Pizza Club of Chicago announces Launch of Hot New Fragrance Line

PCOC is proud to announce that its new fragrance line is hitting stores across the world this week. Slice is the name - unisex. etc

Pizza Club members open Best Olive Oil Shop on the Planet - Timeout ranks Chicago's Best Pizza

The PCOC leadership would like to congratulate longtime members John, Matt, Mike, Tom, and Bryan on their recent opening of Old Town Oil (http://www.oldtownoil.com/), what many are already saying is surely the finest specialty oil shop on the planet. The "Oilers," as some PCOC members are now calling the entrepreneurs, have promised to host a PCOC meeting at their shop on North Wells Avenue some time in the near future. Stay tuned.

Switching gears, for those people out there who have seen Timeout Chicago's spread on the Best Pizza in Chicago (in the current issue, link below) or saw the segment on the Timeout's spread on Chicago Tonight on November 7, PCOC would like to know what you think about Timeout's rankings and methodology. Please post any comments using the "add comment" button at the bottom of this story. As for any official response to Timeout's story, the PCOC administration issued the following brief statement:

"PCOC is gratified to learn that there are other pizza freaks out there and commend Timeout on its efforts in trying to find the Best Pizza in Chicago. Although, as PCOC has learned, and Timeout's reviewers surely have discovered, the beauty in trying to find Chicago's best pie is not in the verdict, but in the search. God willing, for PCOC, this search will never end."

Also, PCOC would like to thank the producers at Chicago Tonight for adding a link to our site in the web version of their story on Timeout's rankings. And we'd also like to say that we thought the Chicago Tonight segment last night was great. PCOC's spotters think they even caught Phil Ponce drooling during one quick camera cut. No shame Phil, everyone at home was drooling too.

Here's the link to Chicago Tonight: http://www.wttw.com/main.taf?p=28,3,1,1&Date=11%2F05%2F2007&et=%20%2D%20Week%20Of%20November%2005%2C%202007

And Timeout's spread: http://www.timeout.com/chicago/article/features/24110/the-upper-crust

Falco's Pizzeria - 7/17/07

PCOC got back on its Tuesday night schedule this week by visiting Falco's Pizzeria in Brighton Park. Prospective member Colleen McNellis made the pick promising PCOC some great pizza at this spot largely unknown to PCOC's north side members. This was a very risky move by Colleen becuase, whether she knew it or not, the possibility of her gaining the exclusive benefits that full PCOC membership allows depended upon what the PCOC faithful thought of Falco's pies. Basically, if she blew this pick, her task of gaining the graces of the fickle PCOC membership committee would be daunting to say the least.

Before getting to the report on Falco's, I'd like to cover some recent PCOC news. As some of you have seen, there are some new polls on this site. (If you have not noticed them, as you look at this page, see the righthand column.) As of this writing, there are some very tight races in a couple of these polls that deserve to be highlighted. In the poll most watched across the country, Mr. Kevin Close, a fringe-friend of many of the PCOC members, has a slight edge in votes over Mike Ditka and Jesus when PCOC members were asked who they would most like to see become a fellow member. This comes as a bit of a surprise to some as Mr. Close has been running a quiet and largely grass-roots campaign while Jesus' supporters have taken to vigorously campaigning every Sunday. According to reliable sources in Mr. Close's inner circle, if he is the winner of this poll, he plans to apply for full PCOC membership. Keep an eye on this race in the coming days, because, as the race tightens, many expect these candidates to start slinging some serious mud.

In another close poll, babies, hot dogs and none of the above are neck and neck and neck in the race to determine what PCOC thinks may be better than pizza. Sources close the President claim that the fact that hot dogs has received even one vote may result in the President appointing an Independent Counsel to investigate which blasphemous PCOC member may have placed this ludicrous vote.

Moving on to our meeting, a small group of 4 met at Falco's, 2840 W. 40th St., at around 6:30. The joint is located at the busy intersection of Archer, California and 40th and is serviced by the #62 Archer bus among others. Street parking is also readily available in the area.

Falco's exterior looks like a standard family-type Chicago restaurant. The front entrance leads to the dining area and bar, while around the side of the building on 40th, there is a separate entrance for people picking up take-out pies. The main restaurant area layout includes a dining area with windows that look out onto California to your right as you enter and a bar area with several tables to the left. Sox, Bears and Cubs banners spread around the place makes it look like Falco's is going for a sports-bar type of look, possibly seeking pre- and post-Sox game fans. But with their cheap beer prices ($4.25 domestic pitchers on Fri.-Sun. and $1.00 draft mugs all the time) and $3.75 jumbo slices, Falco's also likely attracts a wide range of local piehounds/beer junkies.

While Falco's seems to go for the sports bar/pizza joint atmosphere, with only one TV, it can't be considered a great place to watch games. And if you head to Falco's looking to catch a game beware becuase during our visit, a very regular patron, or possibly a loafing Falco's employee was sitting at the bar near the TV switching channels between ball games and a European blooper show. Considering Falco's proximity to Sox Park we were shocked to find the Cubs game in the remote-guy's channel switching rotation. This is either a testament to the egalitarian baseball ethos at Falco's, or a sign that Sox fans have truly given up on their club's season already. Either way, PCOC's Cubs fans felt very lucky to have been able to follow the Cubs game that deep in Sox country.

