New York style? More like Houston style.

NEWS FLASH: Pizza is delicious. How do I know? Well, how do I know anything I know? The Internet.

Yes, that is entirely, true, but I’m going to supplement that statement with “real world experience, man.” And I’m leaving the “man” because that’s how I speak.

Since Fuzzy’s I have had no less than 15 slices of pizza, which is to say, nearly two full pizzas to myself. Sure, sharing is nice, but there’s something to be said about opening a box of cheesy, saucy bread and knowing that it’s all yours and no one can stop you. In a way, it defines adulthood. A story my friend Casey likes to tell goes a little something like this: “I was grocery shopping for the first time as a college student and realized I could fill my entire cart up with cookies and no one could stop me; that’s when I realized I was a grown-up.” The moment you realize you can eat pizza for every meal and there isn’t a single person that can say otherwise is the moment you’re truly free.

Let me tell you about one, two, or four pizzas I recently ate. Two, it’s going to be two. I’ll tell you about the other two next time (teaser!).

Pizza number one was during a recent trip to the Mecca of pizza: New York (a city whose pizza never sleeps). Fellow pizza-lover and all-natural blonde, Angela Mayans, and I ate a supremely, but not supreme, tasty pie from Patzeria Family & Friends. Let me tell you, I would happily welcome the Patzeria family to my family reunion. Hell, I’d even welcome their friends. In fact, I think I’ll make it official and request them on the ‘Book. Reunited and it feels so good. Please check out #pizzalist for a full haiku-review and look them up when you’re in the City.

Pizza number two was back in the heart of my heart: Houston. Located just south of HCC you’ll find a modest building with a covered patio calling itself Luigi’s Pizzeria. Now, and this is where it gets good, inside this building they’re making some of the best pizza in Houston. Oh! Oh, oh, oh! And it’s BYOB, bitches! I have you convinced, don’t I? Do you realize I haven’t even described the pizza? Do I need to? The answer is “no,” but I’m going to reel you in, since I’ve already got you on the hook.

While I chose the large Caprese because it was a Friday, I’m glad that was the case. I love me a plain pie, but I’ll dig into a meat covered slice without hesitation like the rest of you heathens—except on a Friday. The Caprese was covered with freshly chopped tomatoes, a generous amount of basil, and the most delicious buffalo mozzarella I’ve had in recent memory. The crust held up well under the weight and provided a nice handle with which to shovel pizza into our faces. Did I mention Angela followed me to Houston and I made her a believer in the power of Houston pizza? Like it was even difficult…

Even though we didn’t take advantage of Luigi’s BYOB generosity (we grabbed the pizza and took it to the Saint Arnold tour, a must-do) I want to bring it to your attention a second time: the staff is both accommodating and friendly, storing your cold beverages in their refrigerators and even replacing your empty bottle or can before you have the opportunity to ask for another. Undoubtedly the staff of Heaven’s Pizzeria are all alumni of this fine pizza establishment.

Always remember, when it comes to pizza, if you won’t eat it, I will.