Food Blogger's Go-To Pizza Joints: Mao Mao Chong, Green Cow, Irish Volunteer
With voting in the Quarterfinals of the 2015 Pizza Cup open through Thursday, November 12 (cast your ballot here) we continue to query Beijingers from all walks of life on their pizza preferences with our Pizza My Mind series.
In this edition, we hear from Qiang Xiaoji, a Wuhan-born journalist and current Gulou dweller who runs BaytoBei (WeChat ID: BaytoBei), a blog featuring restaurant reviews and easy-to-learn home recipes. She usually orders pizza two to three times a month. Here are a few of Xiaoji's favorite Beijing pizza spots:
For a date with a significant other
I would choose Mao Mao Chong. MMC is a very chill and sweet place. Whenever I go, it always makes me feel comfortable. They specialize in pizzas and cocktails. My favorite of their pizzas is the Little Devil, which I enjoy for its nice crust and quality toppings: tomatoes, mozzarella, salami, olives and a spicy kick that takes you by surprise. Their Peasant Pizza is also one of my favorites. After pizza, stick around to sip on their classic cocktails, until you get a little tipsy and end a wonderful night.
When you want a pizza but your dining companion wants something else (or vice-versa)
Green Cow City Cafe is the perfect place to go. They are famous for their bagels, but their pizza is surprisingly good. It’s big and ... I would say it has the best crust in Beijing: thick, but also very crispy and airy with a nice oiliness. The pizzas also have a ton of cheese on them, which is always a plus. The restaurant is tucked away in a dirty neighborhood full of street vendors serving cheap food in Jiuxianqiao but don't let that fool you – behind the giant green iron gate is a very clean bright restaurant with big windows. They use top materials and have a big menu for you to choose from. Everything is good.
For home delivery when you're too lazy to make dinner
I always get Irish Volunteer’s pizza if I am home and want a pizza delivered to my door. Typically, I order their Canadian pizza, which will never get old. It has a ton of tomato sauce that oozes through the cheese and tempers the saltiness of the Canadian bacon. I always get a box of chicken fingers to go with the pizza – the perfect combination for when you just want to stay at home on your couch, watching the latest episode of your favorite shows.
Hungry for more? Read more from the foodies of Beijing in our Pizza My Mind profiles here; and don't forget to mosey along over to our Pizza Profiles series to get a closer look at some of the best pies in town. Got some favorites of your own? Share them with us by filling out our Pizza My Mind questionnaire here.
Image courtesy of Qiang Xiaoji
