A (Pizza) Slice of Heaven

The Great Pizza Research Issue and a Few Other Delicious Directories

Hello to all my new subscribers. Thank you for supporting my work. If you’ve used any of my research resources, I’d love to hear about it. And if you have any to share, please let me know.

I’ve just returned from The Women’s Fiction Writers Association (WFWA) conference in Chicago. I served four years as the association’s Vice President of Communications. I’m currently the Executive Editor for the WFWA magazine, WriteOn! All this to say, WFWA is my “home”. This year’s 10th anniversary event was amazing.

Personal highlights were speakers, Nancy Johnson, Camille Pagan, and a master class with Courtney Maum. I met the enthusiastic group of Lake Union Publishing authors, a group I’m happy to join. I also met my agent “siblings,” writers who are repped by my agent.

Before I left for Chicago, plans were in place for where I would meet friends for dinners. Chicago is an incredible foodie city. Chicago is also synonymous with deep dish pizza. I just binged “The Bear” about a chef in Chicago. The show has a deep dish pizza reference. This show is seriously good if you haven’t yet had a taste, check out the trailer.

Finding Your Next Favorite Dish or Story Element

(the pizza is coming, keep reading)

I research food all the time. For my upcoming novel, The Pelican Tide, I did a deep dive on Cajun cooking, hot sauces, and chili peppers. When I’m not writing, I’m also researching food, looking for great restaurants or where to find my power source - coffee - when I travel.

Food is a featured element in thousands of books. Everyone eats and food represents culture, manners, preferences, locations, and so much more. I recently interviewed Dr. Annie Fenn about brain health and food. You can read that issue here.

Researching Brain Science and Food!

Here are a few links to articles that have done the heavy lifting of curating some popular food books. I’m surprised how many of these books I’ve read. I just learned something about my reading habits.

The Uncorked Librarian ( I like the books in this article, but I apologize for all the crappy ads.)

Fiction for Food Lovers

Elif the Reader

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I Promised Pizza

Starting in the USA

The Internet is loaded with food directories and if you apply the correct search terms, you can eat well and avoid food hazards anywhere in the world.

Pizza is a huge subject so consider what follow to be a mere slice.

You must! play with the Washington Post’s interactive pizza map.

Iconic Pizza spots in New York City (notice it’s iconic, not rated the best. I didn’t make the ratings.

Secret NYC 25 Best Pizza places. This article has beautiful pizza pictures - true food porn.

Chicago deep dish comes in several styles. I only had time to try one, Pequods - yum!

Pequod’s cheese and caramelized crust!

Thrillist Best Pizza in Chicago. This has nice descriptions and yummy photos.

I recently learned of Detroit-Style Pizza. - Yes, I’m late to the pizza party again. But for you other Detroit Pizza Virgins, here’s a good article

Tasting Table, Best Detroit Pizza.

Connecticut Pizza - Coal Fired Style. Welcome to New Haven and Beyond

Six Connecticut Pizzas take top prize in America

Ultimate Guide to New Haven Pizza. I made a special trip to Frank Pepe’s

Massachusetts is my home state, and I have a soft spot for Boston-area pizza and steak and cheese subs. My brother worked at Papa Ginos.

Best Pizzas in New England, read the comments that follow for more and probably better recommendations

Best Pizza in Boston — oh Pizzeria Regina how I miss you!

Vermont flatbread-style pizza - yes, a new one for me too.

Some flatbread history

Good ole Yelp

California style. New York (ish) with a twist of local ingredients and style.

What is California-style?

Taste Atlas (love that name) Best California pizza

Italy - The Heart of Pizza

Regions of Italy source Wikimedia

Pizza hails from Naples and I could devote an entire issue to talking about Naples and pizza. Don’t worry, I won’t. But I do want to say that there is a special certification that is bestowed to pizzerias around the world that follow Neapolitan pizza making techniques, buy authentic ingredients, and use a special wood-fired oven. You can read about it here and search for videos on the subject.

The Best Pizza in the World

No one asked me to judge, but here it is. I Masanielli (they need a better website - just saying)

Food and Wine best pizza’s in the world (with jazzy music video)

100 Best Pizza’s in the World

Other Yummy Food Directories!

Donuts

Best Doughnut Shops

And what goes with donuts?? Coffee!

I pulled this shot! I’m not a professional barista, but I can knock it out in the morning

Coffee is serious business in my world, and we have a system of sussing out cafes. The secret is pictures. Yelp is a great way to search for local coffee (to me that means espresso drinks.) When you find local shops, look at the customer posted photos. If there are no coffee drinks, that’s a sign the coffee isn’t that good or at least people aren’t going there for coffee. Look for lots of latte art!

I recently downloaded a new phone app, Best Coffee. It’s an international directory of coffee shops. But… it’s only as good as its data. My favorite local spots aren’t in the directory.

That’s it for this issue. And ugh, there is so much more. Do you have a favorite pizza or any other food spot or directory? Let me know.