborhood really is super charming but that charm wears off quickly when you’re circling the same charming block for the fourth time, waiting for a parking space to open up.  

We started the night with some antipasti.  Aimee had the Calamari Fritti with Marinara.  She enjoyed it, calling it tender and nicely fried.  Shannan also loved the texture of the calamari.  Kelsey and Joseph shared a chef’s original creation called Brushettone.  It’s two pieces of toasted bread with Tomato and Mozzarella.  Kelsey enjoyed the flavors of the first one and loved that the toppings didn’t make the bread soggy.  The second slice was Eggplant, Tomato and Zucchini, a little more veggie heavy than she likes, so that all fell to Joseph to finish.  Even he found it awkward to eat and preferred the first slice with it’s sweet tomato flavors.    

Chris and Amy shared the Burrata Caprese (with organic tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil and balsamic glaze) .  Amy chose the Sangiovese as her wine to pair with dinner, which the waiter confidently agreed with.  At $12 a glass, she said it was very good.  Love that for her.  

Pizza is the house specialty of Buona Forchetta but what makes their pizza menu really stand out from the pack is how good their gluten free crust is.  Having a partner who is gluten free has led me to try many a GF pizza crust, cooked from frozen and tasting like it has slightly less flavor, texture and chew than the box it arrived in.  The Gluten Free crust at Buona Forchetta is soft, chewy, tender and masterfully executed.  Seriously, you wouldn’t know the difference.  It’s that good.  

Our two GF panelists, Shannan and David, both gave it their stamps of approval.  Shannan had the Nicola (a Tomato-less pizza with mozzarella, mushrooms, prosciutto di parma and truffle oil).  She said it was amazing and I gotta say, I had a slice, and it’s the best pizza I’ve had there.  The earthiness of the mushrooms was boosted by the truffle oil and the prosciutto added just the right amount of salt.  The crust was soft, chewy and toothsome.  Damn.  So good.  She also contacted me the following day to praise how well it reheated, which is a must for good pizza in my book.  David ordered the Daniela (Mozzarella di bufala, brie and speck).  While he enjoyed the crisp, saltiness of the speck, the brie was bringing a little too much butter to the party for his liking.  But David agreed, this is the best GF crust he’s had anywhere.

You would never know this wasn’t gluten free. The texture is miraculous.

Joseph and Kelsey shared the Vito Pizza (Spinach, Speck, Gorgonzola, nduja and Onion).  Joseph called the flavor combination “fantastic”. He did say the Nduja (a spicy, spreadable pork sausage) got a bit lost.  While he usually loves the crust at Buona Forchetta, this one was either too packed with toppings or underdone in the middle.  He would have preferred lighter toppings and a more structurally sound slice.  Kelsey echoed that same opinion, calling it a disappointment.     

While not one of her go-to’s, Amy was craving the Lasagna Vegeteriana, so she got that.  Called it very good and loved that there was extra sauce and mushrooms on the side, so you can mix as you want.  

Harry ordered one of the specials; a pork chop with lemon risotto.  He said the risotto was creamy, al dente and very tasty with a delicious, well-seasoned pork chop.  He and Shannan also shared a side of sauteed mixed mushrooms with parsley and garlic.   Harry enjoyed the dish, calling it loaded with umami.  Shannan agreed the mushrooms were delicious.  

Aimee built her dinner from some of the small plate offerings, trying the meatballs and side of roasted potatoes.  She said the meatballs were tender, juicy and paired really well with the marinara sauce.  The potatoes were a swing and a miss for her.  Aimee had previously been to Buona Forchetta’s Liberty Station location and enjoyed the way the potatoes were prepared there (with garlic butter and rosemary, opposed to topped with smoked mozzarella at this particular location).  I also had a side of roasted potatoes and I’ll agree I’m not sure the smoked cheese was the right choice to pair with homefries-style cut potatoes (which were very well cooked)

In the realm of pasta, Chris, Joseph and Kelsey all had the Fettucine with Buona Forchetta (Cream, egg yolk, parmigiano, spicy marinara and black pepper) While he initially worried it would be too heavy, Joseph said the sauce gave layer after layer of rich flavor.  That richness was also why he felt sharing the plate was the best move.  Kelsey says the pasta alone was amazing and reason enough to go back.  

