Day 19, 2026: Village Inn Pizza Parlor (Statesville, NC)

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DAY 19: OCTOBER 19th, 2026 

LOCATION: Village Inn Pizza Parlor (1503 Cinema Dr, Statesville, NC 28625)

GUEST(S): Jeff Corbett, Matthew Corbett, William Corbett, Valerie Corbett, Robin Rothman, Ellie, Junie, Winnie

ORDER: 2 slices of cheese, 1 slice of Hawaiian, 1/2 slice of sausage, onion and peppers, 1 slice of Veggie, 1 slice of Buffalo chicken, 1 slice of sausage and pepperoni

REVIEW: 

Nonstop pizza.

For decades, Village Inn Pizza Parlors have been serving all-you-can-eat pizza buffets across the country. If you are lucky enough to live near one, give it a shot! It's not just pizza. There are unlimited soft drinks, soups, pasta, and one of the largest most comprehensive salad bars I have ever seen. Some people come for just the salad bar buffet, but I recommend getting the pizza. These thin crust gas-powered conveyor belt pies might not impress Napoletana pizzaioli, but they'll more than satisfy your appetite. Once baked, they are sliced in small slivers so more people can partake in a single pie. This means if you bring in a big appetite, you can rack up quite a slice tally. Once you procure your first plate and half of a dozen slices, grab a seat in the vast dining area. When you're done, leave your plate in the center of the table and go back for a new plate and a second round of slices. The pizzas are being prepared constantly so available slices vary each time. Have a hankering for something you don't see, politely ask the pizza maker behind the table and often requests are accommodated. Don't forget to save room for the dessert pizzas. I was a particular fan of the chocolate chip pie.   

The large parking lot, spacious dining room, self-service, and plethora of food options make Village Inn one of the most family-friendly pizzerias in existence. Celebrate a birthday, bring family, and invite the whole little league team. At Village Inn Pizza Parlor, a good time is guaranteed.

PHOTOS:

cheese pie

sausage, onions, peppers pie

pepperoni and sausage pie

Day 19

slice of Buffalo chicken

Slice of Veggie

slice of Hawaiian

interior

Chocolate chip dessert pie

underside

VIDEO:

coming soon

MISCELLANEOUS:

Robin Rothman, Will Corbett, Jeff Corbett, Matthew Corbett, Winnie, Junie, Ellie, Valerie Corbett

1. Matthew Corbett is a genius coder and also cares for at least five cats!

2. Will Corbett gave me one of my most prized possessions: a carabiner. I take that thing everywhere. And, because he rock climbs, it's like a real one. Very sturdy and heavy duty.

3. My sister Valerie Corbett and I inherited the same eyes and teeth - and, uh, they ain't ideal. 

4. Jeff Corbett used to go to Village Inn Pizza Parlor after he'd finish his radio show. He loves it and they love him right back. He got recognized by no less than 5 people during a single dinner! 

Winnie, Junie, Ellie, Uncle Sean

5. I know as their uncle, I may be a bit biased but Winnie, Junie, and Ellie are the cutest, funniest, and sweetest nieces in the world!

Tiffany Springle, Shannon Krowicki, Sean Taylor, Jon Bander, Robin Rothman

6. Robin Rothman and I got to spend one more morning with her fellow bridesmaid Tiffany Springle as well as the newly married bride Shannon Krowicki and groom Jon Bander. 

RATING:

 3.47/5

• VALUE:
   4.5/5


• AMBIENCE:
   3/3


• TASTE:
   5/10


• SERVICE: N/A

12.5/18 = .694 x 5 = 3.47

Day 18, 2026: Smokee's Pizza (Asheville, NC)

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DAY 18: OCTOBER 18th, 2026 

LOCATION: Smokee's Pizza at New Belgium Brewery (21 Craven St, Asheville, NC 28806)

GUEST(S): Maddy Mako, Tom Tenney, Ange DeManti, Paul Tkacs, Nick Brown, Odysseus

ORDER: 1 slice of The Pickle (Mozzarella, parmesan, DJ's "En Fuego" pickles, hot Italian sausage, homemade ranch), 1 slice of The Bianca 3.0 (Mozzarella, parmesan, roasted garlic, arugula, lemon ricotta, balsamic glaze), 1 slice of Cheese (marinara, mozzarella, parmesan), 1 slice of The Supreme (Marinara, mozzarella, parmesan, pepperoni, Italian sausage, onion, mushroom, bell pepper)

REVIEW: 

Where there is Smokee's, there's wood-fire.

Smokee's Pizza proves that some food trucks are just better! This one is equipped with a blazing wood-fired oven and a crew that knows how to use it. I visited Smokee's when the truck was parked at the New Belgium Brewery in Asheville, North Carolina, which happened to coincide with the "Dogs in Drag" contest where owners dress their pups in full Halloween costumes. It was a massive hit—the parking lot was jammed, with people and costumed dogs pouring out onto the brewery grounds. That said, there were still plenty of open chairs, tables, play areas, and entire tasting rooms available so it never felt too crowded.

Naturally, orders at the pizza truck piled up quickly. It's a small operation, so get yours in early—trust me, it is definitely worth it. Smokee's pies, both traditional and creative, are wood-fired masterpieces. I recommend getting one of each and sharing them with a friend. My favorite was "The Pickle": the combination of DJ's "En Fuego" pickles with hot Italian sausage and homemade ranch dressing created a powerhouse flavor profile not often tasted on a slice. For more traditionalists (or anyone feeding kids), opt for the Cheese or the Pepperoni.   

Every pie is topped with high-quality ingredients baked to crisp perfection at a very affordable price. Smokee's alliance with New Belgium Brewery is a match made in heaven, allowing patrons to bring the family, the dog, friends, coworkers, and anyone else out for a fun day of awesome pizza paired with awesome beer.  

PHOTOS:

menu

New Belgium Brewery

outdoor seating area at New Belgium brewery

Smokee's Food Truck w/ wood-fired oven

underside

Day 18

The Pickle pie

Cheese pie

The Supreme pie

The Bianca 3.0 pie

VIDEO:

coming soon

MISCELLANEOUS:

Paul Tkacs, Maddy Mako, Odysseus, Nick Brown, Ange DeManti, Tom Tenney, Sean Taylor

1. Nick Brown is a New York City ex-pat who moved to Asheville and replicated! Yup, three boys (including Odysseus) each with about half a dozen middle names. Almost too many names to remember, but not for Nick - he's pretty smart. His lovely wife and mother of his children said, "he's good to have on a pub quiz team." 

2. Ange DeManti and Maddy Mako are also great assets on a pub quiz team. I know this from experience. We have won many pub trivia nights thanks to these two friends (and neighbors). My primary contribution to the pub trivia team is "putting the team together." 

3. Paul Tkacs ran a marathon last year and hit his target time. 

4. Tom Tenney doesn't seem to get hangovers - Ange DeManti may have uncovered a cure for them. 

5. We're all in town for the wedding of Jon Bander and Shannon Krowicki which occurred later in the afternoon. It was beautiful!

RATING:

 4.31/5

• VALUE:
   4/5


• AMBIENCE:
   2.5/3


• TASTE:
   9/10


• SERVICE: N/A

15.5/18 = .861 x 5 = 4.31