After months of good intentions, I finally paid a visit to a nearby pizza joint for a meal. Pizza Grace may be located in a college town, but it's not your typical frat boy hangout. Recently nominated for a James Beard Award, Pizza Grace offers authentic Neapolitan pizza made to exacting standards. For my first visit, I tried the classic Margherita pizza made simply with marinara, mozzarella, extra virgin olive oil, and basil. I was not disappointed- the crust was astonishingly light and crispy, with the large, pillowy pockets - alveolatura - that are characteristic of a well made dough. The tomato marinara sauce was rich and aromatic, and the cheese dense and flavorful. A triumph of the pizza arts!
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| Pizza Grace Margherita |
After such a dinner, an equally captivating dessert is needed, and to find it I needed go no further than next door to Cannella Gelato. What better way to follow the classic Italian pizza than with Italian gelato? Here I was on familiar ground, as I happen to know the proprietor and have observed his passion for his craft. He's received training in Italy, and is constantly honing his skills. Tonight, I sampled Stracciatella and it was a delight! With the smooth, rich, creamy texture of authentic gelato, I enjoyed a vivid rush of delicate flavor. It seems almost a divine intervention to situate these two complimentary shops next to each other. Birmingham certainly lived up to its foodie reputation tonight.
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| Cannella Gelato Stracciatella |
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