While I was tempted to order one of my go-to’s (the gnocchi is a sure-bet favorite and I’ve never had a bad slice of pizza there,) I decided instead to really put them to the test and order the most basic Italian dish I could imagine:  Spaghetti and Meatballs. Corner a restaurant that frequently pulls out all the stops into a place where there are no stops to pull.  Like my own social experiment.  

Buona Forchetta, of course, met the moment in glorious fashion.  The handmade pasta was tender, perfectly al dente and was cooked in just the right amount of salt (hint: it’s always more than you think you should add to pasta water).  The Duo Pomodoro (a mix of tomatoes, basil and garlic) gave the dish  the perfect blend of acidity, herbaceous notes and just a gentle touch of sweetness. While my Dad’s meatballs are still the best ever (Even my Mom had to concede and hers were FIRE), these were pretty damned good.  The mix of pork and beef kept it moist and tender.  A dish so expertly crafted that anyone who would ever dare to look at this plate and call it “Noodles with red sauce” deserves to be slapped on the back of the head into a concussion.  Whats-a-matta-you INDEED.  It gave me the same feeling I get when I have my own family’s recipe for “The gravy”.  IYKYK.  

I miss my Mom. I need to call my Dad. I need to stop crying over this plate of spaghetti before people around me get weirded out.

While it didn’t seem like anyone at the table was going to order dessert, once someone decided to break the seal on that, the chain reaction was immediate.  Next thing you know, there were sweet plates all over the table.  This is so common for my friends, I couldn’t even tell you how it still manages to surprise me every time it happens.

David and I shared the chocolate Mousse (a favorite of ours).  Never ones to back off from the “Best life only” approach, Buona Forchetta doesn’t play when it comes to this dish.  Unlike the traditional wine glass or sundae cup, they serve chocolate mousse in a BOWL.  It was dense and landed on the table with a thud.  The small handful of berries on top almost appear as though they were placed there as a joke.  We both found it to be not cloyingly sweet, fluffy and rich.  It needed whipped cream but was otherwise great. 

“Hey Rocky, watch me demolish this comically large bowl of chocolate!” “Again?!”

Aimee had the Delizia Di Bosco (Nonna’s mascarpone and ricotta cheesecake topped with berry preserve).  I grew up eating ricotta pie and while my Brother would demolish an entire pan in one sitting without blinking an eye, I was always more a fan of American-style cheesecake.  That having been said, the texture on this was gorgeous.  So well made.  Aimee felt the pie was under-sweetened and found the fruit sauce surrounding the plump blackberries to be a bit watery.      

Shannan got the Cannoli (fried pastry shells filled with ricotta cream, chocolate chips and pistachio crumbs.)  Cannoli was never a favorite of mine growing up, which is so weird considering the ginormous sweet tooth I’ve had my whole life.  While Shannan enjoyed them, after a while the cannoli shell was putting up too much of a fight so she dedicated to just break them open and eat the filling.  I support it.

Curiosity led to the ordering of Stracceti Alla Nutella (Fried pizza dough strips, Nutella cream, mixed berries and powdered sugar).  When the dish arrived, the reaction can only compared to what theatergoers in 1997 looked like watching the final scene of “Boogie Nights” on the big screen.  None of us were sure what “Stracceti” even meant, so the front-door-sized Christmas wreath of funnel cake that clunked down in the center of the table was a marvel to behold.  The menu hilariously states “Serves 2 people”.  Between 7 of us, we couldn’t crush it.  For me the dough was fried a bit too chewy and tough, but it was tasty.  Don’t know that I’d order it again but damn, did it make an entrance.    

While food is always great for me at Buona Forchetta, I must say I’ve never understood why there isn’t a bread course.  They might be the only Italian restaurant I’ve ever been to that doesn’t serve bread before the meal.  I was missing it when enjoying my Spaghetti Pomodoro.  Also, if I’m being honest, the service has been better on other visits.  For a party of 9, we weren’t checked on a whole lot and at one point I had to ask for the 3 empty carafes on our table to be refilled with water.  Aimee also took note of $4 for a canned soda, which is a bit much to not offer refills.  Not great aspects of the visit but none were deal breakers.

