Slices of Life: My One-Man Pizza Show debuts to a full house!

Still shot taken by my mom (Kitzi)

This past Sunday, (March 9th), I performed in my first ever one-man show called SLICES OF LIFE and, thanks to the overwhelming support of the audience,  it won't be my last!

Drawing from experiences during Pizza Months 2002 - 2013, I told stories about the many people I have met, places I have gone, and pizza I have consumed.  Topics such as the origin of pizza, the mafia, and even my own dating life were explored, and we wrapped up the evening with a pizza party in the lobby of the Magnet Theater!

I want to extend an extra special thanks to Megan Gray, the Artistic Director of the Magnet Theater for providing me the opportunity to perform as well as Joe Riggio, the owner of NY Pizza Suprema for supplying the post-show pizza.

Finally, I must thank my wife Robin Rothman Taylor for helping me conceive of the idea, her behind-the-scenes direction/encouragement, video coverage during, and assistance afterward (schlepping the pies from Suprema to the Magnet.)

Overall, I give the entire experience 5/5 slices.  Thank you everyone for your continued support and interest in Pizza Month over the past 12 years.  I will be posting dates and showtimes for future show here, so please stay tuned to my blog for updates!

PHOTOS:

Post show Pizza Party in the Lobby of the Magnet Theater

Eddie & Val from NY Pizza Suprema

Danica Lo, Jen Dixon, Eric Del Pozo and I after the show

Me and Scott Wiener (of Scott's Pizza Tours)

Day 18, Pizza Month 2011 - Ray's Prince St. (NoLIta, NYC)

DAY 18: OCTOBER 18th, 2011

LOCATION: Ray's (27 Prince St., NYC)

ORDER: 1 slice cheese

GUEST: Ruby Marez, Binu Paulose





MISCELLANEOUS:
1. Ruby Marez and Binu Paulose are Rubin - an improv comedy duo that performs all over New York and is traveling to Toronto in the very near future.
2. Despite not including it in its name, this Ray's, according to my pizza-loving compatriot Scott Wiener (of Scott's Pizza Tours), is the "original" or the "famous original" Ray's dating back to 1959. Sadly, it will be closing its doors at the end of the month.

PHOTOS:

Video Log: Day 31, Scott's Pizza Tours

DAY 31: OCTOBER 31st, 2010
Scott's Pizza Tours (NYC) - full review


(Click here for video)

Day 31d; Pizza Month 2010 - Sam's Restaurant (Cobble Hill, Brooklyn)

DAY 31: OCTOBER 31st, 2010

LOCATION: Sam's Restaurant (Cobble Hill, Brooklyn)

ORDER: 1 slice of cheese

GUEST: Scott Wiener, Ronnie Palmer, various other pizza tour guests

REVIEW:
A timeless Brooklyn classic.

From the outside of Sam's Restaurant, you wouldn't guess that this is a place to get high quality brick oven pizza. Heck, you might not even think the place is still in business. But it is and has been for over 80 years. If there is any doubt look no further than the retro neon lights and vintage hand-painted signs clearly representing yesteryear.

One step inside and the place opens up revealing a wide-open dining area, a full bar, and walls plastered with iconic photographs of older times. You might think you stumbled onto the set of Sopranos. This could be because you have. Sam's Restaurant has been featured on the Sopranos and the photos with James Gandolfini and other cast members indicate it is a source of pride. Sam's Restaurant should also be proud of their pizza.

Louis Magliaccio, the current owner of Sam's, eats a slice of his own pizza nearly every night for quality control and, well, because he loves it. He is also constantly scouring the market for the best tomatoes for pizza sauce. The sauce on our pizza was the result of multiple types of whole peeled Italian tomatoes combined with rich tomato puree and infused with other herbs and spices. There was also copious amounts of it beneath the creamy Polly-O mozzarella. And the crust kept it all together (in more ways than one). It was firm enough to contain the toppings yet chewy enough to eat by itself illustrating one of the benefits of eighty plus years of food preparation.

Bring cash and plenty of time as Sam's does not accept any credit cards nor any "attitude." The flip side of "not rushing the guests" is that service does not want to be rushed either. I love the personal attention we received from Louie, the owner/waiter/bartender at Sam's. I also noticed the other guests getting a chance to converse with him as well. He's a friendly guy. Of course, if you don't want a new friend or a new favorite pizzeria, you probably should go elsewhere.


VIDEO CLIP:

RATING:
4.17 out of 5

• VALUE:
  3.5/5


• AMBIENCE:
  3/3


• TASTE:
  8/10


• SERVICE:
  3/3

17.5/21 = .833 x 5 = 4.17

MISCELLANEOUS:
1. I met Louis Magliaccio, the owner of Sam's Restaurant. His father, Mario used to own Sam's so everyone assumed his father's name was "Sam," thus making him the "son of Sam." Louis prefers not to be called that.


2. This was the last pizzeria on Scott's Pizza Tour of Brooklyn. By the time it ended I was so full but Scott warned, "Around 7pm, you will get very hungry again." He was right.