Rose City Pizza: Welland, Ontario

While I am all for trying new restaurants and interesting recipes, there is none-the-less something to be said for simplicity in cooking. In this case that something is yum. Rose City Pizza isn’t doing anything fancy but what they are making is delicious, saucy, greasy pizza that I always come back to. Located on Thorold Rd. in Welland, your only option is to order delivery (on a Friday night this can take over an hour due to high demand) or squeeze your car into their ever-jammed parking lot to pick up.

Rose City Pizza is without a doubt my favorite pizza place in Welland and is definitely in my all time pizza favorites. Whenever I go home to visit my family, it’s hard for me to resist grabbing a slice (read: entire pizza). They have been making the exact same amazing pizza since I was in elementary school, when we would order it on Friday for lunch.

There is something special about food memories and this pizza is no exception. The taste, the smell and even the look of the pizza (pieces bought individually in the pizzeria are sold in long rectangles - the perfect size really) are all happy reminders of my childhood. Although I could of course be falling victim to the "Goonies effect"*, I really do think that anyone looking for a good, saucy, pepperoni and cheese pizza would enjoy Rose City.

Delicious pep 'n' cheese from Rose City Pizza.

THE PIZZA

Super saucy, cheesy and thin.

I typically like my pizza loaded with toppings (most especially green olives) but for Rose City pizza, it’s gotta be pepperoni and cheese exclusively.

The sauce is simple with a nice sweetness to it. They put a ton of sauce on their pizzas so that when you bite down, you can actually feel the sauce come right out from under the cheese and into your mouth. It’s easily the best part. The sauciness even makes it amazing as cold pizza breakfast the next day (whereas, I personally find that most cheese and pep’s don’t make a quality leftover pizza unless they are warmed up because they tend to become hard and tasteless. Not this guy). The cheese comes out golden with lots of little salty and crispy pepperoni all over.

The pizza is greasy and tasty and highly recommended if you’re looking for a good, simple yet tasty ‘za in Welland!

* The Goonies Effect: The Goonies is a popular movie that was released in 1985 chronicling the adventures of a few young kids on the hunt for treasure. If you didn't watch the movie as a kid when it came out and subsequently tried to watch it as an adult, odds are you didn't get it. You'll never have the same unconditional attachment that all your friends have nor will you understand related inside jokes. You won't get super pumped when it comes on T.V. and anyone else you know born in the 80s who did watch it as a kid, will automatically judge you when you say that you don't love it. 

Bread Bar: Hamilton, Ontario

Whenever I have friends or family visiting from out of town, my frequent go-to restaurant recommendation is Earth To Table Bread Bar in Hamilton. It is well situated in a bright, open space at the South end of Locke Street. The food is consistently good, often great, and the service is always friendly and prompt. While the tables can feel a bit cramped together depending on where you are sitting, it is none the less one of my favorite places to eat and drink in the city.

Here is a breakdown of why Bread Bar is awesome:

1) In addition to their regular menu, they are always making daily specials as well as variations on their loaded fries. While there are classic go-to menu options that I always come back to, I often cannot resist trying their daily french fried creation! My two favorites so far are:

Smoked meat with sweet mustard and cheese

Homemade cheese sauce with salsa fresca and
sour cream

World's Best Mac & Cheese

2) The mac & cheese. Amazeballsing. I recommend this above all else at Bread Bar. It is honestly the most perfect mac & cheese that I have ever tasted. Perfectly cooked elbow noodles – first boiled, then baked and always al dente. The sauce is rich and thick – you can taste the roux base and the creaminess of the aged cheddar. They throw in sautéed onions and smoky bacon in big pieces, adding the perfect flavor and texture contrast to the cheese sauce. It gets baked in an individual dish and topped with only a small sprinkling of breadcrumbs. In my mind this simple version of the standard dish is ideal. The breadcrumbs add just the right amount of texture, without making the dish taste overly dry, and the richness of the sauce ensures that every bite is gooey and amazing. 

3) They have a great drink menu. With a variety of local and international wines and a decent selection of local craft beers, you’re sure to find something to wet your whistle. When I visited a couple of weeks ago, I had the rare treat of getting to taste Dillon’s gin, a fresh creation from Niagara’s newest and only craft distillery.  Served in a cocktail with sparkling Riesling and blood orange puree, the gin added a very subtle flavor kick to the drink. It was bright red, light and sweet – a very nice way to start the meal.

4) Pizza.

Vampire Slayer

I guess I should be more specific. Have you ever watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer? Well, I do and I am a huge fan. HUGE fan. Here at Bread Bar they have a pizza called “The Vampire Slayer” and it is necessarily loaded with roasted garlic. I love the idea of a Buffy-themed pizza (even though that show in particular may not be the inspiration to them, it is in my head) and my boyfriend and I order it often.  Their homemade pizza dough is topped with a creamy béchamel sauce, brie cheese and roasted garlic. It is finished with fresh arugula, grated lemon zest and more garlic. Since I am not a huge arugula fan, I often find it a bit overpowering to the otherwise subtle flavors of the pizza. That being said, it is none-the-less one of my favorites and I could totally go for one right now.

Butterscotch Pudding

5) Dessert! I always save room for dessert. I have a small area in my stomach (right, lower portion) which I never fill while eating, leaving it empty specifically for dessert. You definitely want to use this technique next time you are at Bread Bar because they have many tantalizing dessert options.  For example, you can enjoy their amazing monkey bread (think cinnamoney, cakey, goodness in cupcake size) or one of their daily pies. Last time we went we ordered a slice of their rhubarb pie, which was a tart, moist dessert with a crumble topping. Another option is the homemade butterscotch pudding.

Rhubarb Pie

They fill a mason jar with a very light almost cappuccino-coloured homemade butterscotch pudding. This gets topped with a layer of caramel followed by a pillow of fresh whipped cream. They finish it off with candied pecans - crunchy and salty and perfect. Eating this was one of those moments where I don't think I actually said one full word but rather uttered a series of low moans and/or animal calls.

The Bread Bar is one of those places that I’m sure will stick around for a long time. They’ve developed a significant and dedicated following in the area and they are definitely setting the bar high for local restaurants and cafes.

Who wants to grab a bite?