Even given those small hiccups, I’m prepared to keep coming back here over and over again.  I highly recommend if you’re in or around San Diego, that you do the same. Mangiare!

Be sure to watch this week’s You Tube Episode!:

Hear the full discussion on the Podcast!: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-47zkb-15c598f

Further reading: https://buonaforchettasd.com/

The Friendly

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Something that I feel is missing from a lot of popular food culture is the art of simplicity.  I’m not a fan of food gimmicks, particularly when it comes to burgers.  I’m sure you’ve all seen the clips and pics of some obnoxiously huge burger with 12 patties, a bowl of pasta, a brick of cheese, a shrimp po boy, a whole live mackerel and an original vinyl pressing of De La Soul’s “Three Feet High and Rising” on it.  It’s 17 pounds, 3 feet tall and needs to be carried by 4 servers, the last of whom presents the table with a release of liability form for you to sign. It’s giving unmistakable dark flavortown vibes, for like $60.   I know you know this burger.  Aside from the fact that these are often absolutely disgusting they are also always wildly impractical.  And that’s the part that bothers me the most.  It can’t be picked up.  How do you even get at that thing?!  Am I supposed to unhinge my jaw like a python? The taste of it is secondary to giving you something to blow up ‘the Gram’ (That’s what the kids call Instagram.  It’s also what I used to call my Maternal Grandmother, so I’m hosting a terrifying buffet of mental images right now after writing that).  None of these ridiculous toppings are bringing anything to the party flavor-wise.  The taste of this thing people are meant to eat has become irrelevant.  Lost in a gimmick gone too far.  I say no thank you.

The competition for “best burger” is fierce everywhere and San Diego is no different.  There’s no accounting for taste but you bring up things like best taco?  Best Ramen?  Best burger?  Them’s fightin’ words.  Opinions will be shouted, emotions will flare, friendships and marriages will be irreparably damaged.  People are serious about this shit.  San Diego has some serious contenders for ‘best burger’ but I knew as soon as I came back for this series that only one place stood out from the crowd enough to warrant a feature.  What’s that you say? Anthony, you can’t cover a place you’ve already been to!” This here is a new Boy Who Ate San Diego, gentle reader.  As part of this series, I’m highlighting some of the “Icons” of San Diego.  Places that have been around for a minute and I’m exploring why.

The Friendly on 30th (There are 3 locations in town) is, by definition, a pizzeria but my favorite thing to order at this pizzeria is actually the Dirty Flat Top Cheeseburger.  Butter braised onions, American cheese, garlic aioli.  That’s literally it.  Simple.  Life changingly delicious.  It’s almost too simple.  It almost gives “House Burger” (A little something for you Gen X Eddie Murphy fans) except that it’s deliciousness will have you thinking about this burger for days after you eat it.  At least that’s my experience with it.  But it’s more than a burger and a slice of pizza.  There’s an experience to it.

I was in a production of the musical “The Full Monty” last Summer.  After a performance attended by my inner circle, we were in search of after show eats and one of the only things open after 11pm (Do not get me started on this city’s ability to pull in the sidewalks by 9pm) was The Friendly on 30th.  I’d had their burger before when my work crush brought me one a few years ago.  But I needed to be sure that the euphoria I felt eating this burger wasn’t just the feeling I got when I looked in his dreamy popsicle blue eyes and melted in the presence of his irresistible troublemaker smile into that usual chokehold that unattainable straight boys had me in for most of the 90’s.  I needed a second go at this burger with a clear, less horny mind.  This was that chance and, friends, lightning struck twice with this glorious burger.

Returning to the scene of the crime with me were some of my most trustworthy burger and beer lovers:

Dan-Lawful pirate, metal lover, can tell you everything about a great beer.  And he will.

Joseph-Music educator, loves just about every food I won’t touch, masterclass Dad joker

Chris-Attorney, lifelong food snob, loves sandwiches.  Like, a lot.

