This Is How I Slice It | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

This Is How I Slice It

Pizza, pizza, pizza.

9
This Is How I Slice It
http://www.luigisglenside.com

For those born and raised in the United States of America, there seems to be an expectation when it comes to certain food. Surely, you are un-American if you do not like apple pie, burgers, hot-dogs, and, of course, pizza. I am a vegetarian, so I can easily avoid having to offer an explanation when it comes to declining the cuisine of carnivores typically served at summer barbecues or in ballparks across the nation. I’m not a pie lover, but for some reason people do not see my refusal to dig my fork into a slice of fruit-filled flakiness as troublesome. Pizza, however, is another story. It has become downright socially unacceptable to decline a slice of pizza. I have literally had people stare at me in disbelief or question the validity of my claim that “I don’t care for pizza, thank you very much.” I suppose this is not surprising when you consider that, according to the Mayo Clinic, Americans eat an average of 46 slices of pizza per person each year.

As a child, it was more difficult to avoid pizza. And it came in all shapes and sizes. With two working parents and after school activities that often interfered with a normal dinner routine, there were those dreaded occasions when I was fed frozen rectangular slabs of tomato sauce and curls of cheese, thankfully accompanied by a healthy salad. If I was really lucky, the pizza would be “homemade,” which during the rushed school week meant jarred pizza sauce was plopped onto toasted English muffins, topped with fresh mozzarella, and popped into the oven.

Pizza was always the food of choice at birthday parties, at sleepovers, and at school events. At times it was fairly edible, depending upon the chain from which it was ordered, but often it was a bad excuse for a meal. The problem I have with the pizza from the chain delivery franchises is the fact that the crust is the best part of the pizza in my humble opinion, and these establishments have somehow closed the gap taste and texture-wise between pizza dough and sponges. The slices that you pull out of a delivery box are limp, sometimes even damp.

In addition to the fact that I am not a fan of tomato sauce, the greasiness of pizza is perhaps the biggest turn-off. I have been burdened with a flimsy white, paper plate laden with a piece of pizza so greasy that the oil has soaked through onto my hand. Of course, in addition to the grease, pizza is a sodium nightmare.

I must admit that I have had some slices of pizza which will pass muster. There is a spot in my hometown of Tucson, Arizona that makes their pizza in coal brick ovens, which is supposed to lend a unique flavor and crispiness to the pie, and tops it with handmade mozzarella. While I would not jump at the chance to go there for dinner, if it is my family’s choice, I can stomach a single slice. I’ve also tried their white pizza, which is definitely preferable, assuming the chef does not overload it with garlic.

Pizza is an absolute given in my home, and in many others, when breaking Passover. This holiday forbids the eating of leavened products for a week. No bread, no pasta, no pizza, of course. By the end of Passover, my friends and family are craving pizza so badly that there are lines at pizza establishments far and wide.

In the end, no matter which way you slice it, pizza is not my thing.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

180123
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

7206
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

452439
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

23264
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments