Skip to main content

For Mystic Pizza





I once saw a t-shirt online that said “Pizza is the best.” I certainly couldn’t agree more. It is one of my favorite food groups. I could eat it every day. As long as I have coffee, pizza is the only other thing I need to ingest in my life on a regular basis. I have tried many kinds from many places. But Mystic Pizza was the first and perhaps only pizza I have tried that has been in the movies.

Mystic Pizza was a popular movie in 1988 that featured Julia Roberts as a young struggling waitress trying to find her way in the world. It was actually filmed on location at the real pizzeria the movie was named for located in Mystic, Connecticut. I first came to visit during the summer of 2009 and recently went back during October 2011.






My first visit I was so excited just to be going. I love going to the locations of real events and this place looks the same as it did in 1988. It is in great shape and has movie memorabilia all over the place. At first I wasn’t even thinking of how the food was going to be, I was just happy to be there. Then I placed my order: a pie with black olives, mushrooms, and gorgonzola cheese. My mouth is watering right now thinking about it. When it came to my table that first time it appeared fake to me. It had the perfect golden colored crust and a smell that seemed like delicious food infused perfume as I inhaled. Those first bites were even better than I could have dreamed. I just closed my eyes and fought back tears of pure joy.

After such a hearty meal I walked around the area a bit. Mystic is such an adorable town even at night. It is like being in a movie even when cameras aren’t around. There is this great ice cream shop a few blocks down where homemade ice cream is being handed out as fast as it can be scooped out. It is probably among the best I have ever had. It over hangs a drawn bridge, which is where I sat to eat my ice cream taking in every detail of my mini-vacation.





When I went back this past year I was so excited it was on my agenda from the moment I knew I would be in town visiting friends. I just had to get my hands on this pizza. Walking back in to this familiar place I was thrilled with the sights and smells. I knew what I was ordering without even looking at the menu. But apparently you can’t repeat history. This time my pizza was not the heavenly creation I had longed for. It was under-cooked. Even though we sent it back to the kitchen it was still cold when we got it. Our service was not good this second time around despite it being a lot less crowded. Something was amiss and it was devastating. Finally I just gave up.

Even though I had this bad experience as I write this and relive my memories I still am inspired by my first time and am hopeful that when I am in town again Mystic Pizza will live up to my expectations. After that first visit I would have placed Mystic Pizza easily as one of my top five favorite pizza places of all time. With a statistic like that I have to give it a second chance. We all deserve that.

For Mystic:

http://mysticpizza.com/

http://www.mytogo.co/Mystic_Pizza_Main/

http://www.mysticpizza.com/store_locator.asp Now Mystic Pizza is also in your grocer’s freezer!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095690/

http://mysticdrawbridgeicecream.com/default.aspx

http://www.mystic.org/
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

For Find Out Friday - Why Do Emery Boards Make My Skin Crawl?

You know that sound a fingernail makes when it scratches against a chalkboard?  You know that feeling the sound of that action gives you? I, like most people, hate that sound.  I instantly feel like scrunching my shoulders up to my neck and closing my eyes.  I feel the exact same way when I am using an emery board to file my nails. This annoying sensation has a name: “grima” which is Spanish for disgust or uneasiness. This term basically describes any feeling of being displeased, annoyed, or dissatisfied someone or something.  It is a feeling that psychologists are starting to pay more attention to as it relates to our other emotions.  Emery boards are traditionally made with cardboard that has small grains of sand adhered to them. It is the sandpaper that I believe makes me filled with grima.  According to studies that are being done around the world, it is not just the feeling that we associate with certain things like nails on a chalkboard or by using emery boards
Post a Comment
Read more

For My Madness During Migraine Awareness Month

Last weekend as I sat staring at the blank page in front of me, I was still surprised and elated that I had an entire day to myself and unlike past experiences it was filled with what I wanted when I wanted it. There were a few rough moments but when I consider the previous twelve hours (and the days to come) have been better than the last week. Especially this last week even though I had braced myself ahead of time, I just didn’t know I should have braced for a more serious episode. I am a chronic migraine sufferer for so many years I don’t quite remember when they started exactly which is ironic because I can remember every special event they have ruined. I remember plays or dinners I was at where I don’t remember what happened but I could tell you what I felt minute by minute. It amazing how the mind works, especially when it’s operated by a migraine brain. In the last few years, specifically the last few years since I have been going to the Montefiore Headac
10 comments
Read more

For a New Chain of Mexican Fast Food: “Dos Toros Taqueria”

When it comes to fast food there are the names we are familiar with: McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, and Chipotle.  In you live in New York City, there is a new kid in town: Dos Toros.  Dos Toros is relatively new to this area but with any hope there might be one in your town soon.  Started by two brothers, Leo and Oliver Kremer, from Berkeley, California, the Mexican food you find here is inspired by food they loved growing up.  In California, the brothers grew up worshipping Gordo Taqueria, a favorite of Bay Area residents since 1977 (now promptly added to my San Francisco to eat list). Much of the recipes and even decor found at Dos Toros has been modeled on Gordo. Before moving to NYC in 2008, the brothers were living very different lives. Leo was the bassist for the band “Third Eye Blind”. Oliver fresh out of college, considered working in the technology or finance industry. Both disillusioned with their lives, they decided to pursue something they have l
Post a Comment
Read more