Everybody Loves Pizza!!

By Danielle Campbell

                                                   

This morning I read a story on the air regarding the presidential candidates' favorite toppings on Pizza.

    Apparently, according to sources, Senator Obama likes his pie topped with Pineapple and Ham-"Hawaiian Style"--the copy read--in tribute to his Hawaiian roots.    

Senator John McCain, on the other hand, prefers Pepperoni and Onions.

I believe everyone loves Pizza...well, almost everyone I know. {except my very German Grandmother}

Grandma Catherine remembers Pizza from when you could only get it in a bar. {I think that is why she doesn't like it.}

When ever I say the word "pizza" Grandma always says, "I don't really care for it," and then she will add like clock work: "I wouldn't go out of my way to get THAT!" emphasis on "THAT"!

The reason may well be because back in the 50's Grandma and Gramps and their two daughters and tons of cousins and aunts and uncles along with a great grandma or two--would all spend time in Long Beach at Aunt Florie's Beach House on Michigan.  {By the way I think it had two bedrooms, but a big sleeping porch.}

There would be a house full of noisy, hungry kids, and the men {Grandpa Dan, Uncle Ernie, and Crew} bless their hearts, would "volunteer" to walk to the bar and bring back some "Bar Pies".

I am sure you can guess the outcome--the guys would come back a few hours later--a bit tipsy, the pizza cold!                              

      

 

Anyway, I digress, the point is most everyone I know, except for my grandmother  {I am sure glad she doesn't do the computer thing} LIKES and even, I dare say, LOVES Pizza!

As a reporter I know this to be true, because during my travels across this great Island of ours everyone has an opinion on What is the best type of Pizza and even more importantly WHO makes the BEST PIZZA!

Deciding on WHO makes the Best PIE here on Long Island would be akin to solving an ancient mystery concerning the pyramids or the Stone Hedge.

I am not even going to go there--

But it is fun to ask around how folks like their pizza--

I conducted a highly scientific poll here at News 12 Long Island and the results were almost insightful.

Every single person who responded to my pizza poll had a different idea on what makes an ideal topping on Pizza..

This whole pizza thing started during the morning show when I was anchoring with Doug Geed--you know the guy I sit next to everyday---    

Well, we were talking about the presidential candidates preferences and he said the best way to eat pizza is the "Doug Geed Slice"!!

Initially I thought the Pizza Parlor in his neighborhood offered such a thing and I immediately wanted to have a slice named after me--Danielle From Hell Slice: Hot peppers, Onions, Garlic!

Doug corrected me, {as only Doug can do--} and then he went on to tell me what, in his opinion {and believe me when it comes to food Doug is very exact about what he likes}, is the best way to eat Pizza:

"The Doug Geed Slice": Grilled Chicken, broccoli, tomato,eggplant.

Doug told me all he has to do is call up his Pizza guy and say--can I get "MY" Pie and the guys makes it just the way he likes it!  {of course because he is a big TV star} ;)

{I tried to find a pizza picture that looked like that: }   

Doug said to me, have you ever had it that way?--I said "uhhhh--no--not that I remember"

He said: "Try It--You'll Like It!" 

The way he said it reminded me of those sayings on the Pizza boxes--how is it that every pizza box on the planet has that little pizza chef guy saying "You Tried the Rest, Now Try the Best!"

         

Once again I digress----I the went on to ask our entire morning team how they like their Pizza and here are their responses:

Val, Dan and Artie in Editing all like pepperoni and Dan and Artie like meatball too.

{those editors always stick together on everything!}

Elisa said she likes it "plain"--

Erin, my producer and our sports anchor said: "Fat Free, Sugar Free"--Oh yummy--why don't you just eat the box! :)

Alex, one of our writers said "Mushroom"

Kevin, one of our directors said {ugh}--"anchovies, peppers, onions, sausage" and wrote "MMMMMM"

Carol Silva said Plain, Eggplant, Grandma's

Henry,our writer and producer on the morning show said "black olives" and asked if I would be bringing one in tomorrow ;)

Carol Cohen, another one of our writers and producer, said "mushroom and pepperoni"

Tara on the assignment desk said "chicken"

and Elizabeth Hashagen said "broccoli or Sicilian"

It was interesting poll and basically it proved my point--

EVERYONE {except my Grandma} LIKES PIZZA--but everyone has a different way they like to eat it--

So in the similarities we share--we can also at the same time exhibit our differences--

I am sure there is some book out on "What Your Pizza Toppings Say About You!"

In the meantime while I try to figure out Pizza Psychology 101--

go out and enjoy a slice---Because I just found out--October is National I Love Pizza Month! http://visualrecipes.com/recipe-search/subcat/Pizza/

Imagine that!

http://pizzatherapy.com/pizzapics.htm

http://www.longisland.com/bestpizza/

Comments

[Danielle]

Hey thanks for all the comments on my pizza story--
The way our blogs are set up --I don't always know that folks have posted comments!
I do love pizza pretty much anyway-- and I loved the story about Susan's family showing up at their daughters dorm with Pizza from Mike's in Amityville!! That is GREAT!!
When I spent a month in China --I asked my parents to bring a pepperoni pie to the airport--half kidding--half hoping! Well they did--and I think I downed two slices before the luggage arrived!
Should I do a blog on who make the best pizza--??? I would have to let News 12 viewers tell me their picks! ;) And then I would have to be sent out on assignment--tasting the pies, all in the name of Journalism!
dc

[SUSAN L.RUDNICK]

TRUE STORY:FOR OUR DAUGHTER MELANIE'S 19TH BIRTHDAY:OUR SON MICHAEL,MY HUSBAND DENNIS AND I CALLED OUR GOOD FRIENDS @ MIKES PIZZA IN AMITYVILLE VILLAGE TO DELIVER A PIZZA TO HER DORM ROOM @ LEHIGH UNIVERSITY.THE WHOLE DORM WAS IN ON THE SURPRISE! PATRICK BAKED THE PIES EARLY ON HER BIRTHDAY @ MIKES: AND WE ALL FOLLOWED IN ROUTE TO PENNSYLVANIA!HE RANG THE DOORBELL TO HER ROOM.THE LOOK ON HER FACE WAS PRICELESS!WE ARE FOREVER GRATEFUL TO OUR FRIENDS @ MIKES PIZZA:WHICH IS THE BEST PIZZA ON LONG ISLAND!FONDLY:SUSAN L.RUDNICK OF AMITYVILLE.

[sharon]

Great story - funny just the other day a co-worker and i were having the pizza talk. we said we could eat pizza 7 days a week for at least 2 meals a day!
interesting what your co-workers like!!
thanks for sharing

[ed . l]

danielle,
the great pizza debate was very cute. i think the best pizza was some i had in the south of france ( yes france) in lourdes with you and dave your cameraman. let me explain. there was about a hour when it didn't rain. you , dave and i were sitting at an outside cafe , the sun was shining you treated for a pie with the works, not my favorite. but i have to tell you it was wonderful and one of the best i have ever had. so its not the pizza , or the toppings .its being somewhere magicial , sitting with good people , and doing important work that made it the best. say hey to dave for me . ed l

[John]

I've always thought that the most appropriate answer to "what kind of pizza do you like" is "what do you have?" Though I may have to rethink that in light of Erin's answer. That frightens me horribly.