Sunday, February 28, 2010

DAY SEVEN FERRI'S PIZZA KEYSER AVE SCRANTON PA

MY FIRST BITE OF FERRI'S RED PIZZA BROUGHT BACK MEMORIES OF OLD FORGE PIZZA WHICH WAS LOCATED ON THE MAIN STREET IN OLD FORGE NEXT TO THE BOROUGH BUILDING IN THE SEVENTIES. IT WAS RUN BY A GIRL NAMED KAREN, FOR TOMMY FERRI OF OLD FORGE AND I ATE MANY SLICES OF THEIR PIZZA WHILE HANGING OUT UP THE ROAD AS A TEENAGER.
THE PIZZA WAS GOOD, THIN CRUST, CHEWY TOP, LOTS OF CHEESE AND JUST ENOUGH PIZZA SAUCE. WE ONLY HAD THE RED PIZZA ON THIS VISIT. WE WERE TOLD THAT FERRI'S WAS STARTED IN THE 1930'S BY GYDONNE FERRI AND THAT THIS IS THE SAME ORIGINAL RECIPE FOR MAKING THE PIZZA SAUCE AND PIZZA. FERRI'S HAS HAD MANY LOCATIONS INCLUDING OLD FORGE, TOP OF THE TAYLOR HILL, MAIN ST IN WEST SCRANTON AND NOW KEYSER AVE SCRANTON, PA. THEY HAVE A FROG AS A MASCOT AND I REMEMBER THEIR ADS "JUST A SHORT HOP TO THE TOP OF TAYLOR HILL" WHEN THEY HAD THE TAYLOR HILL LOCATION. THAT TAYLOR LOCATION WAS SOLD TO MAKE WAY FOR THE NEW WALMART SUPER STORE THAT HAS BEEN UNCONSTRUCTION FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS.

THE KEYSER AVE LOCATION IN VERY CLEAN AND HAS SEATING FOR ABOUT 40 PEOPLE. THEY ARE ONLY OPEN TILL 9PM BUT ARE OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. THEY HAVE FREE DELIVERY. BESIDES RED AND WHITE OLD FORGE PIZZA, FERRI'S HAS THEIR FAMOUS FOOT LONG HOTDOGS, WINGS, PIEROGIES, MOST GRILLED ITEMS AND ITALIAN HOAGIES.

PIZZA CHALLENGE RANK 3CUTS TODAY'S SCALE READING 183

DAY SIX GENOTTI'S MOOSIC PA

THIS IS ONE ALOT OF OLD FORGERS ARE GOING WHERE IN MOOSIC IS GENOTTI'S?
WELL ITS ON THE CORNER OF MAIN ST MOOSIC AND MOOSIC ROAD, ITS THE CONVENIENT STORE NEXT TO THE MOOSIC BORO BUILDING AND IT HAS GREAT OLD FORGE STYLE PIZZA.IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE MUCH FROM THE OUTSIDE AND YOU CAN'T GO THERE FOR FRIDAY NIGHT DINNER CAUSE THEY CLOSE AT 6PM.

BUT IF YOU NEED OLD FORGE PIZZA AT 7AM GENOTTI'S IS READY TO SERVE YOU! YES YOU READ THAT RIGHT 7 AM, SO NEXT TIME YOUR HEADING OUT OF TOWN TO VISIT FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND YOU FORGOT TO PICK UP THEIR FAVORITE OLD FORGE PIZZERIA PIZZA STOP BY GENOTTI'S AND SEE VINCE. THAT'S VINCE PAGNOTTI A TRUE TOF AND PAST OWNER OF SEA SEA'S NIGHTCLUB. VINCE AND HIS LOVELY WIFE RUN THE PLACE THEY HAVE SOME INTERESTING VARIETIES OF OLD FORGE PIZZA. OF COURSE THEY HAVE TRADITIONAL RED AND WHITE PIZZA, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE BREAKFAST PIZZA WITH SCRAMBLED EGGS AND HAM OR SAUSAGE, THREE CHESSE PIZZA, CHICKEN WING PIZZA (ONE OF MY FAVORITES), DOUBLE CRUSTED STEAK AND CHEESE PIZZA OR HAM AND CHEESE PIZZA. EVERYDAY IS DIFFERENT AT GENOTTI'S SO CALL AHEAD TO ORDER YOUR FAVORITE OR TAKE A CHANCE BY JUST STOPPING BY AND SELECTING FROM THE PIZZA BAR. GENOTTI'S ALSO HAS GOOD SELECTION OF SANDWICHES AND SUBS. THE PLACE HAS A GROUP OF INTERESTING CHARACTERS WHO HANG OUT PROVIDING GREAT CONVERSATION FROM POLTICAL TO SPORTS TO MUSIC AND LOTS AND LOTS OF FUNNY STORIES.
THIS IS THE PLACE FOR PIZZA WITH WHEELS. (take out pizza)

PIZZA CHALLENGE THREE CUTS TODAY'S SCALE READING 183

DAY 5 ALFREDO'S SOUTH SCRANTON, PA

SUNDAY AFTERNOON, THE WEATHER WAS NICE, THE FAMILY WANTED TO GO OUT FOR THE DAY SO WE WENT TO SOUTH SIDE BOWL WITH MY FAMILY OF FOUR AND SOME FRIENDS OF THE KIDS IN TOW. THE BOWLING WAS COOL, OR SWEET AS THE KIDS SAY NOW A DAYS, COSMIC BOWLING THE LIGHTS TURNED DOWN LOTS OF DISCO BALLS AND STROBE LIGHTS AND LOUD MUSIC. AS FOR THE BOWLING, MY KNEES COULD ONLY STAND TWO GAMES (184 AND 154). GUESS I'M READY FOR THE AARP PRO BOWLING TOUR. LOL

AFTER THE BOWLING AND VIDEO GAMES IT WAS A SHORT DRIVE TO ALFREDO'S PIZZA LOCATED IN THE SOUTH SIDE SHOPPING CENTER. ITS A STRIP MALL LOCATION BUT ALFREDO'S HAS MADE IT UP SCALE. OUTSIDE SEATING IN THE WARMER WEATHER, A NICE BRASS AND WOOD BAR INSIDE AND SEVERAL NON BARROOM SEATING AREAS FOR DINING. WHITE TABLE CLOTHS AND FLOWERS ON THE TABLES AND NICE SELECTION OF BEER AND WINES. THEIR MENU IS FROM SANDWICHES TO FULL MEALS AND IT ALL LOOKS GOOD, BUT WE WERE HERE ON A MISSION TO EAT PIZZA.
A TRAY OF RED(12 CUTS) AND A TRAY OF WHITE(8 CUTS) WAS THE ORDER FOR THE TABLE. THIS WAS GREAT RED PIZZA LOTS OF CHEESE, THIN CRUNCHY CRUST, JUST ENOUGH PEPPER AND ONION SO YOU KNOW IT WAS ON THE PIZZA. THE WHITE PIZZA WAS OVERFLOWING WITH CHEESE, WE ENDED UP CUTTING THE LARGE CHEESEY CUTS IN HALF AND FOR MOST AT THE TABLE ONE HALF CUT WAS FILLING. WHILE THE WHITE WAS GOOD IT COULD HAVE USED SOME MORE SPICES ON TOP FOR FLAVOR AND THE CRUST ON TOP WAS DRY. I'D LIKE TO TRY THE WHITE AGAIN ON ANOTHER DAY BEFORE PASSING JUDGEMENT.
ALFREDO'S HAS AN OLD FORGE CONNECTION, ONE OF THEIR EMPLOYEES LIVES IN OLD FORGE IN THE MINE SHAFT ESTATES SECTION. OUR UNNAMED SOURCES TELL US HE'S NOT TO BAD OF A BOWLER AND IN FACT DURING THE 1980'S COMPETED ON THE PRO BOWLERS TOUR APPEARING ON TV SEVERAL TIMES. IT ALSO IS RUMORED THE THE MOVIE KING PIN(BILL MURRAY AND WOODY HARRELSON) HAD THIS LOCAL BOWLING/PIZZA KING AS A PAID ADVISOR FOR BOWLING AND PBA CORRECTNESS.

