Give Peace (A Pizza) a Chance

In a time where supermarkets carry prosciutto, commercially made soups are seasoned with natural sea salt and even Wal-Mart carries a salted caramel flavor in a box of chocolates, what does "gourmet" even mean anymore? Beyond that, what does "gourmet style pizza" mean? I think it has something to do with the toppings.

If memory serves me correctly, the first person to create a gourmet pizza was that little known chef, Wolfgang Puck, at Spago in Los Angeles. His pies were topped with exotic-at-the-time ingredients like smoked salmon, creme fraiche, and caviar.

Peace A Pizza also has pizzas with creme fraiche (mac n' cheese pizza has "a layer of creme fraiche, tender ziti pasta, creamy cheddar & mozzarella cheeses", $14.49 for fourteen-inch pie and $16.49 for a sixteen-inch pie) in addition to nearly three dozen other gourmet pizzas. 

My own favorites are the fresh mozzarella ("sliced plum tomatoes, fresh mozzarella & basil leaves over tomato sauce with a drizzle of olive oil and dusting of parmesan cheese", $15.99 for 14-inch and $17.99 for 16-inch), the mediterranean salad ("fresh spinach topped with diced tomatoes, artichokes, red onions, feta cheese, roasted red peppers, kalamata olives, oil and vinegar dressing and seasonings", $15.99 for 14-inch and $17.99 for 16-inch) and the brooklyn bridge ("Italian sausage, pepperoni, black olives, green peppers, onions and mozzarella", $14.49 for 14-inch, $16.49 for 16-inch). Personal gourmet pies are also available for $7.99, although it's probably more economical to just order two slices of whatever you want.

If a custom made pie is what you seek, Peace a Pizza offers both original dough (with herbs in it) and whole wheat dough (add $1) in various sized pies. Sauces include white, BBQ, ruby red tomato, pesto or roasted garlic tomato. Cheeses available are fresh mozarella, bleu, feta, cheddar, monterey jack, ricotta, gorgonzola, asiago, smoked mozzarella and part skim mozzarella. The usual meats and vegetables are on the list as are artichokes, roasted red peppers, capers, mandarin oranges, arugula, roasted garlic, grilled chicken, bacon, fennel sausage, prosciutto and anchovies. 

Peace A Pizza also has many strombolis (ultimate buffalo, $6.99; Philly cheesesteak, $6.99 and veggie boli, $6.99) and salads.

The premium salads include old favorites like cobb ($7.49), classic caesar ($5.99), chopped ($7.49) and garden ($5.99) as well as newer versions destined to become popular, orchard chicken salad ("arugula, grilled chicken, goat cheese, green apple and walnuts with fresh lemon vinaigrette", $7.49) and orange nut 'n honey chicken ("mixed greens topped with mandarin oranges, candied pecans, tart cranberries and breaded chicken breast with honey-lime dressing", $7.49). The salads are quite large and can be made into a smaller version for $5.49.

Beverages include fountain sodas (Coke, Coke Zero, Cherry Coke, Nestea, Minute Maid lemonade, Sprite), bottled iced teas (Teak), juices and water (Dasani) ($2-$2.99).

The inside is warm and friendly. There is a designated kids' section complete with coloring pages, mini chairs and a TV. The staff are welcoming and accommodating. Stop in for a slice, a soda and finish it all off with a cookie from Hope's Cookies next door. It may not be Spago, but you'll leave quite satisfied without going broke.