Brick by Brick, Wood Fired Pizza - Granbury Texas USA

 

https://www.brickbybricktx.com/

Low and behold, almost directly across the street from my hotel in Granbury Texas, a wood fired pizza spot pops up out of nowhere.  😮

What's the chance of that?!?

And what's the chance of it being good (forget about great, I'd take not terrible and be happy about it).

Let's check it out shall we?

Wood fired for sure.

B-B-B started during Covid as a food truck, mobile wood fired pizza.

Born from the passion of this guy, Curtis, the owner.

The oven is from Italy, from what Curtis told me, and looks fully legit.

The rest of the truck is outfitted with a standard pizza kitchen, and of course I talked my way in.

They've been doing this about 4 years, and in this location just a few months.

Currently the truck is parked along side the building where there is a dining room and kitchen that produces all of the other offerings (burgers, salads, sides, etc...).  

The dream/hope is to expand the building to add an oven, and then get the truck back on the road, but again, he's only been here a few months, let's not rush it.

Yesssss, this looks nice, and I'm getting hungry, let's go.

Before we actually try-the-pie, a little detour is in order.

On the menu, in the Italian Fare section 😨 is the Italian classic, fried ravioli......

You know we're gonna try that.

LFG!!!!

I'm not sure how "Italian" this is, but if looks are any indication, this might be good.

Ohhhh Madonna!

Crispy and crunchy, gooey and stretchy, and really delicious.

I got both the marinara and the ranch, and I didn't have a favorite, both tasted great and 

worked really well.

Nice start BBB.  (I could totally be a hand model....)

2 pies:

APizza, their take on a New Haven style, sauce and 3 cheeses.

Vana White, their white pie with a garlic sauce and mozz, and some other items, and then 

add pepperoni.

Ah-Beetz

My first reaction was "uh oh",  the crust looks dry AF.  

But oh my my, look what we have.

Light and fluffy, and crispy on the outside.  Not a hard crunch of a crisp, but a light crispy coating, very deceiving from how it looked.

Nice topping to crust ratio also, an even hand is at work in the kitchen.  Crispy bottom, YUMMM.

Vana White did me right as well.

The larger format pepperoni was great and the "sauce" was super cheesy/garlicy.  Same great crunch and fluff as the APizza.

There's no floppin' in Granbury.

I also talked to a few folks having dinner and half didn't even get the pizza, they were having either a burger or fried catfish. (affectionately listed on the menu in the "Lake Grub" section, love it).

If you're ever anywhere near this place, you have to check it out, it's a winner and

 I can't wait to go back,  Great job Curtis, see you again soon.

DVA

I Love Frankie's - Worcester Mass - USA

 

https://worcestersbestpizza.com/

When your web address is "Worcesters Best Pizza dot com", we know that you're not messing around.

Harken back to the Boston Pizza Festival and you'll recall the King of Pie's, Mr. Frankie.  

Well, we finally made it to his spot, Worcester's finest.

His iconic logo below is actually a reproduction of a photo of his daughter picking up

 a slice and taking a bite.  

Hells yeah.  You know how much I love that.

Massive FUBAR on my part coming....

(for those international readers, FUBAR = F**ked Up Beyond All Repair)

We planned to stop at Frankie's on our way back to the Cape from the family Bungalow which is located in the Catskills of New York State (just down the way from the location of the original Woodstock, but that's another story (Pop-Pop and Ammy, among other family members, actually attended, super cool)).

But, I digress (doing that a lot these days).  So the plan was to stop in on our way "home", 4 hours driving down, 2 more to go.  But, little did I know, and failed to inquire about, 

Frankie's is a take-out only joint!  

And, it's 95 outside, and me with a full car of hungry kiddos and wife, so we can't just chill on the sidewalk or go to a park.

And, also, the pizza photo below makes the pie look a bit of a mess (sorry Frankie, but I was doin my best).

This is a grandma with half cheese and half pepperoni.

By separating a specific slice, it looks a bit more presentable.

(yes, I pulled over under a tree by the street and jumped out to devour 3 slices, which were still too hot for the kids to eat, sorry guys, daddy needs some food).

95 degrees, super humid, no flop.  YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

Amaze-balls

Yummy to the next level.

We got a second pie and it was equally as great.  This one was a round Hawaiian.

Let's not hate on the topping choice, please?  I fully agree that pineapple has NO PLACE being on a pizza, total sacrilege to put this on a pie.  

But I also know that with canadian bacon it tastes great, so suck it!

Frankie hooked us up with both pies, a salad, 2 cookies, and some sodas.  Thanks Frankie!!!

