St. Louis Scribe and Former the Beijinger Editor Noshes on Pizza Plus, Kro's Nest, and Ramo

With voting in the Sweet 16 of the 2015 Pizza Cup closing tomorrow (Nov 9) – 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 Jessica Rapp, a former the Beijinger editor and lady knowledgable of all things fashion. Rapp cites her hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, as source of her pizza expertise, saying the city “is famous for its thin-crust pizza, Imo’s – “the square beyond compare,” adding, "so I come with a bit of pizza bias.” She typically dines on the city's pies around four times per month.

For home delivery when you're too lazy to make dinner:
Pizza Plus is always my go-to. It's the closest thing to what I'm used to eating back in St. Louis, which I guess is mostly because of its thin crust that's a mix of crunchy and chewy. The only problem is that it's missing the heaps of gooey provel cheese. Provel was invented in my hometown and is some combination of cheddar, Swiss, and provolone. You can't find it anywhere else, so I take what I can get. I do wish Pizza Plus would load up on toppings a little more, but I'm usually satisfied with the stuffed spinach and mozzarella pizza. It's a good option if you're a combination of lazy and thrifty because one 72 rmb stuffed pizza will last you a few days. As for the regular options like the Sweet Beijing (topped with thinly sliced sweet potatoes and peppers), I could easily plop myself in front of Netflix and stuff my face with those in one sitting. Going in one of the Pizza Plus shops is a great experience, too because their single slice options are such a good deal if you're on the move. I only wish they had more stores.

When you want a taste of home:
Strangely, Kro's Nest reminds me of home, even though its pizza sizes are pretty far from anything I've actually had before coming to Beijing. I think that's partly because of the lively atmosphere, especially at the Kro's locations in Sanlitun and Liangmaqiao on a busy night. The just-right greasiness and piles of cheese reminds me a bit of Pizza Hut or Tombstone pizza back home, which was usually my Friday night dinner when I worked in college. I'm a particular fan of the Kitchen Sink pizza, which has a bit of everything on it. Let's just say it definitely satisfies my need for tons of toppings.

A date with a significant other:
I once ordered Ramo pizza as a carry out and ate it at the airport with my boyfriend before he left for a trip. It was the best spur-of-the-moment decision ever. But the space itself is such a lovely addition to Fangjia Hutong. The owner, Paca Lee, has done a great job decorating in a funky, colorful style and making it a weekend destination for good music and drink deals. It makes a great date spot if you want to get away from Sanlitun for a bit, plus it's nearby tons of other great bars that are perfect for both couples and large groups of friends. I usually get the parma ham and rocket (why get a slice when you can get a whole pizza?) and top it off with a brownie. I hope to get over there one morning for breakfast – I hear great things!

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 Jessica Rapp