OK, Here we go..... I think it only fair to start with this photo as this trip to Tokyo, and the inspiration of these two guys with me in the photo, really kicked off my interest in exploring food, photographing said eats, and sharing/explaining my impressions of my experiences. So, to you David Chang and Anthony Bourdain, Cheers, and thanks. As I begin I think it only fair to explain a bit of what my purpose with this blog is. As you know, I do not participate in Facebook, and I wont go into why here, but I NEEDED a vehicle to communicate and connect with those in my life, both near and far. As the name implies, this will primarily be a blog about pizza. However, as this is mine, I will feel free to do and say as I damn well please, as it pleases me. So I hope to not offend or tiptoe too far over the line of appropriateness, but if I do, that's just too fucken bad. Enjoy. Pizza, food, life experiences, thoughts, feelings, rants, and more food. This is what you will find here. Please feel free to share and pass along to anyone you think might have an interest, as I hope you will as well. Sincerely yours, DVA

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Tribute Pizza, North Park, San Diego, USA


http://tributepizza.com/

This is not the greatest pizza blog post in the world, no.  This is just a tribute..

While the embodiment of this restaurant is presented as a mere tribute to the great, long establish pie gods of the world, I for one must stand up and say nay, nay young sir, your offering is something truly special in and of it's self.

A pie such as offered here, crafted of the finest of ingredients, melded with the gifts and cunning of a master, presented in an atmosphere as unpretentious as the man himself, priced for king and pauper alike, does certainly stand on it's own.

And here HE does stand, finally, in a land of his own.  Not by himself but arm in arm with the forefathers of his craft.  Leveraging the necessary skills, honed over time, and molded into something similar yet specifically unique.

This is Tribute Pizza


Housed in the recently remodeled former building of the North Park Post Office, this prior "Pop-Up" now has a permanent home.

For those of you not yet familiar, Tribute Pizza started, and became famously popular, as a restaurant not in a specific location of it's own but "taking over" another's, converting it for the night into everything pizza. The possibility also existed to bring the experience right to your home.

For moron this please see this previous post:




Back to now

The ceilings are vaulted, the light is natural and bright, the decor is minimalist and pizza related.


Stacks of flour greet you at the door.


The kitchen/food prep area is very open and gives the diner the feeling of almost being a participant in the preparation of the meal.


The menu is specific and focused.  Pizza and all things that are welcomed at that type of party.


They even offer a selection of handmade non-alcoholic drinks (and beer and wine).

This is the ginger something-or-other..


We're starting with their take on a caesar salad.

The dressing is hugely flavorful and there's a nice light char on the romaine.  A subtle spice from the red peppers (I think they're red jalapenos) rounds out this salad perfectly.





OK, OK, enough, let's dive into this dude's pie...  :-O


The style is classic Neo-Neapolitan for sure.  The crust is yeasty and has tons of pull, firm yet forgiving.  I could eat it completely naked, it's that good.

This first pie is a tribute to Una Pizza Napoletana, now in San Francisco but previously and originally in NYC (I've been to both locations, FYI, and it's also why we're starting with it).

Tomatoes, basil, cheese, perfect.  A truly nice balance and a fairly original take on the classic offering from one of the original Neapolitan pizza kings of America (UPN).



The next is the DVA, or as others may call it, Pepperoni and Sausage.

Again, another true classic and a combination that is available at every pizza joint, everywhere.

The pepperoni and sausage are like Tom and Jerry, Amos and Andy, DVA and HG.  They are just a great team.  They jump and play on the lovely bed of sauce and cheese like little butterflies dancing in the afternoon setting sunlight.  The interplay between the ingredients is just simply delightful.  


I love this place/pizza.

We finished off with the Tiramisu which was very good.  It's another classic offering of a classic offering, and done classically... Is that too much classic?

Anyway, it's good, order it.

From his pie to your mouth there will be no disappointment here, Other than maybe parking, but there are a few lots within a block, so not all that bad.

Put a pie in your mouth

Make a tribute

DVA


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