Pizza Luv

On Saturday, B, her friend B2 and I took the morning train from Grand Central to New Haven to dine at Pepe's, an old-school Connecticut pizzeria that B's father remembers fondly from his college days. (This is also the same place B and I hit up on the way to our honeymoon in Cape Cod, and also on the way back. And 5 or 6 times since) They are known for what is my favorite pizza on the East Coast, the white clam pie:

I paid particular attention to it this time, as this was the first time eating it since working in a pizzeria for several months. The first thing that stands out is the coal-tinged crisp crust -- you really taste the oven, the one thing that is the most difficult to replicate in a location. The second thing is the generous portion of fresh clams, something the very definition of the local. Third is the balance -- garlic, parm, olive oil, perhaps a dash of cooked-off wine, salt. Generous, but not enough to overwhelm the crust. Weird to enjoy something so pizza-like that has no moz or tomato.

The three of us stuffed our selves silly, then wandered giddily around a local park and downtown before making our way back to the train station for a very contented and sleepy ride home. Sure it was 4 hours and $28 per person on a train, but the ride was relaxing and had beautiful views of the sound, the food was cheap, the environs far from home and the mood just happy to be together and alive. Too bad more of our friends weren't able to hop out of the groove for a day.

As we were heading back to the train, I got a call from Chef R, asking if I could come in ASAP -- it seems someone didn't show up. I said I couldn't, but could come in tomorrow. So I spent Sunday at the restaurant. It seems the new Chef they hired was scheduled to work all weekend, and just didn't show up, and didn't call. Opportunity? It was nice coming in, seeing my friends who work there, topping more pies on the main station than usual and just getting into the groove. Near the end of the night, I was asked to cover hours on Tuesday.

SATURDAY
BREAKFAST: 8:30am, bagel with smoked salmon and butter, .75 bowl, hunger 3/5

LUNCH: 12:30pm, one medium white clam pizza, 2 bowl, water, hunger 4/5

DINNER: 6:30pm, Israeli salad with flax tortilla chips, caramel ice cream, .75 bowl, hunger 4/5

EVENING SNACK: midnight, 4 mini muffins, .25 bowl, hunger 4/5

SUNDAY
BREAKFAST: 11am, organic cornflakes with good milk, .75 bowl, hunger 4/5

LUNCH: 2pm, 1 slice of pizza, cheesecake, water, 1.5 bowl, hunger 4/5

PM SNACK: 4-7pm, 2 sodas, 2 tiny random pieces of pizza pie, water, bits from the toppings station, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5

DINNER: 9:45pm, rigatoni with mushrooms, chocolate cake, water, 1.5 bowl, hunger 4/5

EVENING WATERING: 11:45pm, quart of water