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Obamas fly in chef 860 miles... just to make pizza By Mail Foreign Service Last updated at 10:31 AM on 10th April 2009 When you're the president of the United States, only the best pizza will do - even if that means flying a chef 860 miles. Chris Sommers, 33, jetted into Washington from St Louis, Missouri, on Thursday with a suitcase of dough, cheese and pans to to prepare food for the Obamas and their staff. He had apparently been handpicked after the President had tasted his pizzas on the campaign trail last autumn. Great honour: Chris Sommers will make 20 pizzas for the Obamas and their staff at a White House dinner 'It's surreal, it's a huge honour,' said Mr Sommers, who owns Pi restaurant in St Louis. 'It will be a casual lunch and hopefully we'll have a chance to say hello to the president.' Mr Somers was accompanied by this business parnter Ryan Mangilardo who will help prepare the dinner for 140 this evening. It will feature his signature dishes - ten deep dish and ten thin crust creations. He is also planning a pizza especially for the president - the Hyde Park topped with chicken and hot sauce.

No comments in particular.

I saw the pizza chef, Chris Sommers interviewed on the morning news yesterday.  Apparently he is friends with someone on Obama's staff when Obama was in town last year during the campaign.  He sent over a pizza and got a personal telephone call from Obama saying how much he liked the pizza.  Chris Sommers did comment that he is flying in on his own dime and was going to be visisting relatives in the area.  

midwestbeth wrote on Apr 10^th, 2009 at 7:53am:

Chris Sommers did comment that he is flying in on his own dime

It is probably to discuss him receiving 346 billion dollars in bail out funds.  Get the prez fat and sleepy, and THEN hit him up for the "dough"  ...

I find it interesting that Obama, a Chicago native, would bring in a pizza maker from St. Louis. Not to be hatin' on St. Louis pizza - I'm sure it's great - but doesn't Chicago have like hundreds of neighborhood pizza joints that are supposed to turn out some of the best pies in the world?

Living next to St Louis... St Louis pizza is good, but not my favorite.  It lacks that 'I crave more' quality.  

New York pizza is the best in my book... real brick oven pizza.  St Louis has a small chain of alleged brick oven pizza joints, but they are not worth the drive.  

Chicago pizza is interesting, but only in the 'lets see how thick we can make this' sense.  My entire time living there we had Chicago pizza only when we had 8+ people around a table in a bar.      

Longing for brick oven pizza, I did master making from-scratch BBQ Grill pizza.  I only do it 2-3 times per year, and it is normally a pain in the ass as I spend 2 hours slaving over the grill to feed the vagrants who are drinking my beer.

That said... for the most part there is no such thing as bad pizza.    

Lobster wrote on Apr 10^th, 2009 at 11:21am:

That said... for the most part there is no such thing as bad pizza.

You said a mouthful, brutha.

Longing for brick oven pizza, I did master making from-scratch BBQ Grill pizza.  I only do it 2-3 times per year, and it is normally a pain in the ass as I spend 2 hours slaving over the grill to feed the vagrants who are drinking my beer.

Note to self...fly Lobster in to my next beer fest! ;D

Joe

Excuse me..... If I may.    

St. Louis pizza is the BEST pizza around.  Have you never had Imo's or Rigazzi's?   Ask DJ.  He knows.....   It's ALL about the cheese.

Jeannie

Lobster wrote on Apr 10^th, 2009 at 11:21am:

New York pizza is the best in my book... real brick oven pizza.

Man knows his pizza.

Guiseppi wrote on Apr 10^th, 2009 at 11:34am:

Note to self...fly Lobster in to my next beer fest! ;D

Excuse me.....if I may.

True beer fests only occur in Milwaukee.

And Lobster, what I was trying to imply above is that it seems as though the President is kind of dissing his homies by "sending out" for pizza to St. Louis. Not that it was necessarily the best in my estimation. I've never had a NY pie, nor have I had a STL pie, thus no point of reference.