IN OUR GROUP WE HAD A FIRST TIME OLD FORGE PIZZA EATER FROM MICHIGAN, HIS TASTEBUDS STILL NEED TO BE FINE TUNED SINCE HE THOUGHT THE RED PIZZA WAS ONLY OK AND THE WHITE HAD NO TASTE. NICE KID BUT WE NEED TO WORK ON HIS FOOD SELECTION.

PIZZA CHALLENGE RANK FOUR CUTS TODAY'S SCALE READ 184

Sunday, February 21, 2010

DAY THREE: MARYLOU'S PIZZA

TODAY IS THE FIRST FIRDAY OF LENT, IN OLD FORGE PIZZA RESTAURANTS THIS DAY IS LIKE BLACK FRIDAY TO RETAIL STORES, THEY ARE PACKED WITH UP TO ONE HOUR WAITS FOR TABLES AND SOME RESTAURANTS ARE FORCED TO TAKE THEIR PHONE OFF THE HOOK BECAUSE THEY CAN NOT KEEP UP WITH THE DEMAND FOR THEIR PIZZA.

WE CHOOSE TO VISIT MARYLOU'S PIZZA ON DUNN AVE IN OLD FORGE. MARYLOU'S IS A TAKEOUT PIZZA PLACE, OPEN ONLY THREE DAYS A WEEK THURSDAY, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. THE MENU IS LIMITED TO OLD FORGE STYLE PIZZA AND THEIR PIZZA RANKS HIGH ON MY PERSONAL LIST OF FAVORITES. TODAY WE WILL BE ORDERING LUNCH TWO TRAYS OF RED PIZZA AND TWO TRAYS OF WHITE PIZZA. WE CALLED IN THE ORDER EARLY 10AM FOR 11:30AM PICKUP AND WHEN OUR PICKUP PERSON ARRIVED AT 11:30 AM HE HAD TO WAIT FOR THE ORDER. THIS IS TYPICAL AT MARYLOU'S BECAUSE SHE LIKES TO SERVE FRESH PIZZA AND WILL WAIT TILL THE CUSTOMER ARRIVES THEN PUT THE PIZZA BACK INTO THE OVEN FOR THE LAST FEW MINUTES OF BAKING. THUS SHE SERVES A BUBBLING HOT PIZZA . EVERYTHING ABOUT MARYLOUS IS FRESH. THE DOUGH IS MADE FRESH DAILY, IF ANY DOUGH IS LEFT OVER ON A GIVEN DAY IT IS MADE INTO BREAD WHICH THEY GIVE TO CUSTOMERS THE NEXT DAY.
THE SAUCE IS MADE FRESH EVERYDAY.
MARYLOU HAS A LONG HISTORY IN THE PIZZA BUSINESS. BEFORE OPENING UP MARYLOU'S ON SOUTH MAIN STREET, SHE WORKED AT BRUTICO'S IN THE KITCHEN MAKING PIZZA AND OTHER ITALIAN MEALS.
OUR PIZZA WAS REALLY GOOD TODAY, THE WHITE PIZZA WAS TO DIE FOR. THE CRUST AT MARYLOU'S HAS A BUTTERY FLAVOR TO IT AND THE TOP OF THE WHITE IS SEASONED WITH A MIXTURE OF ITALIAN SEASONINGS, IT IS STUFFED WITH A MIXTURE OF CHEESES AND THE BOTTOM IS ALSO GOLDEN BROWN. THE RED PIZZA TODAY WAS CRUNCHY AND THIN AND IT PUT SMILES ON THE FACES OF MANY THE THE LUNCH TABLE. THE LUNCH TABLE CROWD RANGED FROM VETERAN OLD FORGE PIZZA LOVERS TO NOVICE FIRST TIME EATERS. THE FIRST TIMERS ALL GAVE BOTH THE RED AND WHITE PIZZA HIGH PRAISES. THE VETERANS HAD MIXED REACTIONS, SOME RECALLED BETTER MEALS BUT THE END RESULT WAS A HIGH RANKING FOR MARYLOU'S.

