“Back in my day” when you ordered a pizza you got a cheese pizza or maybe pepperoni. Here in the New Bedford area we often enjoy a linguica pizza. For those that don’t know, linguica is a Portuguese sausage. Google says it’s a smoked pork sausage with garlic, paprika and chili. Somewhere a Portuguese grandmother is saying, “That’s not the way I make it!” Whatever. It’s SO GOOD!
When I was growing up in the north end of New Bedford my mom often got linguica pizzas at Fay’s Knotty Pine on Acushnet Ave. Sometimes we would go to Pa Raffa’s in the north end and it was always a linguica pizza!
Over the years I tried other toppings like vegetable pizza with peppers, onions and mushrooms. No olives for me, thank you very much. I guess we’ve had anchovies for years but I was never brave enough to try. Then there was sausage and meat lovers pizza. Hawaiian pizza has been around for a while and I know…some people feel that pineapple DOES NOT belong on a pizza, EVER, but I’ve had it and enjoyed it. Recently one of my wife’s colleagues suggested linguica and pineapple. A strange combination but…it was delicious!
What is America’s favorite topping? Well it depends on where you look.
There have been countless surveys done and there are many web pages with many results.
One called “The Typical Top 10 List” based on surveys and restaurant orders ranks them like this:
- Pepperoni
- Sausage
- Mushrooms
- Onions
- Bacon
- Extra Cheese
- Black Olives
- Green Peppers
- Pineapple
- Spinach, Fresh Garlic and tomatoes.
A few weeks ago we ordered Domino’s Pizza for the Patriots game. There was a time when I didn’t care for Domino’s. I think it was the sauce that I didn’t really care for. I do admit that I like it now. Not sure if they changed their sauce recipe but it is good.
My family’s pizza order has changed over the years. That day we made our own Cali (Ranch dressing sauce, cheese, chicken, bacon and diced tomatoes). We got a Memphis barbecue chicken pizza, a Hawaiian with ham and pineapple and a Build Your Own with Alfredo, cheese and linguica. Oh and some garlic knots too. Yum!
I thought that was pretty unique until my daughter brought me her leftovers from Brew Fish Bar and Eatery in Marion. She had…wait for it… a pulled pork, mac and cheese pizza! WHAT??????
It was incredible!
Then I remembered my wife likes the scallop and bacon pizza at Profile Tavern in Freetown.
So much for plain huh? Back in the day if I was feeling really adventurous…extra cheese!
I have noticed that a lot of other meals we considered “basic” have evolved into gastrointestinal delights.
When I was in Virginia Beach this past November, my son took us to a brewery that was having a grilled cheese festival. Remember the grilled cheese from your youth? Yeah this wasn’t that. Years ago you made one with two pieces of bread, buttered and grilled with a melted slice or two of cheese in the middle. Maybe add a tomato slice. Not these! They had different types of bread, different types of cheese, and options included pesto, jalapeño, roast beef, or caramelized onions. There were so many options.
While some people may be tempted to say, “Why mess with perfection?” I say… have you tried any of these?
Now don’t get me wrong, sometimes the basics are just what I’m looking for. A cheese pizza can be delicious. I had one last week at the Back Nine Pub in Lakeville. And I do make a basic grilled cheese at home at least once or twice a month.
One of the downsides is trying to figure out what you want to eat when you go to a restaurant and stare at the menu. There are so many choices now. I’ve told you before how my son picks on me because I order the meat loaf at some restaurants. It’s not your mom’s meatloaf recipe anymore. Even those have evolved.
I have noticed that most restaurants have at least one or two basic entrees on their menu and I suppose that’s good for those that aren’t so adventurous.
For the rest of us…uh… can I have a minute? I have to look over the options and salivate a little.
By the way, tomorrow is National Pizza Day. Why it’s the day AFTER the Super Bowl I have no idea.
I’m just glad I’m not answering a survey asking for my favorite pizza topping, I wouldn’t know where to start.
Miss any previous Sunday Columns? You can catch up by clicking here.
Leave a Reply