Boardwalk Pizza

“Can bad pizza still be pretty good?”

The Debate Rages On

Can bad pizza still be pretty good? Really? Hell, I don’t know. My first instinct is to say yeah, sure, why not. Then it occurred to me, this notion, may have been propagated by people who were either drunk, stoned, or both. I mean, impaired people will eat just about anything, right? Remember the weird, late-night Iron Chef experiments you made and actually ate after the bars closed? I do.

Quality be damned when folks got the munchies!!

Then I thought, there is a real possibility, some folks just haven’t had really good pizza, which is a shame.

However, redeeming qualities in bad pizza? No, no way, bad pizza is, well…bad and we all know what that is.

What is bad pizza? Cheap ingredients make for a horrible food experience no matter what, especially when it comes to the humble pizza. The crust is typically leaden, or flabby, the sauce has an unnatural hue which in most cases is way too salty (or no seasoning at all), and the cheese when melted leaves massive puddles of gut-churning grease.

If what I just described as part of your late-night pizza binge days, there is a distinct possibility you might have spent more time in the bathroom than say, on the beach?

With that being said; eat what you like, who am I to try to dissuade someone from indulging in what they really want? It’s not my place. Really.

Memories

In my minds-eye, recollections of food were dictated by where I was, who I was with, what song was playing, and most importantly what I ate. My culinary memories are typically so vivid, the tastes, aromas, sights, and sounds, make me feel nostalgic and I always end up smiling.

A great place to start is the Jersey shore and boardwalk pizza.

If you are from Philly, we call going to the beach the shore and getting a “slice of pizza” is pronounced “sloice”.

For those that might be reading this and your not from these parts. This is just another example of Philly’s strange accent and ever expanding vernacular.

“I love boardwalk style pizza”

A slice or two always takes me back to a much simpler time.

What is boardwalk pizza? It’s similar to the classic New York Style pies you get on the east coast.

The dough is hand-tossed, the result when baked the slightly thin crust is crispy, chewy and doesn’t droop when folded. The cheese is a distinct mozzarella/sharp cheddar blend, the sauce is rich with a touch of sweetness, and it’s swirled on top of the cheese with a sprinkle of oregano.

The perfect portable snack.

Memories Part II

I can still picture it, it's mid-July, it's hot, not a cloud in the sky, there’s an ocean breeze, and I still have hair. It’s so bloody hot the sand burns my feet and I end up doing the shoobie shuffle across the beach to get to my sanctuary, the Ocean City boardwalk.

Goddamnit, I left my flip-flops on my beach blanket, AGAIN!

In this memory, I'm 18 (suspension of disbelief), sunburned, it’s the day after a late night of drinking beer, and listening to local cover bands. I'm really hungry and in need of sustenance. Just like most 18-year-olds, cash is scarce, so my wallet dictates what is affordable. The best bang for my buck is a couple of boardwalk slices and a cold caffeinated drink.

Heaven.

Heading across the sand to the boardwalk and having only one place in mind that’ll satisfy. It’s Mack and Manco's.

Moving quickly and now wearing flip flops, to protect my newly tenderized feet, I take it all in, the noisy chatter of seagulls, the distinct smell of suntan lotion and the scent of roasting peanuts hangs in the air. I dodge the hoards of shoobies (tourists), get in line and place an order my much-anticipated meal.

Finally, lunch is ready, I greedily head to a bench facing the ocean, and in doing so, protecting it with my life. I don't want those brazen seagulls swooping down and savoring it before I can. I arrive at my bench and with great gusto, inhale both slices, destroy my soda and without hesitation, get back in line for more. Remember this is my memory, so I can eat as much as I want.

Seriously, how many of you guys have lived out this scenario? I can honestly say, I have many, times over. They were the best of times and these fond memories are burned into my consciousness, kind of like the sunburn I got during the summer of 1978.

"Food is our common ground, a universal experience". ~ James Beard

See you at the shore!