Vacation Blast Off!

It hit me like a ton of bricks last night as Siege and I retired to our humble abode after an evening with friends, a ridiculous amount of pizza, and a little moonshine- alas, I was on vacation! It's been a long 8 months since my last break and boy do I need it. It also happens to be my B-Day, and some buds were kind enough to send me off in style with dinner at Chicago Fire pizza!

Chicago Fire has two locations, the original in Old Town Folsom and the most recent addition in Mid-Town Sacramento that opened earlier this year. Siege and I had been to the Folsom pizzeria once years ago. The pizza was great, but hardly warranted the 45 minute drive, especially since Giovanni's is not more than 5 minutes away. Now, you don't have to tell me that there's a difference between Chicago and New York Style pizza... I'm well aware. Overall, I tend to prefer New York's thinner crust to the heartier Windy City brand of pizza. That said, it was my Birthday, which meant time to go big or go home. And it had been awhile since I had a slice of Chicago's finest export... so it seemed the perfect fit.

There's nothing dainty or delicate about the pizza at Chicago Fire. It should be mentioned, though, that they do offer thin crust pizza for those that want to go against the grain. I mean, cmon', you're at a place that specializes in deep dish pizza... get with it! It's like going to Monterey and eating nothing but steak instead of the fresh, locally caught fish. (I especially direct this last comment to my friend SJL!)

Back to the pizza. My selection of the evening had to be the most decadent. An all-meat-heart-attack-waiting-to-happen pizza adorned with sausage, pepperoni, salami, and ham. What impressed me most was the sheer amount of meat stacked onto each slice. I swear each piece of pie had half a sausage on it. It was intensly delicious. The pie was topped with it's customary red sauce-- and it did not disappoint. It was slightly chunky, with just the right amount of sweet yet tart tomato flavor. Underneath the sauce lay the glorious aforementioned array of meats with an ample portion of cheese.

The crust was also a sight to behold... and taste. It was a fantastic vision of golden brown, buttery goodness, with just the right amount of density. Strong enough to hold up to the heft of the cheese, toppings and sauce, yet easy enough to chew with minimal effort. In short... it was off the chain!

Trust me when I tell you that two pieces of pie were plenty. Especially when you consider the amount of Buffalo Wings I threw down. Damn those wings had some heat! I'm pretty sure the dynamic duo, Adam and Gibby, ordered them extra hot. You see, Adam and Gibby are Buffalo Wing fiends. Rumor has it they each took down eight or nine of those spicy suckers...but who knows.

Overall, Chicago Fire is a great place to get some tasty "Za." I will say that the service was a bit slow and unattentive at times. But good food atones for many a sin, and Chicago Fire makes an excellent brand of deep dish pizza. Thanks to all my peeps for coming out and sharing the great food, good beer/wine, and most excellent conversation.

Cheers!