This post is a bittersweet one for me. I've spent almost a week trying to write it, and I'm still at a loss for words on how to sum everything up about this experience.
Going into the final stop, I knew this was a special moment (for me, not like for the world) in what was a crazy year. I ate at over 30 pizza places in the year 2020, kept my eye on more that will be opening soon in the 225, and have come to appreciate setting a goal that won't crush your soul if you don't complete it.
I debated for a few weeks about whether to do the final stop on my self-guided Baton Rouge Pizza Tour by myself, or did I want it to be a celebration. Did I want to quietly reflect on this experience, or share it with my people? After I settled on making it a celebration, and sent out invitations...outlook and GroupMe invitations because I felt that it would be a little too over the top to mail actual invitations, but that thought did cross my mind. While not everyone invited showed up (rude...but I get it for most of you) my core crew showed up.
I also decided to do this during one of the busiest weeks we have had work-wise since we got sent home for the pandemic, so one member showed up late...but that just gave us an excuse to order an appetizer that there is no photographic evidence of. (We were starving!) Just trust me when I tell you to order their focaccia bread.
Almost everyone decided to order pizza to help celebrate the reason we were all there, so the solidarity warmed my heart and solidified that these are my people. When I ordered my pizza, and asked for the 16 inch, it surprised the waiter because "most people only order the 10 inch for themselves". I had flashbacks to New York when they told me the smallest pizza was a 16 inch at Julianna's and I ate the whole thing while my waiter gave me a look of admiration mixed with disgust. Let's just say, I'm not a quitter when it comes to not having a place to store my leftovers on good pizza.
However, this time, I was mentally preparing to have lunch for the next couple of days off of this pizza. See, I'm smart! And sometimes I have self control.
While I had enough self control to not eat the whole pizza in one sitting, I only had leftovers for one day because this pizza was good. I was worried, as I have NEVER been to this place before in my life. Didn't know it existed until I set out on this challenge. And I'm ready to go back...this time for something not pizza related because their chicken parm looked AMAZING. But that's not what you're here for. You're here to see the beauty that ended this crazy journey.
It was as delicious as it was beautiful. It was truly one of the best pizzas I've eaten in the 225 this year, and I'm glad I saved a definite top 5 pick for last. I feel like I need to do my top 5 from all of this year in a blind taste test to truly pick what my favorite pizza in Baton Rouge is.
To the crew who made it out to the final destination, thank you. To those of you who have asked questions about my progress, thank you. Thank you for your non-judgmental attitude towards my love of carby cheesy goodness, and thank you for your belief that I could finish this up, when I felt like I couldn't.
Check back next time to see which places made the cut for top 5 in the city!
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