Anna-Canadian Goddess, Theatre dresser, puppet builder

Joe-Theatre and beer enthusiast, podcast co-host, TikTok Dad

I don’t know how but this picture manages to give indie band, brewery founders and coffee house staff all at the same time. 

I tried my best to not let my all-consuming obsession with this burger cloud the fact that I was here to give readers an overview of the whole experience of The Friendly.  And, let me be clear here, it is an experience.   Seating inside is limited, there’s one small bathroom.  There is always a line out the door.  Not the place for a sit down meal.  We almost always get our food and gather outside on the sidewalk and enter into a collective food coma under the white hot fluorescent lights and painted signage on the window.  Menu alterations (especially in regards to the burger) are not allowed.  I honestly go back and forth about my feelings on that.  On the one hand, I applaud the unwillingness to alter the experience.  After all, I don’t know that I would have ever thought to order a burger this way so it kinda forced me to experience something I now love.  On the other hand, the unwillingness to modify excluded all of our usual suspects who can’t eat gluten (most notably, my partner).  Also, as Chris astutely pointed out, there’s also no ketchup and no fries.  I don’t know that I would’ve been sold on coming here, had I not had the burger first.

The Friendly offers pizza by the slice.  I’m no aficionado and I’m SURE some stranger in the comment section will set me straight if I’m incorrect but I would most closely compare The Friendly’s pizza to New York Style.  I’m one of those rare people who equally loves New York and Chicago style pizza, which often gets me strange looks from folks who have chosen their side in the battle of the only two cities on Earth that make pizza.  The Friendly’s attitude is well reflected in every aspect of their menu, down to the pizza names.  Both mine and Joseph’s first slice was the Dr. Green Thumb (Garlic, Spinach, Red bell Pepper, Mushrooms, Red Onion and Artichoke Hearts).  Were it not for the fake cheese, I would’ve ordered a slice of Did I Tell You I’m A Vegan based on the name alone because HA!  Really tender crust, the artichokes added the perfect amount of tang without overpowering the whole slice.  Ratio of sauce to toppings was on point.  Joseph enjoyed the large chunks of garlic and balance of veggies.

My favorite Friendly slice (The Becky: White Pizza, mushrooms and ricotta) was out for the night, likely watching a rom com or having a meet cute at a café.  I instead chose for my second slice, the Michael Cane Italian Job (Not The Marky Mark Version) (BTW, that’s the actual full name of the pizza, parenthetical diss and all).  White Pizza with Ricotta, Red Bell Pepper, Garlic and Sausage.  I was happy to see this slice didn’t have pepperoni, which I hate.  I know, an Italian who hates pepperoni.  Sacrilege! One of many ways I’m a colossal disappointment to my family.  The ricotta was creamy and was sliced thin enough to keep from weighing the slice down.  The garlic and sausage played well off each other and the crust on this one was also tender and toothsome.  Good stuff.

I resisted suggestions to smash them together into one giant slice because I am not a competitive eater or an anarchist. 

Now that I was a good boy and ate my pizza it was time for my reward:  The Dirty Flat Top Cheeseburger.  I don’t know why it works so well!  The grill they make them on like a little assembly line looks like it’s clean and totally up to food grade but tastes like it hasn’t been cleaned since 1961 and I mean that as the highest possible praise.  I would never order American Cheese on anything!  But for some reason, this yellow slice just becomes creamy, velvety and perfect atop this burger patty.  The butter braised onions bring in sweet and smoky elements and the garlic aioli ties it all together like a symphony.  I loved it so much, I didn’t even care when I thought it was mayonnaise!  Some folks ordered two burgers and while I respect the dedication, I can barely get through one of these, so I savor it.  25-year-old Anthony would be crushing these in 3’s like full sized sliders (which, admittedly, might prevent the existence of present day Anthony but I digress).  Joseph praised both the crust on the bun and the crust on the burger.  He points out that he really can’t name another $7 burger that rivals the comfort and full flavor of the dirty flat top. 

About to risk it all for my cheesy, salty, greasy Roman Empire.

