There’s a Pizza City Fest? Count me in!
I got to attend the Pizza City Fest in Los Angeles and was surprised at how many people there were. I had the VIP pass, which gave me a 1-hour early entry, unlimited pizza, sides and desserts, unlimited beverages, access to the VIP lounge, and a special VIP gift! There was also a demonstration on “Mastering the Dough: Two Pizzaiolas, Two Perspectives”. Parking was not included, but I was able to find parking for $5 instead of $41 at the venue.
The event was held at the LA Live Event Deck. To enter, you had to show your ticket in the AXS app, your ID, and go through security, who checked our bags. There were a lot of people with General Admission tickets waiting to go in!
I made sure not to eat anything for breakfast so I could eat more at the Pizza City Fest. What did I eat?
Focaccia Sandwiches
All’Antico Vinaio (Los Angeles)
La Paradiso – Mortadella, Stracciatella, Pistachio Cream and Pistachios
This tasted really good! I loved the mortadella. I thought I wouldn’t want a sandwich after eating so much carbs, but this sandwich was so delicious I was tempted to grab another one.
Pizza
5. Ospi (Southern California)
Vodka Pizza – Fresno Chile, Basil and Burrata
I was not expecting how spicy this would be! The first bite was fine, but a few more bites and the spiciness really kicked in. I was not a huge fan of the sauce – it was too strong for me!
4. MexiForno (Guadalupe, CA)
Al Pastor – Marinated Pork, Cilantro, Pickled Onions, Avocado Mousse, Fresh Pineapple and Green Tomatillo Salsa
This pizza reminded me very much of a taco, but in pizza form. I liked how colorful the pizza looked, but would prefer to have this as a taco.
3. Prime Pizza (Los Angeles)
Hawaiian Pie – Smoked Pork, White Cheddar, Mozzarella, Garlic Sauce, Scallions, Fresh Pineapple, Jalapeños and Teriyaki Drizzle
First of all, I love pineapple on pizza, so I was so excited when I saw this Hawaiian Pie! The smoked pork was delicious, and the fresh pineapple with jalapeños gave it extra flavor. I loved everything on the pizza! This was almost my favorite slice of the day.
2. Prince Street Pizza (Southern California)
Spicy Spring – Fra Diavolo Sauce, Pepperoni, Fresh Mozzarella and Pecorino Romano
What I loved most about this pizza was the crust. So crunchy. So light. I typically don’t enjoy eating pizza crusts (but I’d still eat it), but the pizza crust at Prince Street Pizza was so good I wanted more of the crust.
1. Market Pizza by Drew Butler (Culver City)
Funghi Bianco – Truffled Ricotta Con Latte, Smoked Gouda & Mozzarella, Roasted Button and Shiitake Mushrooms
Although this pizza did not have meat on it, it became my favorite slice of the day. There’s something about mushrooms and truffle that I just love.
Dessert
Levain Bakery (Los Angeles)
Two Chip Chocolate Chip, Lemon Cookie, Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip
I got to try all three flavors at Levain Bakery! The person handing out the cookies was very reluctant on handing out more than one flavor…my favorite was the Two Chip Chocolate Chip, followed by the Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip and then the Lemon Cookie! The cookies were all pretty sweet though.
Kinrose Creamery (Pasadena)
I really wanted to get ice cream from Kinrose Creamery, but they ran out! So sad.
For drinks, I tried an Irish Cream Soda. There were also bottles of ranch on the table for you to take home! The bottle is pretty heavy though and you had to carry it the rest of the day.
There was also a long line for Coke, where you can have your name printed on a can! The line took a long time, and I would say it was definitely not worth the wait. There was only one machine, and you can only print a name that’s from their database. Then, a sticker comes out of the machine and one of the staff sticks it onto the can. A bit crooked. I remember having my name printed on the can before a long time ago, not on a sticker. Did technology get worse?
We also stopped by the “Mastering the Dough: Two Pizzaiolas, Two Perspectives” demonstration for a bit, featuring Jillana Miller from Miller Butler and Roxana Jullapat from Friends & Family Pizza Co., and moderated by Stephanie Swane from Modernist Pizza. They cook their pizzas at such high (and different) temperatures!
Finally, we stopped at the Stella Artois corner to get our glasses engraved. Our VIP bag included a tote bag, pizza cutter, Drew Doughty Bobblehead, and a Stella Artois glass with free engraving! The line for engraving took even longer than the one for Coke. The staff at the booth kept talking to each other the whole time and slowly putting in the glasses into the one machine. The engraving also came out not centered. Worth the wait? No. Why did they only bring one machine for so many people?
Overall, this was a pretty cool event. I’m surprised at how many people bought tickets to this event! It was cool seeing so many pizza restaurants present and being able to try as many slices as I wanted to, but for that price, I might as well go to their actual shop to try them out! It would be nice if some of the vendors could be a bit more efficient, but maybe that’s how they get you to not eat as many pizzas.
