Lexington Pizza: Pazzo's, Joe Bologna's, LA Gourmet

Megan already covered the amazingness of some Lexington pizza joints including Mad Mushroom, where I inhaled hundreds of cheesesticks during my stint at the University of Kentucky. I wanted to share a few more Lexington institutions, as I am a self-proclaimed pizza expert (meaning, I like to eat it.)

L.A. Gourmet Pizza

The Wildcats pizza with the best white dipping sauce

L.A. Gourmet doesn't seem to be widely known, but in my opinion, it is some of the tastiest Lexington pizza. The secret? The white dipping sauce that comes with their pizzas, sandwiches, chips, and cheesebread. I'm not quite sure what it is - some combination of ranch and garlic perhaps - but it tastes like heaven. L.A. Gourmet has two Lexington locations: 1 downtown and 1 near Tates Creek Center. My personal favorite? The Wildcats on whole wheat crust. The Wildcats has chicken, ham, onions, mushrooms, and cheddar cheese.

Pazzo's Pizza Pub

Pazzo's is known and loved by most Lexingtonians, especially those near campus. Sitting on Limestone directly across from North Campus, Pazzos is known for the 3 P's: pizza, pint night, and patio.

Pizzas are hand tossed, fresh made, and piping hot when they come out of the oven. Personal favorite is the Great White: garlic, onions, broccoli, chicken feta and provolone in olive oil sauce. Just thinking about it takes me back to celebrating the last day of finals there every year.

Wednesdays at Pazzo's are Pint Night. A special beer is put on tap. Order a pitcher and you take home two beer glasses from the brewery. I know many people who have amassed a treasure of pint night glassware!

If the weather is nice, it's worth it to try to get a spot on the patio. Sitting under the awning on South Limestone staring at campus is just a fun environment.

For another treat, be sure to order a pretzel. Chewy nom city.

Joe Bologna's

Joe B.'s is located in a Victorian Gothic building  between campus and downtown that has served as both a Presbyterian church and a Jewish synagogue. With over 40 stained glass windows, it really is a unique place to dine. In addition to pizza's, they also have tremendously delicious Italian food and salads.

My favorite Joe B.'s pizza is the Lite Supreme: Thin crust and homemade sauce with onions, green peppers, hot peppers, green olives, black olives, pineapple, mushrooms, zucchini, carrots, tomatoes and romano cheese. They also have a gluten free crust option which is a welcome inclusion for many.

You can't visit Joe B.'s without eating a breadstick. You simply must. The massive-doughy-warm-deliciousness sits in a dish of garlic butter. You can also get it with marinara sauce, but it definitely doesn't need it to be edible. Nom.

Any other Lexington pizza places we haven't covered?

Lexington Pizza: Puccini's & Mad Mushroom

Two of my favorite pizza places in Lexington are Puccini's and Mad Mushroom.

Puccini's Smiling Teeth is located in Chevy Chase and has AMAZING pasta in addition to their pizzas.  I have been there many a time and scarfed down their house salad with a pizza or pasta.  The thing I love most about Puccini's is the casual atmosphere.  You could see friends from college or families dining with their kids. 

Mad Mushroom, not to be confused with Mellow Mushroom is one of those late-night treats that you can't imagine unless you experience it first-hand.  Cheese sticks.  Dipped. in. ranch. 

You can't tell me that you went to UK and never had the cheese sticks late at night.

Giovanni's Pizza

Anybody who has spent any time in Eastern Kentucky has eaten plenty of Giovanni's pizza.  It just seems like there's always been a Giovanni's location in every town along U.S. Route 23.

Giovanni's is known for big ol' pizzas that feed a crowd, making them a favorite for birthday parties and sporting events.  Their pizza buffet is a lunchtime staple in most everybody's hometown, offering all-you-can-eat breadsticks, pizza and pasta.  

Giovanni's sandwiches are a perennial favorite as well.  The stromboli sandwich (a steak hoagie with pizza sauce and cheese) and the Big Red (steak hoagie with cheese and red French dressing) are classic menu items.

My hometown Giovanni's location, in the little town of Martin, holds monthly fundraisers for the Jordan Light Foundation, a local charity (its offices are quite literally next door to the Giovanni's) that provides financial and spiritual support for families facing a medical crisis. It's always a good excuse to indulge!

Have y'all tried Giovanni's Pizza?

Pizza in Paducah

I love pizza. If given the choice, I would eat it for lunch and dinner everyday. I love it that much. I developed and nurtured my love of pizza growing up in Paducah. My parents and I would order pizza every Sunday night before we sat down for the latest episode of Lois and Clark. (Don't judge me!) My best friend and I would save and scrounge for the $7 it took to order a medium cheese pizza on weekends.