Chris really hit the nail on the head when he compared The Friendly to an immobile food truck.  He praised the burger’s taste, texture and mild greasiness (in the way good burgers are allowed to be).  He rated the pizza slices “as good a slice as you’re going to find in San Diego”. 

Dan had the Meat Lover’s pizza (which I’m sure had some other smart ass name on the menu board).  While many pizza places can go easily overboard on their meaty toppings, he enjoyed that The Friendly was smart about their balance.  No topping dominated any other.  While he usually a fan of the burger, he mentioned it tasting saltier when he’s sober as opposed to other occasions.  I want to point out here that multiple people in our dining crew said this place would be perfect to show up to drunk.  I’m not encouraging that you get sloshed before going to The Friendly but if you do, please do so safely on foot, call an Uber or a friend who owes you a favor (Don’t get me started on San Diego’s lack of public transport) But it was still delicious for him.  He recommends (and so do I) making a late night weekend trip to The Friendly after having a few beers up the street at Fall Brewing Company.  The vibe is festive and must be seen to be believed. 

And speaking of beer, Dan continues his role in my life as “beer hero” bringing his love and expertise of the sudsy devil to my table.  The Friendly offers Tecate, with a dollar off if you shotgun the can.  Dan did the thing because who doesn’t love a dollar off? He proudly boasts missing his shirt and only getting a few drops on the counter.  Chris was not as lucky with his but we still love him.

I absolutely loved Anna’s description of The Friendly in North Park as a “pause two thirds of the way through a bar crawl for a fever dream of a cheeseburger.”  That made me Kermit nod, IYKYK.  She mentioned it’s the type of delicious burger that tastes better after at least 3 drinks.  I’m sure she’s right.  It almost makes me want to like beer.  Almost.  I honestly would risk it all for this damned burger.  Anna’s slice of pizza included ricotta (which she describes as the cat nip of the cheese world), pepperoni and mushrooms.  She said it was solid and praised it’s ability to be folded without fuss, which proves to me that she has spent enough time around New York actors because no Canadian I know would eat pizza like that.  Also, Anna is not Canadian.  Moving on.

As Anna lacks the ability to shotgun beer (leaving that to her Husband, Dan) she did enjoy a refreshing Topo Chico Sparkling Water.  I will say the only thing I don’t love about this place is the lack of drink options for the non-beer crowd.  I usually just have bottled water because Mexican Coke is a real bad choice for me (cut to the glowing ghost of Wilfred Brimley giving me a Kermit nod, IYKYK)

I will conclude this review in a way that will not at all shock you.  It’s all about the burger (which is available in other iterations at The Friendly’s other two locations in town, but you gotta start with the dirty flat top) but the pizza is also pretty great.  The vibe is humorous with a smart ass charm.  The folks working behind the counter perfectly reflect that vibe also.  On some nights, you can buy a round of Tecate for the staff.  It’s a party and one I always enjoy getting to attend.  Also, The Friendly on 30th is located walking distance from multiple options for drinks and dessert.  Grab your friends and make a night of it.  And tell the burger I love it and I can’t wait for it to meet my lips again soon. 

Check out my YouTube Channel for this episode! https://www.youtube.com/@TheBoyWhoAteSanDiego

Check out the deep dive podcast for this episode! https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-6in9k-1541798

Further Reading: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-friendly-san-diego

Pizzeria Luigi (51 of 52)

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I was a surprisingly normal kid.  Like any boy my age there were two things I loved: Pizza and wrapping my lower half in a blanket to pretend I was a beautiful mermaid.  I never really lost my fondness for either.  So a trip to this week’s restaurant was a no brainer.  Pizzeria Luigi was founded by an actual Italian named Luigi in 2004.  They started with a location in Golden Hill and branched out to a second location in North Park 5 years later.  This is the place I’m at tonight with my pizza loving friends:

Aimee-Roommate since the 90’s, BFF, allergic to hot dogs and therefore labeled a commie by many

Arturo-Raw Story reporter, Rocky Horror community main stay, Mr. DJ

Christy-Rocky Horror performer, Cat lover, We’ve all seen her boobs

Craig-Jackie’s lucky and mysterious other half, picture unavailable

Esparza– Rocky Horror performer, once played Rock Band naked at a party, don’t ask him about the door.

