Spacca Napoli

Spacca Napoli is about a ten minute walk from our apartment, which we have lived in since June. We've been trying to have dinner at Spacca Napoli since then. Finally Kelsey and I got in Friday night for a 6pm reservation, like an 83 year old couple :) Safe to say, we get why this place is constantly packed with families, big groups, and dates: Spacca Napoli is authentic and amazing. 

My date, clearly going very well and starting off the evening by being the obnoxious people in the place! We each had a glass of Barbera and decided to split some appies before deciding on which pie to get. The fresh chunk of burrata brought us back to the buffalo farm in Campagna and the fried zuchinni blossoms reminded me of home, since they are one of my dad's specialities. I guess it really showed we had lived in Italy when we both ordered our own pizzas, and finished them, after splitting two starters.

We went with two specials of the day: the most incredible mountain of burrata with olive oil and toast and fried zucchini blossoms stuffed with roasted peppers, ricotta, and a hint of anchovy. 

Come on... so delish! 

The cheese and flowers could have been a meal on their own if I wasn't splitting, but the pizza was just too tempting.

Kels was clearly quite eager to dive into that Puttanesca, which comprised of San Marzano tomatoes, fior di latte (cow's milk mozzarella), grape tomatoes, anchovies, black olives, capers, parmigiano reggiano, and extra virgin olive oil.

I had the Bufalina, which is simple and fresh – blended San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella di bufala, basil, and extra virgin olive oil. 

Honestly, you could get any toppings on these and it wouldn't matter because it's all in the dough. Thin, with an amazing crust, reminded us of our trip to Naples to visit the home of pizza (seen here). 

Clearly working really working on that beach body – boy oh boyyyy do I love my heritage and the fact that Kels and I devoured these with two judgmental girls looking at us as they split one pizza :)

This spot is really a hidden gem (I mean that, it's kind of on a dead street), but I hope to get to again before we move out! 

xx

Coalfire Pizza

Nothing says like welcome back home like pizza and beers with one of your best friends. Jaclyn and I have a serious pizza obsession (as do most of my friends) so we decided to check out Coalfire Pizza when we saw a photo of the ricotta and pepperoni pizza on Instagram last week. Last night we trekked over to Coalfire to try this enticing pizza for ourselves and we were not let down. As soon as you walk in the place, your nose is greeted with the delicious smell of warm pizza. 

We didn't even bother with splitting a starter so we ordered some beers and our pizza. Within a few minutes, out she came from the wood fire oven, looking absolutely amazing. 

Who knew ricotta could be whipped to such perfection?

If you live in the area and haven't been here, I don't know what you're doing: GO! For us North Siders, it's a bit of a journey, but a well worth it one. Really nice laid back environment where you don't feel rushed to get out of there – perfect for a date! Anyone with a sweet tooth? They serve cupcakes for dessert! How great is that for those crazy people who still manage to have room after devouring all of that cheesy goodness. 

As our chic server told us, it's half price bottles of wine on Tuesdays, so we'll certainly be back since every single pizza on the menu looks incredible.  

Up next on my list is a more local spot – Spacca Napoli, which I've been eager to try all summer! 

Happy Friday!

xx

L'antica Pizzeria da Michele

If you have an obsession with pizza of all sizes, like I do, and are very hungry at the moment, then I advise you to skip over this post. For those who aren't about to eat their hand, enjoy these photos from my trip to Naples where we visited the literal home of pizza. If you've seen Eat Pray Love, this might bring back a few memories, but if not, this is the site where simple, super thin crust pizza originated. This mentality hasn't changed since the pizzeria opened in 1870, seeing as the menu today consists of two types of pizza and a few drinks to accompany your enormous 'za.  

trying to slice it down the middle (a very butchered, crooked middle slice on my part) proved to be the best way to tackle this bad boy.

if you look really closely to the right of my head, you'll see the infamous pic of Julia Roberts devouring her pizza, 190 times more gracefully than me! 

this!

not even close...

The term, or I guess store, Eataly makes complete sense to me now (not that it didn't before), but this experience taught me what it's all about in Italy. A simple gathering with great pizza and even better company. We encouraged each other to eat the entire pizzas, even though somehow as we cut and cut and ate and ate, they didn't get any smaller. My friends and I each had our Julia Roberts moment and felt the completely acceptable urge to unbutton our pants after consuming such a pizza. 

the aftermath.

If a trip to Italia is on your horizon, make it a point to not skip over the Southern parts of the massive country and check out this quaint pizzeria; it's completely worth waiting in the humongous line, but if possible, get there around 11 and you'll be fine! 

Enjoy!

xx

Six Snaps

black& white in Piazza Navona

il Pellicano, neighborhood gelateria 

breakfast/lunch/dinner

on our block in the neighborhood

every imaginable size.

the best way to see Roma: at night.

All things Italian! 

xx

Pizza East, Portobello

After shopping Portobello Road yesterday, Kels and I found ourselves at the end of the road, hungry, and in front of Pizza East. If you don't know this about me already, I have an extreme obsession with pizza. I've heard nothing but praise for Pizza East in Shoreditch, but didn't realize they have a location on Portobello Road, so I was having a minor epiphany when we were standing under their blue awnings. 

(I realize this may seem a bit odd that I took a photo of their bathroom, but a. it's stunning and b. I have a rule about restaurants and their bathrooms: you can tell everything about a restaurant and how it's run from a trip to their restroom)

We started with the best bone marrow bruschetta I've ever tasted. We'd both go back solely for that. 

Was too tempted to order another to start us off, but reminded myself I had an entire pizza with my name on it coming my way.

I went with burrata, cime di rapa, olives, and chilli because anything with burrata on it is bound to be delicious.

Kels decided to try the pancetta, cream, egg, and parmesan pizza.

I love that their initials are PE because when I hear those two letters paired together, I think of middle school gym classes and exercise…no thank you. Clearly, this form of exerting energy is much more preferred.

As if it couldn't get any better, they serve ice cream cones for dessert.

xx