PIZZA WEEK 2023

The annual Portland Pizza Week 2023 came and went, between the week of April 17th - April 23rd, 2023. One of my favorite “Portland Food Weeks” after “Portland Wing Week”, where dozens of Portland restaurants serve $3 slices or $20 full pies. I feel like the creativity of pizza flavors is limitless and it’s cool (and delicious) to see what cooks and chefs come up with, as well as to see “what’s in” within the culinary world. This year, I was able to try 16 different pies out of the 35 different flavors from this year. How I decided on my ranking was the overall taste of the pizza, I prefer mine a bit more on the well done side, so anything with char or crisp automatically shoots it up the list. Then came the texture of the ingredients, since some people tried some new flavors, it added some unique texture, whereas others, were a letdown due to overcrowding or the ingredients were cold. Then came the creativity, most of the places I choose are flavors that I am interested in or the place had a delicious pizza in the past. I don’t make an effort to go to every place, but more so only the places that have interesting flavors.

Though this year had a lot of great flavors, my personal favorite was the simple and straightforward:

“Red Sauce Pizza - Famous Cold Cheese Pizza”

Pretty much a simple cheese pizza, then you spread the cold mozzarella up to and eat it. I have never had a pizza like this before, so it was interesting eating a fresh out the oven, hot, bubbling cheese pizza and mixed with the texture of this cold mozzarella on top. It helped that last year, RED SAUCE PIZZA was close to the top of my list with their Bolognese flavor, that I had to go back and try this one. As you can see, there’s a lot of char and bubbles, and it definitely was a close one between this and Old Town Brewing’s “La ‘Zagna”

1. Red Sauce Pizza: "Famous Cold Cheese"

Cheese pizza with red sauce, shredded mozz, and fresh mozz. After it cooks, it's finished with cold shredded mozz so you can enjoy!
2. Old Town Brewing: "La ‘Zagna"

Mornay Sauce base with mozzarella, meaty Bolognese, and ricotta, topped with fresh basil and shredded Parmesan
3. Boxcar Pizza: "Birria Pie"

Jackfruit birria, mozzarella, cheddar, fresh onion, and cilantro. Served with a side of consome
4. Fino: "100x35"

Creole-style sauce (aka salsa criolla), mozzarella, ripe plantains, and spicy cilantro chimichurri
5. Von Ebert Beaverton: "Smoked Pork Belly Enchilada Pie"

House enchilada red sauce, smoked pork belly, red onion, cheddar cheese, avocado crema, and cilantro
6. Via Chicago: "Moroccan Lemon"

Preserved lemons, ricotta, hot honey
7. Signal Station Pizza: "Where Have Reuben All My Life"

A slightly sweet spicy mustard sauce with caraway seeds topped with mozzarella cheese, corned beef, sauerkraut, and sliced Swiss, topped with a Russian dressing
8. Baby Doll Pizza: "I love you elote"

The pizza features a crispy crust topped with a flavorful combination of seasoned corn and a tantalizing Tajin, chipotle, and lime sauce. The corn is carefully seasoned with a blend of spices, including garlic, pepper, and salt and topped with cotija cheese
9. Atlas Pizza: "Reservoir Hogs"

Smoked pork, savory garlic and olive oil base, pickles, and red onion, with a drizzle of both mustard and our own zesty Carolina BBQ sauce
10. Meta Pizza: "Cheeked Up"

Braised beef cheek Bolognese, basil aioli, Parmigiano Reggiano
11. Oakshire Beer Hall: "Max's Chicken Tinga Pizza"

Chipotle lime cream sauce, mozzarella, tinga chicken, pickled onion, queso fresco, cilantro
12. SFNY: "Mushroom: Impossible"

Shiitake mushrooms, asparagus, Castelvetrano olives, ricotta, and green goddess dressing
13. Wild Child Pizza: "Mexican Street Corn"

Roasted garlic crema, grilled sweet corn, pickled red onions, cilantro, and mozzarella, finished with cotija and ground ancho chili powder
14. SFNY: "Fowl Play"

Fried chicken, bacon, pickles, red cabbage, spicy maple dressing, and red pepper flakes
15. Love Verona: "Ace ‘Rose Pie"

100% tomato sauce, Asiago cheese, imported Gorgonzola, sweet fig preserve, prosciutto, Romano cheese, house-made balsamic glaze
16. Danwei Canting: "Mapo Tofu Pizza"

Fried Ota tofu (made fresh right across the street!) marinated in a blend of spices, roasted squash, bell peppers, red onion, green onion, and mozzarella, on a marinara sauce base