THE PIZZA CHALLENGE RANKING 4 CUTS THE SCALE READING 185

Friday, February 19, 2010

DAY TWO: MAXIE'S PIZZA

TODAY WE VISITED MAXIE'S PIZZA FAMILY RESTAURANT LOCATED AT 320 SOUTH KEYSER AVE OLD FORGE, PA 18518, JUST ABOUT WHERE OLD FORGE MEETS TAYLOR NEAR THE PA TURNPIKE INTERCHANGE. MAXIE'S HAS BEEN OPEN ABOUT 20 YEARS, it is run by Willie and Maxie and their parents. Maxie's has plenty of free off street parking on the side of their restaurant which looks alot like someones house very inviting. You enter the dining room thru the side door or enter the bar thru the front door. Either way you are greeted by a clean well lit restaurant. Last night the bar was half filled with couples and friends hanging out and enjoying a few beverages and food. We choose the dining room which has about ten booths and some free standing tables which seats about sixty people.
WE ORDERED BOTH RED AND WHITE PIZZA. THE RED PIZZA WAS TASTY, THIN CRUST WITH GOLDEN BROWN BOTTOM, A RED SAUCE WITH A HINT OF PEPPER AND LOTS OF MELTED CHEESE ON TOP(NEXT TIME I HAVE TO FIND OUT WHAT KIND CHEESES ARE USED ON THEIR PIZZA.) JUST THE RIGHT TEXTURE CRISPY BOTTOM AND CHEWY TOP AND NOT TO GREASY.
THE WHITE PIZZA WAS DOUBLE CRUSTED STUFFED WITH CHEESE THAT JUST KEPT ROLLING OUT OF THE PIZZA AND ALMOST COVERED THE TRAY IT WAS SERVED ON. A MEMORABLE QUOTE FROM THE TABLE WAS "THIS PIZZA LOOKS GREAT AND I'M SURE A HEART ATTACK IS NOT FAR OFF" THE TOP OF THE PIZZA HAD A LIGHT COAT OF OLIVE OIL AND LOTS OF ITALIAN SPICES BAKED TO A GOLDEN BROWN COLOR.
Maxie's also has a great selection of reasonably priced dinners, wings and deserts.
I personally had two red cuts and two white cuts and i was stuffed. I think the hardest part of this Pizza Challenge is going to be getting enough will power to stop eating when i'm full and to get in the excerise to be able to lose the weight for the challenge.

Challenge Ranking 4 cuts. Scale reading no change 184

Thursday, February 18, 2010

DAY 1 SNOW CHANGES SCHEDULE

SOMETIMES PLANS CHANGE AND YESTERDAY WAS ONE OF THOSE DAYS, WE HAD PLANS TO GO TO MAXIE'S IN OLD FORGE AT 5:30PM BUT A SNOW SQUALL COATED THE ROADS AND MADE THEM ICY. SO WE DECIDED TO DELAY OUR VISIT TO 9PM AFTER OTHER COMMITMENTS WERE TAKEN CARE OF BUT WHEN WE CALLED MAXIES AT 9PM WE WERE TOLD THE KITCHEN WAS CLOSED ALREADY(WE ASSUME DUE TO THE SNOW)
BUT SOME QUICK THINKING RESULTED IN A VISIT TO BROWNIES PIZZA IN WEST SCRANTON. BROWNIES WAS TO BE OUR SECOND VISIT ANYWAY SO WE WILL GO TO MAXIES ON THURSDAY.
WE SHOWED UP AT BROWNIES AND WERE GREETING BY THE OWNER BILLY BEEPER SALERNO WITH HIS TRADEMARK SMILE. THE DINING ROOM WAS NOT CROWDED BUT THE TWO DELIVERY PERSONS WERE BUSY RUNNING IN AND OUT WITH LATE NIGHT DELIVERIES
THIS SEEMS TO BE THE BIGGEST PART OF THEIR BUSINESS TAKEOUT AND DELIVERY.

