The importance of heart-shaped pizza
By Louisa ChuThe importance of heart-shaped pizza
By Louisa ChuI’m a sucker for limited edition food. Make it heart-shaped, and I’m a hopeless fool. If it’s one or two of my favorite pizzas in the world, I’ll plan my life around it.
Because pizza, reminds us of all that once was good — and that could be again.
Chicago is home to some of the best restaurants in the world right now, and even on Valentine’s Day or especially on holidays like today they step up to the plate and knock it out of the park, whether or not they’re serving special prix fixe menus à deux.
But pizza is meant for sharing — or at least it is here. And that’s how it differs from our other iconic foods. Our pizza selflessly adapts in form and function to a day of love, beyond romantic love. Try to imagine: a heart-shaped hot dog or Italian beef?
Above, you see my Valentine’s Day 2011 heart-shaped pizza from Barnaby’s of Northbrook. My heart-shaped pizza love knows no bounds of city limits or deep dish pans.
Evidently I’m not alone. Illinois leads the country in searches for heart-shaped pizzas, according to CNN Money.
My annual heart-shaped pizza fling will end on Saturday at Marie’s Pizza & Liquors.
The day after I returned from Japan, I shared in 70 Marie’s pizzas at the Moto/iNG staff Superbowl party, held at Timber Lanes Bowling Alley, where chef/owner Homaro Cantu had an all-you-can-shave bar with two pounds of black truffles.
Rod Markus of Rare Tea Cellar sourced the truffles from the Périgord region in France. Rod said he’s been obsessed with black truffles and chocolate. My friend and pie queen Catherine Lambrecht brought Minny’s Chocolate Pie—sans secret ingredient from The Help. It was amazing.
Maybe next year, heart-shaped pizza and heart-shaped chocolate pie with black truffles. My heart-shaped love knows no bounds.