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And Lobster, what I was trying to imply above is that it seems as though the President is kind of dissing his homies by "sending out" for pizza to St. Louis.

I'd diss damn near anyone for great pizza...  ;)

Brew wrote on Apr 10^th, 2009 at 11:40am:

Excuse me.....if I may. True beer fests only occur in Milwaukee.

I was hoping that when WWIII started, the Germans would be on our side for a change ...  but that probably ain't gonna happen now.   Thanks a lot, Brew!!   >:(

;)

That was the irony of the news story.  Obama is from Chicago, yet he raved about the pizza in St. Louis.  It is a Chicago style pizza, not St. Louis style.  The pizza guy said he uses cornmeal in the crust and bakes it Chicago style.

I don't care for Imo's St. Louis style pizza myself.  Tastes like pizza on a cracker.  Everyone else in my family loves it.  I always get the pasta or meatball sandwiches when we order from Imo's.  YUM :)

True beer fests only occur in Milwaukee

Wasn't there a beer this place is known for?????? ;)

Joe.......(who should get down to Milwaukee one of these days!)

Lobster wrote on Apr 10^th, 2009 at 11:21am:

Living next to St Louis... St Louis pizza is good, but not my favorite.  It lacks that 'I crave more' quality.   New York pizza is the best in my book... real brick oven pizza.  St Louis has a small chain of alleged brick oven pizza joints, but they are not worth the drive.   Chicago pizza is interesting, but only in the 'lets see how thick we can make this' sense.  My entire time living there we had Chicago pizza only when we had 8+ people around a table in a bar.       Longing for brick oven pizza, I did master making from-scratch BBQ Grill pizza.  I only do it 2-3 times per year, and it is normally a pain in the ass as I spend 2 hours slaving over the grill to feed the vagrants who are drinking my beer. That said... for the most part there is no such thing as bad pizza.

Agreed!  The Mid West can keep their deep pan pizza, The left coast can keep their bean sprout and toffu pizza; I'll keep the NY pizza!   ;)

-P.

Jeannie wrote on Apr 10^th, 2009 at 11:34am:

St. Louis pizza is the BEST pizza around.

EXCUSE me ?? ?? ?? ??

Are you talking about that paper thin crusted crap that I was forced to eat, several times, while I was there in January?

(The poor delusional child has never tasted what REAL pizza tastes like, me thinks ...)

That stuff was only SLIGHTLY better than frozen pizza from the supermarket ...

BLUECHHHH!!!

Chuck

But Chuck's not opinionated or anything.... ;D

Monty, I apologize. I should have qualified it by stating "in America."

Nothing compares to Oktoberfest in Munchen.

Guiseppi wrote on Apr 10^th, 2009 at 11:51am:

True beer fests only occur in Milwaukee Wasn't there a beer this place is known for?????? ;) Joe.......(who should get down to Milwaukee one of these days!)

There was something resembling beer that stole its name from this great town. ;)

Didn't phase us, however.

ClusterChuck wrote on Apr 10^th, 2009 at 11:59am:

EXCUSE me ?? ?? ?? ?? That stuff was only SLIGHTLY better than frozen pizza from the supermarket ...

Yah, yah, yah.  If you didn't grow up in the midwest, you probably don't (and can't) understand.  I bet you don't even like Mrs. Paul's fish sticks!!

...or walking into a church pot luck dinner with something in your hands called "hot dish."

Chuck , you are gonna get it when I see you this summer.      [smiley=hewey.gif]

You've been warned!

Jeannie

Brew wrote on Apr 10^th, 2009 at 12:16pm:

...or walking into a church pot luck dinner with something in your hands called "hot dish."

That "hot dish" better have some food on it if you walk in to one down here.  ;)

Paul98 wrote on Apr 10^th, 2009 at 11:58am:

Agreed!  The Mid West can keep their deep pan pizza, The left coast can keep their bean sprout and toffu pizza; I'll keep the NY pizza!   ;) -P.

