Emporio

Good morning! It's a lovely day over here in Hyde Park and spring just might be on it's way. 

Spoil me Earth, with your mood swing weather, and alarmingly warm winter days. (you're kinda freakin me out big time with this global warming, wonky weather phase but that's totally our fault)

If I could, I would feed you this meal, Earth. Pizza, and pasta and a nice cold beer and just like that global warming would be done. You'd be chillin like no other. 

Gluten is everybody's favorite bad guy lately. When did everyone become so allergic!?

I think it's a bummer. 

Do you know gluten's greatest accomplishments are two foods I really frickin enjoy?

Yep, I'm talking about pizza and pasta. In the Italian influence, American bastardized style or even the true to the original, straight-out-of-italy-variety...both are so very delicious. 

Do you know what gluten is? It's a protein of sorts that makes doughs (made with wheat) chewy and elastic. It's that irresistibly thin, chewy pizza dough and that pasta that bites back. 

FOR THE RECORD: I am not bashing gluten allergies or celiac disease, or even grain-free diets. I'm no expert! I just know that culinarily speaking gluten is quite enjoyable and it blows that a lot of people can't eat it anymore.  

Looking for a spot to indulge in your gluten-ous ways? (ha! get it? gluttonous, gluten. bada bing. bada boom.) If you're in the city (the city of New York that is) you might consider checking out the brick walled, wooden tabled Emporio.

I love a nice crunchy/chewy crust. OK, whatever...yes! I love all bread, any day, any which way, especially when it's neighboring a nice dish of peppery olive oil.

Mom and I split everything. And we over did it...typical. 

First up:

Sicilian Tuna Salad roasted string beans and tomatoes, arugula, caramelized onions & bread crumbs

 The tuna was clearly having some sort of relationship with olive oil, dig it.

Roasted veg completed this salad. I could roll with this for lunch any/every day. Are roasted vegetables ever a bad idea? NEVER, nope.

This is when the over ordering comes in to play:

A classic dilemma: I wanted pizza and mum wanted pasta. There was no way to avoid getting both dishes, I suppose we embraced the idea rather quickly.

Broccoli Rabe & Sausage Pizza mozzarella, pecorino, hot pepper

My one complaint: I like my pizza a little more "well done" 

I just gotta have a solid bottom crust. Floppity (that's a high end culinary term by the way) pizza just will not do.

We got a (not so little) side of red sauce to add to the pizza. Sometimes you really shouldn't leave well enough alone. This was one of those times. 

    Before                                                                      After

Intermission

They had one of my new brewed favorites! I had to order it. Lunch, pizza, pasta, awesome beer...sounds good to me.

Ready for the next carb? 

The answer to that is "always" 

Always be ready for carbs, they are out there and you want them. 

Garganelli (one of my most loved pasta shapes) hand rolled, with spicy Calabrian peppers & heritage pork "sugo"

This pasta was so nice and chewy. Each bite was sublime, comforting, filling.

Oh lord, was I so very stuffed after this meal.

And there you have it, a feast far too large for the two of us, but we gave it an honest shot.

Now I'm hankering to cook up an Italian dinner, I have so many meals planned for my summer break and some great things for this upcoming weekend! 

Control your excitement, please!

Wait, no. Never do that. I want to see inappropriate levels of excitement always.

Worcester

sometimes little places end up being really good places. It happens.

sometimes farms are more fun than cities. 

sometime glitter needs to be involved in the day's activities.

sometimes a corn muffin is the best breakfast known to man.

&

sometimes (usually) pizza is really good when it's thin. 

Which brings me to the Corner Grille in the bustling little city of Worcester, Ma.

I met up with my dear friend Shmapeeza (aliza, oh and shout out to Katherine & Freddie too) and we ended up at this spot.

Check out the funky pizza combos:

Right as we walked in we saw some ladies with a pizza the size of their table so we were pretty much forced to partake and get our own pie.

And now check out how great the vibe of the place is

...baked goods. yes. cool chairs. yes. wood floor. of course.

There's our huuuuuge pizza. Thin and crispy style.

How about this precious mason jar of lemonade "for two."  Think I'll borrow that idea...

Shmapeez, contemplating that impossibly thin crust.

And a view from my drive home. Taconic Parkway: I love you & I hate you.

Make some pizza. Eat some pizza. Get mason jars into your life. End. Of. Story.

The Pizza Oven

Things I want but realistically can't afford until (perhaps) a later point in my life:

1. 1989 Jeep Wagoneer

2. Loft in NYC

3. A trip around the world

4. A pizza Oven

Someday. Someday.

For now, let's focus on no. 4: The Pizza Oven.

Lucky me...my parent's friend's Judy and David just got a beautiful pizza oven in their backyard and invited us over for a pizza night.

They set out all the ingredients and we all went to town on making different combinations. 

The crowd favorite was the BBQ chicken pizza which had fresh mozzarella, basil, BBQ sauce (shout-out to Trader Joes for some really tasty BBQ sauce, that store rarely disappoints) chicken, and red pepper flakes...gotta kick it up a bit, you know?

Then there was the pesto, goat cheese & mushroom pizza

The was also one with shredded cheese, mushrooms and bell peppers.  

To finish off the night? Dessert Pizzas! yes, that's right...dessert pizzas.

Pizza parties are to be had much more often in my humble opinion.