There are very few things in this world that make me as happy as pizza. I wish I could say that only applies to good pizza, but it doesn't. It applies to pizza-- thick, thin, fresh, frozen-- I love pizza. Perhaps it's the way I was raised with Friday night being pizza night, or maybe it's just the combination of flavors which no matter how well made or crappily constructed will bring some semblance of joy to my life. This is not a reflection on my life (at least not in the way you're thinking) it is a reflection of the only food craved by five year olds, thirteen year olds, drunken college students, tired working adults, and retired grandparents.
Having said that, I have an east coast pizza bias and my greatest pizza memories (more than I'd like to admit) all have come from the east. Since visiting and moving to the west coast, I have been wary, hopeful, but ultimately let down by the west coast pizza experience. There is just something about it, no matter how, "New York Style" they claim it to be (a common misconception being that "New York Style" is the only enjoyable east coast pizza) the pizza just never matches up. Some say it's the water, but that sounds like a lazy argument. Others say it's the weather, and while I don't know the dynamics of a brick oven or a steel pizza oven, I do know that 450 degrees on the east coast is 450 degrees on the west coast (unless of course it's a leap year).
Then one day, during Bumbershoot, just a short walk from Seattle Center, I ran into ZEEK'S PIZZA. At first I was skeptical, but when the pizza arrived and I took my first bite of the semi-thick, crispy crusted slice, a grin spread across my sauce cheeked face and I knew I had found a new home. ZEEK'S PIZZA is in a great location by Seattle Center, has a friendly, personable waiting staff, apparently a great pizza chef, and while their menu contains other items, pizza is the way to go, especially with the decent prices and interesting beer list. And if you see a guy sitting back in his chair, with an unusual smile on his face, and a far off glow in his eyes, come over and say hi.
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