Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

TheTunnelMonster t1_jdi46ha wrote

I hope it’s not the same competition that crowned Caliente a “world champion.”

49

WalrusWalrus OP t1_jdia63s wrote

It totally is! What Caliente presented at the competition was decadent and way different than their day-to-day pizza. Do they have potential to make great pizza? Seems that way. Is it executed that way in their stores? Doesn't sound like it.

21

jsdjsdjsd t1_jdio2x1 wrote

Caliente is so bad in every way

23

Guentzelvania t1_jdiwowo wrote

I disagree. The grandma ruffa pizza I get from their allison park location is delightful

8

jsdjsdjsd t1_jdiwuwv wrote

I’ve only been to Bloomfield location and every time I went there it was bad pizza and like pulling teeth to find someone to pour me a beer

20

duranko1332 t1_jdje3z2 wrote

Outdated take for sure, they swapped out everyone & it's a lot better now a days pizza & bar wise.

3

doodle_day_lewis t1_jdjovbd wrote

We’ve had nothing but success with their Monroeville location. We rotate through several of their specialty pizzas including the Grandma Honey.

8

SuperRocketRumble t1_jdjs4j3 wrote

I disagree as well. Caliente is better than I like to admit. It’s not mind blowing but it’s not terrible. Its decent pizza. Not on par with the best stuff in the city but well above the average Pgh pizza joint.

7

bertrola t1_jdjnqgu wrote

Agree. I fell for the hype and wasted a 45 min trip to try it.

6

angrygnomes58 t1_jdkq1ck wrote

Agree. Went to the one on Liberty when I worked at WPH. One of the worst pizzas I’ve ever had.

6

TheTunnelMonster t1_jdkraqz wrote

I mean I haven’t tasted their winning competition pizza, but it seems extremely disingenuous for them to make that claim in advertisements if they are serving something completely different.

6

MaynardWaltrip t1_jdkbdi1 wrote

When I moved to Pittsburgh several years ago I fell for the Caliente advertising and went out and got it. Never went back.

9

[deleted] t1_jdhw85y wrote

[deleted]

20

WalrusWalrus OP t1_jdhxis8 wrote

It's tough! There's competitors from across the country and the judging is incredibly harsh. It's a serious affair, getting in the top three of any category is a big deal.

12

cam412 t1_jdiaj8x wrote

GLOBAL PIZZA CHAMPIONSHIPS

9

Accomplished-Pen4934 t1_jdhodj7 wrote

Iron born is okay - not sure I’d consider it a contender for global pizza champion tho

8

jsdjsdjsd t1_jdio5f3 wrote

Iron Born is fire

21

thecrowfly t1_jdj34t6 wrote

The secret to Iron Born is eating it immediately.

8

jsdjsdjsd t1_jdj8fsv wrote

I eat it next day cold and its still 🔥🔥🔥

9

Accomplished-Pen4934 t1_jdiolbn wrote

I mean, yeah it’s okay. Not a bad pie but not the best pie in Pittsburgh, far cry from global pizza champion imo

3

jsdjsdjsd t1_jdit8eu wrote

Can we just admit that the idea of a global champion of pizza is completely ridiculous tho

17

jsdjsdjsd t1_jdite6d wrote

I know that my comment is a cop out but I like Mineos a lot as well as Iron Born and also Pizza King in Munhall. All pizza. All different. All very nice in their own way.

3

WalrusWalrus OP t1_jdhrq37 wrote

They've won in the past if you can believe it. There's an artistry to the competition. Judges are looking for originality, unique takes on pizza, execution. What the everyday person might consider "good" might be different than what the judges are looking for.

3

ShatteredAvenger t1_jdhwsxi wrote

I think what's hard to judge in food competitions like this is consistency- I won't say it's easy to win a competition because that's wildly inaccurate, but I do think it's easier to put your best foot forward in a contest than it is day to day over and over.

If you're looking to take home a prize, you're gonna sweat the details a lot more than when you're just cranking out pie after pie on a saturday night. I've had incredible pies from Fiori's and I've had mediocre underbaked ones from them as well. But I keep going back because the overall hitrate is good.

Meanwhile Caliente is happy to brag about their world championship pizza– which was a pretty bizarre fancy pie that I'm not sure you can even consistently buy– but I tend to avoid buying from there because the everyday pie is just average at best.

7

WalrusWalrus OP t1_jdhxds6 wrote

This is totally spot on. I'm less interested in the shops that create a pizza that can't be replicated at their shop on a daily basis. If you can't serve up your championship winning pizza at your shop, why bother? Seems to dilute the award.

11

ShatteredAvenger t1_jdi5asn wrote

Exactly! Santoro's Pizza over in castle shannon has a pretty wild pie they call The Blue Pig that is most definitely an original pie, closer in spirit to what Caliente won with than what they actually sell.

I've got no problem with specialty pies, but Caliente leans waaaay too hard on that award when in reality they sell a pretty middling experience with every other pie.

But hey, there's really no rules in advertising these days.

4

ScrumGuz t1_jdj05gz wrote

That was a good read, thank you for sharing

7

WalrusWalrus OP t1_jdmfoq3 wrote

Thanks for taking the time to read it! It's been fun writing about the local pizza community!

3

TerribleBase666 t1_jdktrby wrote

Caliente- is not good pizza- the World Championship is a joke because they serve a less than memorable pie- Bloomfield and Aspinwall both bad. I will psss.

7

WalrusWalrus OP t1_jdhlypu wrote

Hey there - it's me, your local pizza journalist. Talked to a lot of pizza makers for this, so if you have any follow up questions let me know. I think we're gonna see some new champions from the bunch this year. Lots of interesting, stellar pizzas in the mix.

Pizza ya later!

5

Hduebskfiebchek t1_jdkpn7p wrote

The Costco sauce spreader is flying first class to the competition.

5

SuperRocketRumble t1_jdjse3v wrote

I think the best pizza shops in the city don’t actually need to participate in this. But thanks for sharing

4

smog126 t1_jdna07z wrote

Great article. The author really knows how to write about zah’ and make it engaging made me want to go now lol

3

smog126 t1_jdna4hm wrote

Pizza Expo. Some call it the Super Bowl of the pizza industry. Mecca. It’s the event where pizza warriors from across the globe come to both learn and compete.

Who comes up with this stuff lol well done. Pizza warriors. I’m going to use that now

3

RadicalAns t1_jdicgxw wrote

They climbing the Pizza Tower

2

_SystemEngineer_ t1_jdnmcy4 wrote

I moved here from New York and most of the pizza is horrible, an amazing feat given the sheer ratio of pizza joints to people in this city.

I should make a website and review the edible pizza here without marketing BS.

2