Mike Crowley "Hey Harv!!! There's a new restaurant in town let's go! It's called The Pizza Garden!"
Me "What's Pizza?"
Mike "It's a new "pie" of sorts, really popular in Italy, and New York . . . we're getting our first place that serves the stuff . . . c'mon let's try it!"
Me "What do you mean pie???
Mike "They take dough and twirl into a flat base. They put tomato sauce, sausage, and lots of cheese on top and bake it in a wood fired oven! It's really good!!!!
Me "Sounds weird to me . . . but, Ok let's go . . . where is the place?"
Mike "On Washington street right next to Washington Park. You know, the Main Cafe is just down the street on the corner!"
Me "OK let's go"!
Who could forget the Pizza Garden! Never looked like much from the street. Kind of a flat red bricky face on the building. Really not terribly attractive. Up 3 stairs and you've walked into a "totally new experience"! Rustic interior, neat pictures on the walls, checkerboard tablecloths. Me "Man, the place smells great! Lots of kids in here . . . Why haven't I ever heard of the place?" . . Do they play our music here? Mike Music? Yeah! . . but not like Late's or the Penguin! No 50's played here! No sir . . . It's all Italian! . . . Like Mandolins . . . and Dean Martin!"
Me "What's Pizza?"
Mike "It's a new "pie" of sorts, really popular in Italy, and New York . . . we're getting our first place that serves the stuff . . . c'mon let's try it!"
Me "What do you mean pie???
Mike "They take dough and twirl into a flat base. They put tomato sauce, sausage, and lots of cheese on top and bake it in a wood fired oven! It's really good!!!!
Me "Sounds weird to me . . . but, Ok let's go . . . where is the place?"
Mike "On Washington street right next to Washington Park. You know, the Main Cafe is just down the street on the corner!"
Me "OK let's go"!
Who could forget the Pizza Garden! Never looked like much from the street. Kind of a flat red bricky face on the building. Really not terribly attractive. Up 3 stairs and you've walked into a "totally new experience"! Rustic interior, neat pictures on the walls, checkerboard tablecloths. Me "Man, the place smells great! Lots of kids in here . . . Why haven't I ever heard of the place?" . . Do they play our music here? Mike Music? Yeah! . . but not like Late's or the Penguin! No 50's played here! No sir . . . It's all Italian! . . . Like Mandolins . . . and Dean Martin!"
Mike "Hey Harv, look over there. It's Carrie Kohls with Judy Luebke and Sharon Heise. Those guys hang out all the time. They walk to school together every day!" Me "Yeah, I know. They live really close to each other. Oh hey, there's Bill Ohde with John Torrison and Tom Westover! I talked to Torr and the guys yesterday, we're thinking about starting a new car club. You know, to compete with the "Custom" car club. Haven't been able to figure out a name for it yet."
In a small area, set aside from the dining area, is just enough room for the brick oven. Man that thing was really hot! You could see the guy making pizzas. He had a hard time standing next to that open oven. "Blast Furnace" comes to mind! Just look at how they toss that pizza dough around. One hand, one finger??? Me "What the heck? . . . is he playing with it?? "Hey Mike, I don't like people playing with something I'm going to be eating!!" Mike "Don't worry Harv! By the time it gets out of that oven you'll have nothing to worry about!"
I gotta say . . . the whole experience was pretty inspiring! Really different! Charming surroundings . . . A rather Romantic place!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsiqQ681iSw
Wow, where did they get these huge red plastic glasses? I don't think I ever got this much to drink in a glass before!!! . . (Steins not included) . . Here comes the pizza! Me "How does it work??? "Hey Mike! Do you use a fork??" Mike "No you just pick it up and eat it!!"" Me "What the heck!!! that doesn't seem right . We're in public! what will people think??? Mike "Don't worry about it Harv, look around . . . everyone is eating with their hands". Me "Hey! this stuff is HOT!!! I think I burned the roof of my mouth!!" Mike "Quit being such a baby Harv!! That's why they give you such a big glass of pop!" Me"Whatever . . . this place is great!!! I most certainly will be back"
Today the Pizza Garden is gone. So is Mike.
Till Next Week
Harv
In a small area, set aside from the dining area, is just enough room for the brick oven. Man that thing was really hot! You could see the guy making pizzas. He had a hard time standing next to that open oven. "Blast Furnace" comes to mind! Just look at how they toss that pizza dough around. One hand, one finger??? Me "What the heck? . . . is he playing with it?? "Hey Mike, I don't like people playing with something I'm going to be eating!!" Mike "Don't worry Harv! By the time it gets out of that oven you'll have nothing to worry about!"
I gotta say . . . the whole experience was pretty inspiring! Really different! Charming surroundings . . . A rather Romantic place!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsiqQ681iSw
Wow, where did they get these huge red plastic glasses? I don't think I ever got this much to drink in a glass before!!! . . (Steins not included) . . Here comes the pizza! Me "How does it work??? "Hey Mike! Do you use a fork??" Mike "No you just pick it up and eat it!!"" Me "What the heck!!! that doesn't seem right . We're in public! what will people think??? Mike "Don't worry about it Harv, look around . . . everyone is eating with their hands". Me "Hey! this stuff is HOT!!! I think I burned the roof of my mouth!!" Mike "Quit being such a baby Harv!! That's why they give you such a big glass of pop!" Me"Whatever . . . this place is great!!! I most certainly will be back"
Today the Pizza Garden is gone. So is Mike.
Till Next Week
Harv