You mean that greasy crap you fed me that made me sick for a week?!!! UGH!!

Brew wrote on Apr 10^th, 2009 at 12:16pm:

...or walking into a church pot luck dinner with something in your hands called "hot dish."

I assumed he was talking about his wife! ;)

Joe

Jeannie wrote on Apr 10^th, 2009 at 11:34am:

It's ALL about the cheese. Jeannie

Sorry Jeannie, I gotta disagree with you there.  To me, it's the sauce that's the kicker. ;)

An important consideration of pizza quality for me is the next-day cold-pizza eatability.  A problem I have with Imo's, the St Louis chain with a shop in my town, is that the next day their pizza is basically a dried out cheese-cracker.  

Imo's is a decent snack food.  Buy a few boxes, then set them with the chips and dip at your party.  

Imagine my pizza-loving shock when I moved here and was introduced to 'St Louis-style' pizza.  A major 'wtf is this?' moment.

True fact... when my mom makes the 13-hour drive from the town I grew up in, I make her bring me about $100 worth of 'Mister Pizza', the pizza I grew up on.

'Mister Pizza' has been in Shamokin PA since the 1960's.
It is one room with a counter.  No chairs.  No drinks (I think you can now get a six pack of soda to go).  
You order the pizza by the 'cuts'... a roughly 5x5inch square.
You simply say '10 cuts' or such.  You do not get to pick what kind of pizza you want... they only have one kind.  Each slice has one pepperoni in the corner.  
They hand you a box and you leave.  There is no place to eat in the building.  
The only thing that changes in the place is the price chart... they update it with new prices every year or two.  It simply lists the prices for 1/2/3/4/.../99/100 cuts of pizza.
It still tastes the same as when I was 4 years old, and will taste the same after I am taking a dirt nap.  

Dammit.  Now I am horny for pizza.  

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It is one room with a counter.  No chairs.  No drinks (I think you can now get a six pack of soda to go).   You order the pizza by the 'cuts'... a roughly 5x5inch square. You simply say '10 cuts' or such.  You do not get to pick what kind of pizza you want... they only have one kind.  Each slice has one pepperoni in the corner.   They hand you a box and you leave.  There is no place to eat in the building.   The only thing that changes in the place is the price chart... they update it with new prices every year or two.  It simply lists the prices for 1/2/3/4/.../99/100 cuts of pizza. It still tastes the same as when I was 4 years old, and will taste the same after I am taking a dirt nap.

That reminds me of a place on Long Island......  Sign me up!



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Dammit.  Now I am horny for pizza.

You do not walk that path alone. I'm pricing flights to Islip now....  ;D

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Dammit.  Now I am horny for pizza.

You can thank your president for that. ;)

And here I am eating cold leftover fried chicken.

:'(

Redd wrote on Apr 10^th, 2009 at 1:13pm:

And here I am eating cold leftover fried chicken. :'(

Hey, chin up - cold leftover fried chicken can be better than pizza. At least I think so.

Agreed Brew....

I prefer fried chicken cold...but after this tread I'm craving a thin hand tossed crust pizza loaded with italian sausage, muchrooms green and black olives and cheese so thick and gooey you need a scissors to cut it.

I am so not a pizza lover at the best of times to be honest - and after the last time I had pizza in Syracuse.. well lets just say when Paul, Brid and I went there in December I had a salad..

Lobster wrote on Apr 10^th, 2009 at 12:44pm:

Now I am horny for pizza.

And you people think that I have kinky and unusual sexual desires ?? ?? ??
Chuck

wrote on Apr 10^th, 2009 at 12:24pm:

Paul98 wrote on Apr 10th, 2009 at 11:58am: Agreed!  The Mid West can keep their deep pan pizza, The left coast can keep their bean sprout and toffu pizza; I'll keep the NY pizza!   ;) -P. You mean that greasy crap you fed me that made me sick for a week?!!! UGH!!