Jackie-Awesome Soprano, fellow East Coast transplant, Has a Vegas story or two

Nick– Gamer extraordinaire, Once made a rap video in a tub with me, Colorado resident

Tomy-Fashionista, Rocky Horror performer, an original Kathryn

We are here to judge your pizza and surprisingly few Mario Bros jokes.

We are here to judge your pizza and make surprisingly few Mario Bros jokes in the process.

The place was small but busy.  Many people picking up whole pies to go or eating at the bar.  There was a line to order for in-house dining.  Pizzeria Luigi offers a great deal of 2 slices and a soda for 6 bucks.  They also stay open late which is another plus.  Hopefully the pizza would live up to this promise.

Arturo ordered the Pepperoni slice and the Capone (Pepperoni/Sausage/Meatball) slice.  He felt it was disappointing.  The kind of pizza that is better elsewhere in the city.  There was no real kick to the flavors and the flavors that did come through could be more lively.  Nick and Craig both had the Capone & the Leonardo (Parmesan Cheese/Mozzerella/Pesto).  Nick felt the cheese was underwhelming on the Leonardo while Craig thought it completely lacked flavor.  Nick added that the crusts on both pizzas were middle-done. They both said the sausage was great but the Capone overall needed more meat on it.  Jackie had the Fresh Prince (Spinach/Tomato/Mushroom/Onion/Artichoke/Garlic Marinara) and the Spinach Ricotta.  She noted that she needed to add salt to her pizzas, which is not a good thing. She overall felt like the slices were not satisfying and felt more like a appetizer than a meal.  Tomy got The Sports Bar (Potato/Bacon/Sour Cream/Cheddar/Green Onion) and the Leonardo.  He also ordered a Pabst Blue Ribbon for reasons unclear to the rest of us but Tomy assured us he’d stop drinking it before he grew an ironic mustache.  He felt the Sports Bar was good but he would refrain from ordering a whole pizza of it. He also said The Leonardo was tasty.

Aimee ordered two slices from the case but was unhappy with the selection, saying they tasted a bit old and she also found the staff to be unhelpful..  She would be interested in ordering a whole pie to see if freshness would make a difference.  Esparza had the Buffalo Chicken Pizza and the Capone.  He found them both to be okay but overall lacking flavor.  As Esparza is not a big fan of thin crust pizza to begin with, these did little to sway him.  Christy got the Spinach Ricotta and The White Girl (Chicken/Bacon/Spicy Ranch).  While she enjoyed the Spinach Ricotta, the real stand out for Christy was the White Girl and I have to agree with her.  She insisted I try it and it was fresh!  Hot out of the oven and super tasty!  It was a nice change of pace from what a lot of other folks at the table seemed to be experiencing.

As for me, I had the Spinach Ricotta and the Sports Bar.   I have to say there were good points and bad points about this meal.  The good was that they were good for what it was and the value of 2 slices and a soda for 6 bucks is kind of amazing.  I also liked the fact that they are open later.  Not so successful was the fact that the pizza had clearly sat in that case for a while.  In fact, having some of Christy’s White Girl only made me realize what a divide in taste there was from Luigi’s pizza fresh versus not so fresh.  It seemed very strange to me that this was what was available by the slice on a busy Saturday night with a sizeable crowd.  That having been said, I would also come back.  Both slices gave hints of what could await a taster when the pizza’s at it’s best.

Like pizza from New York! After the flight...

Like pizza from New York! After the flight…

The overall feeling with Pizzeria Luigi was that better pizza could be found elsewhere but what we had was good enough in price and taste that it would be worth coming in for again.  Many (myself included) felt it would be worth trying a whole pizza as freshness would be less of an issue than it was for the individual slices offered in the case.  My dining companions also praised the selection of inexpensive beers.  So basically this is the place you want to come after drinking at the bar and before heading home.  I’ve also been told the Golden Hill location is a difference experience so it’s safe to say that even though it was not phenomenal, Pizzeria Luigi has not seen the last of my business.

