Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's the eightieth anniversary of w e alies Leora Italian. Yes,
eighty years ago a show about all things Italian aired
right here on this very station.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
And who better to bring it back than Vinnie Penn.
Damn straight, Hey, it's times like this, I real quick.
I never thought I was going to ever say this
in my life, never mind on the radio. It's times
like this. I wish I had Gorman Bashard on the phone. Well,
like I said, that, not something I ever actually thought
(00:34):
I would say. Not so much Colin Kaplan from Taste
of New Haven. I mean, I love my man Colin,
but Gorman in particular is who I would like to
have this conversation with. So the winner of Connecticut's Pizza
Capital Trail has been revealed. Okay. The Trail is a
(00:56):
collection of the top one hundred celebrated independent pizza joints
in Connecticut, quote unquote, aiming to guide visitors and pizza
enthusiasts to where they can get some of the best
pizza in the country. Look, I'm just reading somebody else's words.
I would have written it a little bit different than that.
(01:17):
But we've been watching this all along. We announced it
along with Colin. Voting began on it was cheeky and
fun National Pie Day, which was March fourteen, and it
just ended yesterday and a lot of people chibed in,
that's great, it's fun, it's all good. