Saturday, August 18, 2012

The best of the best: P-town Pizza

My husband (eek! So odd to get to use that word now!) and I are big foodies - if you hadn't noticed by now. We love to try new recipes, eat at new restaurants/food carts/hole in the walls and watch any and all cooking channels.

Most of our meals consist of discussing the next meal - that's how into it we are.

Portland is one of the ultimate foodie cities - there is something for everyone here. So today we'll start with the basics and talk pizza. Here are the four ultimate pizza joints to hit when you're in PDX.

#4. Sizzle Pie:
(Picture from www.sizzlepie.com)
We actually just made it to Sizzle Pie this afternoon, after me drooling over their menu for the last year. There are two locations on Burnside, one in the south and one in the east over the bridge. Pizza by the slice is available, as well as whole pies. Another great thing about PDX is their lunch combo options and their happy hour options, and Sizzle Pie is no exception. They offer a combo of a slice of pizza and a salad for $6. I went with the Gold Ring pizza, with white truffle oil, goat cheese (yes!) and green onion. The slices are large and thin - great for folding in half. Try the Word salad and enjoy greens, sunflower seeds, red onion, pepperoncinis, and their famous vegan pink peppercorn white wine vinaigrette (YUM!). Some of their awesome whole pies with tongue-in-cheek names consist of: the Gene Parmesan (Arrested, anyone?) with shaved beef steak, broccoli, and parmesan peppercorn sauce; the Napalm Breath, crushed garlic, pepperoni, onion and fresh jalapenos; and the Italians Do It Better - with breaded eggplant, crushed garlic and fresh basil. Pop in for a slice or a whole pie!

#3. Ken's Artisan Pizza:
(Photo from www.kensartisan.com)
Mentioning this name will make the locals eyes light up. Have I mentioned this place before? Can't remember. Legend has it that Ken opened a bakery in Portland years ago and was quite successful. When his friends would come to visit the shop, he would make them pizza, a special treat that wasn't on the menu. His friends started bringing their friends and so on and so forth until he decided to open up his own pizza place. Ken's is located in NE Portland near Laurelhurst theater and features some seriously good pizza. This is a much more traditional thin crust pizza with classic Italian toppings like prosciutto, rosemary, and house made pancetta. If you like a bit of spice, order the Arrabiata - a blend of tomato and spicy Calabrian chiles, mozzarella and basil. Get there early 'cause there's always a line and they don't take reservations.

#2. Dove Vivi:
(Photo from yelp.com)
This place is in a caliber all on it's own. Tucked away on NE Glisan in a strip mall with a cleaners and a Plaid Pantry, this is one of the best kept secrets in Portland. Their claim to fame is their thick, cornmeal crust. Chewy and delicious, this special crust gives the pizza an extra somethin' somethin' that keeps you coming back for more. Our personal favorite is the goat cheese pizza, smothered with creamy goat cheese, balsamic soaked tomato slices, green peppers and fresh rosemary. If you're into trying something really different, the corn pizza is another good one sprinkled with fresh sweet corn and marinated onions. Every visitor we've taken here has been wooed by the deliciousness that is presented to them. Pair your pizza with their delicious kale salad, a simple but flavorful addition to your meal. I would eat this every day if I could.

#1. Apizza Scholls:
(Picture from Google Images)
Now, if we're talking just straight pizza, just melt-in-your-mouth cheesy carbloaded goodness, then we're talking Apizza Scholls. This place also doesn't take reservations and the wait can be upwards of two hours. The chefs make their dough for the day, and when they run out, that's it - so better get there early. I can't recommend just one pizza here, since they are all incredible - but I do recommend starting your meal off with their roasted vegetable platter. This place was recommended to us by some friends who used to live here. It took us a little less than a year to get there, but we finally went and it was absolutely delicious - one of those places that makes you wish you had two or three stomachs to keep on eating.

1 comment:

  1. Well I'm thrilled to see this post! I hadn't heard of Sizzle Pie, so I will be checking this out next time I'm in town! Great post.

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