The king of Worcester and someone I'm proud to have met and can't wait to see again (which might not be until Fall when it's a bit cooler and easier to enjoy    :-O )

Thanks Frankie, you and your staff are truly awesome.

Best pizza in Worcester?

Best pizza in Mass?

Best pizza ever?

Man, I can't deny it.

If you're NOT puttin' some Frankie's pie in your hole, then whatta ya doin'?

DVA

Pizza Barbone - Hyannis Mass - USA

 

https://www.pizzabarbone.com/

A short 2-ish block walk away from Pop-Pop's Cape house resides what is touted as "wood-fired pizza".

And, from first glance it appears to be just that......  but is it???

They certainly have a legit Marra Forni oven, but this one in- act is primarily heated by gas, with a middle pedestal that can house a burning log or 2.  But, the heat is 100% coming from gas.

No hate on the gas, at all.  Pizza's like heat, but they don't care about where it comes from .  Yes, the heat from a wood fired oven tends to be drier than from gas, and coal is even drier than that.  Is that always good?  It all depends on the type of dough (not all dough is created equally).

But, I digress....

Gas or wood this place is 100% legit.

We sat at the pizza bar so that we could enjoy the show.

And we weren't the only ones enjoying themselves...

Vanta (his name) is totally killing it tonight.

As can see from the photos above, they are cranking out the pies, and they have a lot of cooks in the kitchen, but they seem to be "doing the dance" quite well.

Assembly line, thank you Henry Ford

Thanks Salt Bae

The oven is not only gas and wood, but the deck rotates as well.  The theory being that it will cook all pizzas evenly.  I'm not sure that I'm a fan of this as all of the Pizzaiolo's that I watch would pick every pie up when it neared completion and give it a little extra attention near the gas outlet.  However, what ended up happening is the pies are undercooked because they need to get them out before they pass by the front, and only when they pass the front, otherwise they'll need to make another rotation as the rear of the oven is inaccessible.  Most pies that I observed were (slightly) undercooked.

A shame because it would take them (the pies) to the next level if they could just stay in the oven  another 10-15 seconds.

Seeing this, I ordered ours a bit over done, please.  And it worked out fairly well.

Nice fold kid

Yumm, crispy on the outside and chewy and soft on the inside.

I would certainly declare this the best Neapolitan style pizza in Hyannis.

Kid friendly, great salads (sorry for no photo), yummy pies, decent wines (not for Luigi though...)

Grab someone's pie and put it in your mouth.

DVA

Boston Pizza Festival 2024

 

Heck Yeah!  Talk about good timing!  We move to New England and within the first few months it's Pizza Festival in Boston?!?!?!? Wicked awesome!

Rolling with the Fam,.  My expectations are super low, but Im not sure why.  I guess it's because I've never been to a Pizza Festival, so I'm thinking it's not too popular and the pizza will be sheit.  Super tiny slices, sitting in the sun all day, limp bizkits.  I guess we should check it out, join me....

All of the Pizzaiolo's are cooking on Fiero ovens, some are gas, some are wood.  About 20 restaurants are represented here.

First up, Premiere on Broadway

I gotta say, WOW.  It doesn't look like in from the photo but this crust is crispy and flaky and fluffy and just awesome.  Don't fault me for the toppings, it's what was available, BBQ chicken.

I also gotta say that I got this all wrong.  Super fresh pies, not sitting at all because there are SO MANY people here.  Stupid long lines, but fresh pies, and legit sized slices.

YESSSSS!   This is f'ing awesome

Dacoopa's is next, only because there is no line....

Decent NY style slice.  Crunchy, cheesy, better to have this than to wait for 45 mins I think.

And now, the fricken hit of the day.

Allow me to present to you, I Love Frankie's

Yeah, this dude is like out of a "History Of Pizza" book or something.

And, he has the longest line at the party, at least 60-70 people waiting, and growing.

This

Is

Frankie

I Love Frankie's is located in Worcester (about 1:45 from the Cape), and we're already planning a trip.

He also makes Grandma pies

Like, wow, just wow.  You can even see the vendor next to him standing and watching (their spot you could walk right up and get a slice...this guy is out of control).

The style of pizza might not be for everyone (I'm talking to you Luigi), but it's one of my favorites.  Similar to New Haven, like a rustic NY pie.  Crunchy and cheesy and saucy, but a good balance.

Epic

Can't wait to sit and relax and enjoy this one again.  Great Job Frankie.

A well deserved beer after the 6 slices I had.

Keep your eye out for a Frankie's post coming in mid-July.

Festivals, who knew?!?

Get out there and eat someone's pie.

DVA