Further reading

 

 

Blue Ribbon Artisan Pizzeria (20 of 52)

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I can be picky about Italian food because I’m Italian.  Sort of.   I grew up in an Italian-American household so the food I had wasn’t necessarily the same food that Italians in Italy would eat but there are certain flavors and tastes that need not be messed with by non-Italians.   Example: The Gravy is what you serve over pasta.  Marinara sauce is what you dip mozzarella sticks in at Denny’s.  Pasta is what you eat in the form of spaghetti and other countless shapes.  Noodles are what comes in a bowl of ramen.  Trivial way of thinking?  Maybe but I’m a quarter Italian and therefore,  kinda think I’m right about everything.  Blame my family.  I do,  it’s fun!  Pizza certainly falls under the “gotta be right” category but I’m also open-minded and like to try different styles of pizza.  I’ve had it in New York and Chicago and I’ve loved both.  This week’s challenge, Blue Ribbon Artisan Pizzeria, leans more towards the wood fired New York style pizza.  I was excited as were my band of fellow tasters:

Abby–Swim instructor, Disneyland buddy, Stresses about making food for my other food-savvy friends

Aimee–Roommate since the 90’s, BFF, allergic to hot dogs and therefore labeled a commie by many

Amy-Vegetarian Belle, Author, Event Planner

Anna-Educator, flannel wearer, still mad at us for going to Snooze without her

Chris-Attorney, lifelong food snob, loves good Scotch and gay jeans

Molly–Recent San Diego transplant, jewelry maker, The new girl

Suzanne-My Italian soul sista, Can throw down in the kitchen, the cultured one who pronounces everything correctly.

Blue Ribbon

Strong pizza and strong opinions. This is why we do this.

Blue Ribbon, located in Encinitas, is small.  Super small.  They don’t take reservations but they were able to accommodate our large group with no hassle.   We started with some drinks.  Abby had a Fallbrook Winery Merlot.  She called it “effective”.  Chris ordered the Acoustic Ales Blue Ribbon Lager, which he appeared to enjoy.  Most of the rest of us were offered Hard Lemonade.  It’s lemonade with some sort of alcohol in it.  I would love to be able to tell you what precisely it is but our server made no move to answer either time we asked.  That having been said, it was tasty and likewise “effective”.

The massive divide in our opinions started with the appetizers.  Aimee ordered the Spicy Deviled Eggs with with Spicy Calabrian Chili Aioli & Smoked Pimenton Oil.  She found the dish overly spiced and overly priced ($7.50 for 4 halves of egg).  Amy had the Crispy Three Cheese Raviloi with Roasted Tomato Sauce & Parmigiano Reggiano.  I got to try these and they were pretty good.  Nice crispy dumplings in a good sauce.  She also ordered the Wisconsin Black Seed Popcorn with Truffle Salt and Parmesan.  This was house special is unique and highly snackable.   It’s good popcorn even without the extra stuff.   The truffle salt added an earthy flavor.  The parmesan added a mild cheweyness.

WARNING: If your popcorn looks like this and there's no truffle salt on it, it's burned and you've ruined movie night.

WARNING: If your popcorn looks like this and there’s no truffle salt on it, it’s burned and you’ve ruined movie night.

Chris ordered the Whipped Laura Chetel Goat Cheese with Black Mission Figs, Pickled Fennel & Toast.  It was a big hit with most of the table, particularly the goat cheese.   Molly had the Caesar Salad.  She enjoyed the house made garlic dressing.  In place of croutons, they were served ground and sprinkled on top, like breadcrumbs, which she found weird.  The salad is also huge.

This was all well and good but we were here to fight over pizza.  I want to commend this week’s group as we all ordered different style pizzas without even making a conscious decision to do so, which is a nice break from the usual hive mentality we live in.

Abby ordered the Blanca Pizza: Roasted Garlic,  Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Mozzarella, Goat Cheese, Sun dried Tomatoes, Capers, Olives & Arugula Pesto.  She thought it was well cooked with strong flavors.  Her favorite being the addition of capers.  Aimee had The Artisan: Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella, Housemade Spicy Pepperoni, Fennel Sausage, Canadian Bacon & Smoked Sausage.   She found the pizza to be just okay but, again, well below the asking price.  The pepperoni and sausage were massively over spiced, which was a problem present in a few of our pizzas.

