Pizza Assessment

Well well. A big welcome back to those of you who have stuck with me. Work has kept me rather busy and blah blah more excuses. But thanks for coming back, regardless.

Today I am going to continue the praise for my move. The husband and I have officially become Eastern Shore snobs. It is our goal on the weekends to never cross the Bay Bridge going west. And we succeed. But today we're going to be specific in praise. Today it is about my favorite food group: Pizza.

Growing up in North Jersey I was privy to some of the greatest pizza on earth (see: Benny Tudino's, anything in Brooklyn).

After leaving Jersey when I was 16, there was a constant struggle to find even a decent slice of Pizza. We managed in Las Vegas: Verazzano's on Rainbow. We managed in Pittsburgh: Milano's in Oakland. Both had really good pizza.

But Alexandria? Fail. We ate *gasp* Domino's. Throughout the 2 years in Alexandria we could not find decent pizza. My boss claimed it was because we were technically in the south and they didn't know what good pizza is (he's from Brooklyn). I only slightly believed that. We were near a large city like DC, where are the pizza shops run by Joey Jr. and his dad Joe Sr.? Needless to say, it didn't help to improve our thoughts on the area. We finally settled on a place with fair pizza: Primos. In the Belle View shopping center off of Fort Hunt. Very good for the area, but only fair compared to the other places we lived.

Then we moved to the Eastern Shore. Mike, the owner of Wye Knot Framing alerted me to a place called Carini's in Stevensville. The guy running it was from Sicily and had excellent pizza. Husband and I added it onto our places to try list.

Lo and behold, Mike was beyond right. Since first trying it two weeks ago, we have eaten Carini's four or five times. Including the past two nights in a row. Here, you can order a "pie" without them looking at you like you're insane. You can order pizza by the slice. You can get cannoli's for dessert. Sal will even keep them in the freezer while you eat your slices.

And the pizza? Thin crust that's just crispy enough. Grease that drips onto the plate as you eat it "Brooklyn style" (according to Domino's). Cheese and sauce together for a perfect mix - and no, I put nothing on my pizza. I enjoy the pure cheese, tomato sauce, and doughy goodness. The crust: a perfect mixture of crispy on the outside and soft inside. This is NY/NJ pizza material.

The best thing?

It's a pizza place I would take my mother to. (she's from Brooklyn).

Add great pizza to the many reasons we are glad to have moved out here. Read more...

I'm Sure There Are Better Ways to Spark a Conversation...

This occurred quite some time ago, but warrants a spot here...

A nice gentleman has an office near my cube. Conversations travel, so things are often overheard. I often discuss my time spent in Las Vegas - 8 years is a decent span of time to live in one place... usually in the context of college basketball or everything being open 24 hours (which I still dearly miss.)

So, one day at our kitchen area, the nice gentleman (N.G.) was there preparing his lunch as I nuke my soup. And this conversation takes place:

Me: Hi.
N.G.: Hi.

.....

N.G.: So, you lived in Las Vegas?
Me: Yep. Lived there for 8 years or so.
N.G.: Yeah? I went there.
Me: Oh?
N.G.: Yeah.

........

Really? That's all you've got, guy? You went there?? I mean, how do you respond to that? Many people go there. It's a popular tourist spot in this country... what with the Strip and its many casinos and what have you. But come on, really? That's it?

There are much better ways to spark a conversation about Las Vegas... without a doubt. Ask me what hotels I consider to be "good" ones - like you did in our second conversation. Now that was a good conversation starter. Ask me how I enjoyed growing up there... or if there are things to do aside from gambling. You are a nice gentleman and though we don't even work in the same area, our desks are nearby and it's nice to be cordial to those that surround you.

But, I went there? Come on, man. Read more...