Due to my long and dedicated history of pizza consumption, I count myself as a Paducah pizza expert and here are my top picks if you're looking for a delicious slice while in River City.

1. Pizza by the Pound They don't deliver and they don't have to. It's that good. Pizza by the Pound, a local institution since 1964, is home of the eight pound pizza. If you can eat it in one hour and in one setting, they'll give you $100. I just prefer a few slices of pepperoni that will only make you feel like you've gained eight pounds. 
2. Pizza Inn Recently crowned the #1 Readers' Choice in the Paducah Sun, Pizza Inn is the best pizza buffet I've ever had. It was also our choice on Sunday nights growing up. They have the best thin crust pizza and the most amazing chocolate chip dessert pizza you've ever tasted. 
3. Michael's New York Style Pizza The runner-up for Readers Choice, Michael's is great for big, saucy slices just like they sell in the Big Apple. I love the spiciness of their sauce and their crust is delicious. 
4. Italian Village Pizza You can get a large pizza for $7. Enough said. (I have NOTHING to say about the music on their website.)
5. Max's Brick Oven This is what I call fancy pizza. There is a time and place for fancy, brick oven pizza and when that time comes, you want to be at Max's. 

What's your favorite pizza in Paducah?

Louisville Pizza

Yesterday, Megan posted about those awesome breadsticks from Papa John's.  What she said is so true; sometimes it's hard to remember that the big national pizza chain started in Louisville.  They're simply everywhere!  Megan got me thinking about the first time I ever ate at a Papa John's.  In a very Kentucky moment, I was spending the summer at Centre College for the Governor's Scholars Program.  When I "discovered" the Danville Papa John's,  I didn't realize that the next twenty years of meetings, study groups and ball games would feature orders from Papa John's, nor did I realize the Louisville connection.  I simply loved that garlic butter.

Louisville has always been a pizza town to me.  In addition to the ubiquitous Papa John's empire, some of my all-time favorite slices of pizza can be found along Bardstown Road.  Now, Louisville doesn't have a signature pizza style, like New York or Chicago.  It does, however, have a well-established foodie movement and an unwavering commitment to local foods and products.  You can always find high-quality ingredients and a well-constructed slice.  Here are a few of my favorites:

Wick's Pizza, Baxter Avenue.

Wick's Pizza
Ask any true Louisvillian, and they'll tell you that Wick's is the place to go for huge, deep-dish pizza smothered in quality ingredients.  Their pepperoni is so fresh and spicy that you'll wonder if you've ever eaten pepperoni before.  A funky, laid-back atmosphere (there's often a live band).  Five locations across the Louisville area, but the Highlands location is where you want to go.  

Fat Jimmy's Pizza

The Douglass Loop location -- located next to a Graeter's, just in case you're still hungry -- is one of my favorite pizza places in town.  Fat Jimmy's offers a light, delicate slice of pizza with a sweetly tangy tomato sauce.  This is a fantastic lunch pizza.  

Impellizzeri's Pizza

Impellizzeri's has the best true Sicilian-style pizza in town.  A  Louisville staple, Imp's is an amazing place to dine al fresco with a chalice of Stella.  (The salads, breadsticks, and dining room are all pretty nice, too!)

Spinelli's Pizza

Spinelli's offers big Brooklyn-style pizzas, and has distinguished itself in the fun Highlands neighborhood by offering late-night delivery (until 4:30 a.m.)  and even later dine-in options (until 5 a.m.).  Everybody's ordered Spinelli's at some point, even if everyone hasn't been brave enough to try their signature fried Oreos.

What is your favorite Louisville Pizza?

Papa John's Pizza

I often forget that Papa John's Pizza is a Kentucky based company.  I will find myself craving their bread sticks and dipping sauce just about every week.  In my opinion, their bread sticks are the best out there!

Papa John's Pizza was actually started in Jeffersonville, Indiana (right across the river from Louisville) by John Schnatter.  

I have a friend who worked at the Papa John's Corporate office in Louisville, KY.  I went to visit her one day and she treated me to lunch at the PJ corporate headquarters.  They have free pizza and bread sticks for all of the employees.  It's actually pretty cool if you think about it, and could probably be dangerous working there. 

Papa John's also funded the Papa John's Cardinals Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky.  I have been to many games there where I would scarf down some breadsticks (are you seeing a theme yet).

Okay, gotta go order some bread sticks now! Until next time ...