Jazz and Pizza

A place I usually go from time to time is Soho Pizzeria, a lively Italian place which every night but Sundays have live Jazz music. What can go wrong with a pizza, a bottle of Chianti, and a duo playing Jazz? 18 different pizzas, extra ingredients if you’re not satisfied with their combinations, and a humble but classic selection of salads, pastas and antipasto.

The Place

The Duo

I went a couple nights ago with a beautiful friend and we share a bottle of prosecco while listening Jazz and catching up. I had the calzone, which was quite good as usual, might not be the best pizza in London but the ambiance is quite nice, good music, and terrific company.

Calzone

A place I recommend if you want to enjoy a nice evening with good company.

A beautiful woman reminds me the Seinfeld episode “The Pick” when George is convinced he’s in love with Susan and completely lost her.

George: I loved her Jerry, I loved her.

Jerry: No, you didn't.

George: And she loved me. Hoo, ho, she really did.

Jerry: No she didn't.

George: What am I going to do now? I can't live without Susan. I gotta get her back. How? How, am I gonna get her back?

Elaine: Not only didn't you love her, you didn't even like her.

George: Who says?

Elaine: You did.

George: Ah! A beautiful successful intelligent woman's in love with me and I throw it all away. Uh oh boy. Now I'll spend the rest of my life living alone. I'll sit in my disgusting little apartment watching basketball games, eating Chinese take out. Walking around with no underwear. Because I'm too lazy to do a laundry.

Jerry: You walk around with no underwear?

George: Yeah, what do you do when you run out of laundry?

Jerry: I do a wash.

George: Who am I going to meet who is better than her? No one, Jerry. No one's better than her.

Jerry: When you were with her you said you couldn't stand her.

George: I loved her!

Jerry: You said going up the steps of her apartment was like being taken to a cell.

George: I would give anything to be going up those stairs again.

You can always count on Zizzi

I’m amazed that one of my favourite pizza in London is a restaurant chain. I have tried different places, but I’m always ending in the same pizzeria. Don’t get me wrong, there are a bunch of good places such as Franco Manca in Brixton Market a really old school Neapolitan flavours, Story Deli in Brick Lane creative out of the box thin crust just an amazing concept, Soho Pizzeria in Soho with a great atmosphere having Jazz live music every night but Sundays, Arancina in Notting Hill the best one for a take away with a mix of flavours from Rome and Sicily, and finally Italian Graffiti in Soho good flavours but they could be a little bit more generous with the toppings.

Great options, actually love them all. On the other hand big Italian restaurant chains such as Pizza Express, and Strada in my opinion just failed to execute. However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, if you don’t want to think too much Zizzi is a great option, I’m addicted to their Pizza Rustica, big thin and crisp dough topped with great ingredients, my favourite one the Trentino (smoked ham, buffalo mozzarella, tomatoes, rocket, and grana padano cheese). The best about Zizzi is that they are everywhere, really everywhere I think they have more than 20 restaurants in London so is really easy to spot, that reminds me the Seinfeld episode “The Maid” when Karmer is lost downtown New York after he  broke up with his girlfriend.


Kramer: I think it's over, we had a big fight, she threw me out, I started walking, and now I'm lost downtown! I don't recognise anybody. I miss home, and I don't even know how to get there.

Jerry: What’s around you?

Kramer: I’m looking at Ray’s pizza. You know where that is?

Jerry: Is it Famous Ray’s?

Kramer: No, it’s just original.

Jerry: Famous ORIGINAL Ray’s?

Kramer: It’s just original, Jerry!

Jerry: Well, what street are you on?
Kramer: Hey, I'm on first and first. How can the same street intersect with itself? I must be at the nexus of the universe.
Jerry: Just wait there. I'll pick you up, and Kramer, stay alive no matter what occurs, I will find you.
Kramer: Aah!

Trentino Pizza Rustica

I do have to warn you, the pizzas are really good but I did try some of the antipasti (bruschetta, calamari, and tricolore) and didn’t convince me at all, so my suggestion is to stick with the pizza and stay away from the antipasti. Also be prepared to pay between 16 and 20 quids for a pizza rustica and a peroni gran riserva.

Antipasti: Calamari