Anna ordered the Americana Pizza: Tomato Sauce, Fresh Mozzarella, Artisan Pepperoni & Gaeta Olives.  She enjoyed it, particularly the strong olives and quality mozzarella cheese.  Amy had the Signature Pizza: Lemon Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Fresh Mozzarella, Ricotta, Parmigiano Reggiano, Lemon Zest, Red Onion & Basil.  Having eaten here several times, Amy’s pizza was a tried and true favorite of hers.  She loves the lemon olive oil best.  I tried her pizza and it also ranked among my favorites.

Chris ordered the Red Oak Pizza: Tomato Sauce, Fresh Mozzarella, Ricotta, San Daniele Prosciutto & Arugula.   Chris is also a returning customer to Blue Ribbon and very much enjoyed his pizza.  He’s also a big fan of how well the beers offered pair with the food on the menu.  Suzanne ordered the Staff’s Favorite Pizza: Tomato Sauce, Fennel Sausage, Heavy Cream, Parmigiano Reggiano & Basil.  It should be noted that Suzanne is of Italian decent, is from New York City and she spent 3 years living in Italy, so basically if she were a man she’d have a gold medallion with the words PIZZA SNOB nestled in a mountain of chest hair, visible to all from her unbuttoned shirt.  She found the crust to be on point; crispy but not cracker-thin with a nice char.  The cheese was good but the heavy cream added a lasagna-like consistency to her pizza.  The real villain, again, was the sausage.  She found it overpowering yet flavorless at the same time.  “That could’ve been pork or beef, you wouldn’t be able to tell”.  Well, alright.

Molly had the Craftsman Pizza: Tomato Sauce, Fresh Mozzarella, Parmigiano Reggiano & Housemade Spicy Pepperoni.  Like most of us, she found the crust to be skillfully done and tasty but her pizza crumbled beneath the spice of her pepperoni.  I ordered the Classic Pizza: Tomato Sauce, Fresh Mozzarella, Fennel Sausage & Crimini Mushrooms.  I thought it was really tasty.  Good crust, the mozzarella was top shelf and well distributed.  The mushrooms were great but the fennel sausage was ridiculously spicy.  Not enough to kill the dish but a big deterrent from me enjoying it more.

PK classic pizza

We are not spice wimps, I swear.

With only two items on the menu, we felt desserts was a must.  The first dessert was a signature dish for Blue Ribbon:  Butterscotch Pudding with Sea Salted Caramel & Fresh Whipped Cream.  Anna, Amy, Chris and I loved it.  Molly said it was the 2nd best of it’s kind she’d had after Haven in Pasadena.  I thought it was divine and the perfect size for following a large meal like pizza.  Aimee was not a fan.   She felt the dish lacked texture and just felt like a “butterscotch slime”

PK butterscotch

and here I was thinking I couldn’t love anything from a mason jar that wasn’t moonshine…

The other dessert was the Peanut Butter Crunch with Peanut Butter, Chocolate Pudding, Caramel, Pretzels & Whipped Cream.  I enjoyed this one as well but not as much as the butterscotch.  Abby and I both found the peanut butter to be a little muted in its flavor.  Several folks at the table took issue with the “Crunch” portion of the dish.  The pretzels tasted a little stale and would’ve been better served with chocolate on top instead of hiding at the bottom.

PK PB crunch

If the Butterscotch Pudding is unable to fulfill its duties as favorite dessert, Peanut Butter Crunch will be crowned the winner.

Overall impressions of Blue Ribbon were mixed.  Chris and Amy were already fans so they’d come back.  Aimee and Suzanne both said the service was less than stellar and I’m inclined to agree.  They restaurant was busy but we found the wait staff and bartenders to be less than helpful about menu knowledge, refills, etc.  The food was good enough that I would go back at a less busy time, like lunch, for a second opinion.

Further reading: http://www.blueribbonpizzeria.com/

To see all the pics from this meal be sure to follow theboywhoatesandiego on Instagram!