BROWNIES AT ONE TIME HAD A SECOND LOCATION IN OLD FORGE ACROSS FROM THE OLD FORGE BANK. BROWNIES HAS BEEN A FAMILY OWNED PIZZERIA FOR OVER 50 YEARS. ACCORDING TO BILL THE PIZZERIA WAS STARTED BY HIS MOM AND DAD BOTH OF THEM WORKED WITH TOMMY FERRI OF FERRI'S PIZZA AT THE SAME RESTAURANT AND BOTH TOM AND BROWNIE STARTED THEIR OWN PIZZERIA AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME IN THE 1950'S. BROWNIES HAS MANY BEST PIZZA AWARDS HANGING ON THE WALLS AND THE ONE TITLE THAT STANDS OUT IS THE TITLE OF BEST PIZZA 1985 GIVEN OUT BY THE AMERICAN DAIRY ASSOCIATION FOR A NATIONAL CONTEST.
WELL THE RED PIZZA WE HAD LAST NIGHT WAS A WINNER. THE CRUST WAS GOLDEN BROWN ON THE BOTTOM, THE CRUST WAS ALSO THIN AND CRISPY THE CHEESE MIX WAS OLD FORGE EXCELLENT AND THE PIZZA SAUCE HAD A NICE ONION TANGY FLAVOR. OVERALL WE ENJOYED IT ALOT. I PERSONALLY DOVE IN FOR FOUR CUTS EVEN AFTER IS PROMISED MYSELF I WOULD STOP AT TWO. I GUESS THAT MEANS ANOTHER MILE OF WALKING TODAY. WE TOOK SOME PICTURES AND WILL ADD TO POST LATER.

BESIDES PIZZA, BROWNIES ALSO SERVES WINGS, STROMBOLI, SALADS, SUBS AND A VARIETY OF DINNERS ALL UNDER $10 BUCKS. OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK TILL 11PM

SO STOP IN AND VISIT BILL SALERNO AT BROWNIES. HE IS A TOF (TYPICAL OLD FORGER) COMPLETE WITH FRIENDLY SERVICE AND LOTS OF FUNNY STORIES.

OLD FORGE PIZZA CHALLENGE RANKING IS THREE CUTS.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

FAT TUESDAY: CHALLENGE STARTS TOMORROW

THE OLD FORGE PIZZA CHALLENGE STARTS TOMORROW,

CAN WE EAT OLD FORGE PIZZA EVERYDAY DURING LENT?

DURING THE OLD FORGE PIZZA CHALLENGE WE CAN ONLY VISIT A RESTAURANT ONCE. SO EVERYDAY WE WILL HAVE A NEW REPORT TO SHARE WITH YOU

SOME FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE EXPRESSED A CONCERN THAT EATING THAT MUCH DELICIOUS OLD FORGE PIZZA WILL ADD A FEW POUNDS TO AN ALREADY SPREADING MID-SECTION. SO WE HAVE ADDED ANOTHER PIECE TO THE OLD FORGE PIZZA CHALLENGE, WE ALSO ARE SETTING A GOAL OF LOSING 20LBS OR ABOUT 3 LBS A WEEK APPROX THE WIEGHT OF A 12 CUT OLD FORGE PIZZA.

SO HERE IS THE FIRST WEEK'S SCHEDULED VISITS

FEB 17 ASH WEDNESDAY MAXIES PIZZA KEYSER AVE OLD FORGE
FEB 18 THURSDAY BROWNIE'S PIZZA WEST SCRANTON
FEB 19 FRIDAY MARY LOU'S PIZZA DUNN AVE OLD FORGE
FEB 20 SATURDAY COLARUSSO'S CAFE CLARKS SUMMIT
FEB 21 SUNDAY ALFREDO'S PIZZA SOUTH SCRANTON
FEB 22 MONDAY GENOTTI'S PIZZA MOOSIC
FEB 23 TUESDAY FERRI'S PIZZA SCRANTON

IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO COME ALONG FOR A VISIT JUST DROP US A NOTE?

