New York, Chicago, Boston, California, or Somewhere In Between……

I am not asking you where you want to go on your next vacation. But there is something in common with all those locations; and that is in regards to pizza. Yes, you heard me. Everyone, including your Mother, has an opinion on where the best pizza can be found and who makes the best pizza. I certainly have my opinion and my friends have theirs.

The next question starts to bring out the personal feelings of the true pizza aficionado. Do you like a New York Style or Chicago or again…something in between. As if there are not enough arguments about politics these days, try listening to a conversation with someone from New York talking about New York Pizza in Chicago and the other way around.

And still, you can’t generalize by just saying you like a New York or a Chicago style pizza. You have to break it down even more; for New York, do you like a thicker less topping pizza like a Neapolitan, or a Sicilian, or would you want what everyone would call a typical Crispy style pizza that you would fold in half to eat? Oops, I forgot, we have more…what about the Grandma Slice? Never heard about that…Google it. From what I can tell, the Grandma is thinner than a Sicilian and a little more spicy. (Thinner/spicy…I could swear I was thinking in my head that I was hearing a conversation about my son’s last date.) Anyway, I wouldn’t have known about it if I hadn’t heard about it on a food show.

Don’t leave Chicago out, they have their variations too! I think most people when thinking about a Chicago pizza visualize a thicker crust on the sides, but an airy crust on the bottom cooked in round pan. Yet in Chicago, they have their thin crispy crust pizza that they cut into little squares.

Let’s not leave poor old California out. West Coast…those free thinking, lettuce-munching hippy types where everyone is “Brah!” Actually, I am a native born Los Angelean and I don’t use the word Brah! But a good friend of mine does, so maybe that stereotype still works. All I know is that you can find great pizza; anything from a southwest chorizo pizza, to a vegetarian pizza with spinach, broccoli and kale. What about a Cali breakfast pizza with sunny-side up eggs, bacon and hash browns?

With everything being said above, what about my part of the world…the Temecula-Murrieta Area. We do have some great pizza places; there is no doubt. Each one good in its own way.

Let’s talk about what started me thinking about All Things Pizza. If my son asks for pizza, and as a good father should, I say yes and ask him where does he want to go. And from there it goes to hell. There are lots of great pizza places in our town. We are big fans of crispy thin crust pizza, but do I want New York Style, or Chicago Style thin crust. Our combined pick was to go to Rosati’s

The great thing about Rosati’s is that they can take care of all your pizza needs, Chicago pan thick crust, thin crust…you call it.

As you can see, you don’t get the typical slice that if in New York you would fold over to eat. The pizza is cut in squares. Spices are a little different on a Chicago thin crust pizza. It is usually topped with a little oregano, which I like. I really enjoyed their pizza and would not hesitate to go back.

So today, we go Chicago. Tomorrow, who knows where I will travel! However, I do know that we have some great pizza in Temecula/Murrieta/Wildomar areas.

The following is a list of my favorite spots that are each different and great in their own way: Angelos Brick Oven, Bongiornio’s New York Pizzeria, Rosati’s Chicago Pizza, Spuntinos, Temecula Pizza Co, The Mill, Flippin’ Pizza, Bellas Pizza. I have tried all of those and will go again depending on the conversation I have with my son! I know there are many more pizza spots that I didn’t mention. Hopefully, I will test their pizzas soon!! Enjoy!

Please give me your comments on your favorite pizza spots and why. Let’s hear from you pizza aficionados out there!!

Thanks for Spending Time In My Kitchen!