As for the pies, for our group of 4 (with the possibly of a couple late arrivals) we ordered 3 pies, all thin crust and all crispy/well-done as follows:

• medium 1/2 sausage and 1/2 sausage & giardinera


• medium 1/2 pepperoni 1/2 pepperoni, green peppers, and onion with Falco's special garlic italiano crust,


• small 1/2 italian beef & garlic and 1/2 pineapple & canadian bacon
  

This was a big order for our small group (and we took plenty home) but in order to get a good feel of what Falco's was up to, we felt we had to go all out. The overall verdict was unanimous: Falco's makes some damn good pizza. There were a few minor criticisms though. We all agreed that the garlic italiano crust, which was a bit thicker than the regular thin, was not that great and we'd stick to the normal thin crust in the future. Also, we all agreed that while the italian beef & garlic pizza was good, it was a bit dry and might have been improved with some giardinera. Looking back on Falco's, I think I would say that its thin crust pies feature real good italian sausage, a tasty sauce and nice crispy crust and are most similar to Home Run Inn thin crust pies.

Before signing off, a couple quick notes from the meeting:

• Colleen advised the group that she has discovered a new disease. It is named IBS (Irritable Bruz Syndrome). Symptoms include dry mouth, rumbling stomach, and dizziness. Treatments includes beer, pizza;
• TOB suggested that some family pie joints have Quaalude pizzas for kids with the hope that the exotic topping would shut them up and keep them in their seats;
• A Corona with a lemon, although it smells like Pine-Sol, is "fresh & zesty" according to the Bruz.

All in all, Falco's is a great little spot with good pies and cheap beer. In life, what more can one really ask for?

PCOC Meeting 6/29/07 Pizza Metro

PCOC is back. After lengthy legal disputes with the country of Italy and some posers who have attempted to start their own pizza "club" in Chicago, PCOC is ready to wade back in to the delicious world of Chicago's pizza.

For the curious out there, I must regrettably report that due to the terms of the settlements in the various legal actions, details of the disputes are confidential. I can say that the settlements did firmly establish PCOC as the only true and viable arbiter of pizza in Chicago. In addition, as a result of the time spent with PCOC's lead negotiators, Former Secretary General of the United Nations, and newfound piehound, Kofi Annan and Italy's former Prime Minister Silvio "baby, let's ahide the pepperoni" Berlusconi, PCOC has two new very distinguished honorary members. Thanks again Kofi and Sil - you two are the best.


In order to get things back in gear, the Prez and General Counsel Bruz had lengthy discussions over a period of several weeks finally determining that an unusual Friday night PCOC meeting was necessary to maximize attendance and underline the celebratory nature of the reunion. As we have entered the approximately 2 & 1/2 week period of near-perfect outdoor pizza and beer consumption conditions in Chicago, the meeting place for the reunion was the beer garden of the Bucktown Pub on Cortland and Paulina. For our pizza, we decided to give Pizza Metro a shot (http://www.pizzametro.com/).


Pizza Metro makes what it calls Roman-style pizzas in rectangular sheets. PM estimates that a half sheet serves 2-3 and a whole sheet serves 4-6. For our group of 15 or so we ordered 4 whole sheets as follows:

• one sausage, green pepper, & onion



• tomato & basil



• sausage



• 1/2 potato & rosemary and 1/2 sausage & pepperoni
  

A whole sheet from Pizza Metro is probably the equivalent of an 18" round thin crust pie, so you can imagine how much pizza we are talking about here. As I mentioned earlier, Pizza Metro refers to its pizza as "Roman-style." From the experience of this piehound, Roman-style pizza is characterized by being served in rectangular sheets, with a crust that is not thick or thin, and for certain unusual ingredients like the potato & rosemary combo that Pizza Metro features. So it seems that PM is keeping pretty close to the roots. (Brief PCOC History lesson: Some astute member of PCOC noted that Pizza Metro also presumably is trumpeting its Roman roots with its logo of a pie-hungry wolf on its menus. With this logo, PM is likely invoking the historical protector of Rome, the she-wolf who suckled abandoned babies (and pizza innovators) Romulus & Remus, the founders of Rome. And this makes me wonder, what kind of pizza do wolves like? I'm thinking a deep dish with all the meat in the kitchen kind of thing but who knows.)

Getting to PCOC's verdict on PM's pizza, it seemed the consensus was that the pizza was OK, but was pretty dry and all the pizzas across the board needed more sauce. One member went so far as to say that our pizzas tasted like "a paper plate with melted cheese on it." Despite the dry pies, PCOC went to town and nearly finished the whole load. This surely is a testament to the faith and optimism of the PCOC membership that the next piece of pizza will be better than the last. Or it is further evidence of PCOC's sweaty-fat-man-at-an-all-you-can-eat-buffet pizza eating habits. Regardless, this feat of eating was made possible for many members by the liberal use of hot sauce on their pie. As one member said "it makes it wetter - I mean better" (this comment of course resulted in various inappropriate statements from the members both related and unrelated to pizza). Although never formally considered by PCOC, I can securely say that PCOC will now always place hot sauce in the same lofty pizza-condiment universe as red pepper, parm, oregano, and giardinera.

As for your author's opinions, I too thought the pizza was dry but that the other pieces of PM's pizza puzzle (crust, cheese and toppings) were pretty solid. In particular, I thought the toppings seemed very fresh & were full of flavor. I thought the rosemary was a great ingredient and that the potato rosemary may have been the best pie we ordered. If ever ordering from PM seriously consider giving it a shot.

All in all, based upon the strength of the fresh and flavorful toppings and the unique Roman/sheet style, I'm planning to give Pizza Metro another shot sometime in my pizza future. With this opinion I might be in the minority of the august and piecritical membership of PCOC though. One thing is for sure, if I ever do order Pizza Metro again I will ask the pieguys back in the kitchen to go heavy on the sauce.

In PCOC news, it was determined that, on a trial basis, meetings will now be held once a month or about every 3 weeks with an occasional weekend pizza & beer extravaganza mixed in for good measure.

More updates on PCOC's future plans to follow.