WE ARE NOT LOOKING FOR ANYONE TO COME TO ALL THE RESTAURANTS BUT WE ARE HOPING FOR DIFFERENT GUESTS TO COME WHEN WE VISIT YOUR AREA OR YOUR FAVORITE OLD FORGE PIZZA RESTAURANT.

TODAYS SCALE READING 184

Sunday, February 7, 2010

MAPPING OUT THE RESTAURANTS FOR THE CHALLENGE

HERE'S A LIST OF SOME POSSIBLE OLD FORGE PIZZA RESTAURANTS THAT ARE NOT LOCATED IN OLD FORGE BUT SERVE OLD FORGE STYLE PIZZA.

MARSICO'S TAYLOR,PA
CASTALDI'S WEST SCRANTON
ALFREDO'S SOUTH SCRANTON
PIZZA LOVEN WYOMING
PIZZA PERFECT TRUCKSVILLE
COLARUSSO'S CAFE AVOCA
COLARUSSO'S JESSUP
COLARUSSO'S CLARKS SUMMIT
COLARUSSO'S HANOVER PA
JIGGY'S PIZZA HARRISBURG
FERRI'S PIZZA KEYSER AVE
GENOTTI'S MOOSIC

SOON WE WILL POST THE COMPLETE LIST BY DATE IN CASE ANYONE WANTS TO JOIN US

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

FORTY DAYS OF OLD FORGE PIZZA

A CHALLENGE HAS BEEN ISSUED:

CAN WE EAT OLD FORGE PIZZA EVERYDAY DURING LENT?
BUT WE CAN ONLY VISIT EACH PIZZA RESTAURANT ONCE DURING OUR CHALLENGE.

WE KNOW OLD FORGE HAS AT LEAST 12 RESTAUTANTS , AND I KNOW OF PROBABLY 12 OTHERS IN LACKAWANNA AND LUZERENE COUNTY BUT DOES ANYONE HAVE SUGGESTIONS FOR PIZZA RESTAURANTS THAT SERVE OLD FORGE STYLE PIZZA THAT ARE WITHIN A TWO HOUR DRIVE OF OLD FORGE

IF WE TAKE ON THIS CHALLENGE WE WILL POST EACH DAY OUR RESULTS

SEND US SOME SUGGESTIONS AND MAYBE WE CAN MEET YOU THERE DURING THE CHALLENGE.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Revello's Pizza

Over the Thanksgiving weekend I had my fill of turkey and turkey leftovers, so on Sunday night when we going to visit some out of town relatives (former TOFs) Old Forge pizza was a natural choice. On Sunday nights in Old Forge the choices are limited but Revello's Pizza on South Main st has started to open up from 11am to 11pm. Revello's is a great Old Forge tradition, we had both the red pizza and the double crust white. the red pizza was excellent. I love the cheese mix at Revello's on the red pizza. You take one bite and a few seconds later your taking another and before you know it the cut is gone. then you start to limit yourself to 3 cuts and before you know it your eating your 4th or 5th cut.
Revello's has been around a long time since the 70's. Pat Revello and his mom run the place with the help of Andy Sopp (check out Andy's picture on their website). Before it was Revello's it was Pelosi's, that is the reason for the P in the bricks on the second floor exterior front of the building.
just recently during the presidental election primaries, Revello's was visited by Hillary Clinton and alot of visiting press. there are many utube video of the visit.

Check out Revello's website see the link on our blog.

A CHALLENGE TO OLD FORGE PIZZA LOVERS BESIDES HILLARY CLINTON WHAT OTHER FAMOUS PEOPLE HAVE VISITED OLD FORGE TO SAMPLE OLD FORGE PIZZA.
NAME THE PIZZA PLACE AND THE FAMOUS PERSONS NAME AND DETAILS OF THE VISIT WOULD BE NICE.

I have heard stories of Babe Ruth at the shift and shanty, and alot of Music acts that played at Pep O'Briens used to go to Salerno's. Lets share the stories.