Pearls before swine.  No one fed you anything, you ate of your own volition!

-P.

ClusterChuck wrote on Apr 10^th, 2009 at 1:53pm:

Lobster wrote on Apr 10th, 2009 at 12:44pm: Now I am horny for pizza.   And you people think that I have kinky and unusual sexual desires ?? ?? ?? Chuck

YES   ;D

Pizza is over rated - fish and chips with lashings of salt and viniger wins hands down every time. ;D

mummymac wrote on Apr 10^th, 2009 at 3:54pm:

Pizza is over rated - fish and chips with lashings of salt and viniger wins hands down every time. ;D

Go ahead and ask Donny Osmond what he would prefer.... ;D

Dang it.  Now I want a shrimp pizza. :(

Personally i find pizza a bit like cheese on toast and i'm pretty good at that so do you reckon if someone put a word in for me he'd fly me out there too,
Not bothered if its first class or in the hold.

Man all this talk of pizza. I just had a crummy chicken sandwich in Charlotte airport.... and THEN I saw CA Pizza Kitchen. DAMN.

St.Louis Pizza? didn't RFT have a long-winded article about it being the worst?  Seriously, there are some good pies there - I favor Joanie's.

Beerfest in Milwaukee?  I'd love to see the big guy show up and put a few down.  Maybe we can get him into lederhosen, too.

But really, this ought to be a huge story for the Chicago Tribune.

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And Lobster, what I was trying to imply above is that it seems as though the President is kind of dissing his homies by "sending out" for pizza to St. Louis.

Actually, I think you were just implying something neative about the president, Bill.  Probably like how he was wasting tax payer money or any other right-wing smear ploy like that. But then the second post defused the situation by reporting the whole truth that the chef flew out on his own accord and on his own dime, so you rolled with it. Just like Repulican pushed ethonol down Wisconsin gas tanks.

Was interesting to see the politically negative intended conversation turn to something more "palatable" though. Thank goodness.

   Whats the big deal with the president getting his pizza from somewhere other than Chicago? He's not from Chicago. He practiced law there as an adult, and represented Chicago in the Senate for 163 days. But he was raised and educated elseware. Give the guy a break.
[smiley=smokin.gif]

Hmmm missed this yummy thread..
I tend to agree with Lobster - have had pizza many places elsewhere and NY is sooooO good, thick or thin crust START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGESTART PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE(and I don't mean gross Domino's or chain pizza either!)


wrote on Apr 10^th, 2009 at 1:32pm:

I am so not a pizza lover at the best of times to be honest - and after the last time I had pizza in Syracuse.. well lets just say when Paul, Brid and I went there in December I had a salad..

Doggone it Helen.. shoulda treated you to some pizza in Brooklyn, or near my house.  No offense, but I would venture a guess that the NYC pizza is different from Syracuse pizza.   [smiley=grin2.gif]

p.s. Redd cold fried chicken is the shzznt

wrote on Apr 10^th, 2009 at 1:32pm:

I am so not a pizza lover at the best of times to be honest - and after the last time I had pizza in Syracuse.. well lets just say when Paul, Brid and I went there in December I had a salad..

You need WESTERN NY Pizza, Helen. Hot, cold or old.

START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGESTART PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

Charlie

This thread is SO TOTALLY UNFAIR! In Guernsey, there is NO pizza place. Not one. Not even a greasy Pizza Hut or Dominos to get my fill. Just supermarket frozen specials, which isn't the same.

And what do I want now? Hot, fresh pizza. Hawaiian with extra mozzarella. Or in fact any kind of pizza. Just one I don't have to cook myself.

Em - now throwing toys out of the pram and having a major sulk.

Em wrote on Apr 16^th, 2009 at 9:16am:

This thread is SO TOTALLY UNFAIR! In Guernsey, there is NO pizza place. Not one. Not even a greasy Pizza Hut or Dominos to get my fill.

Sounds like an opportunity.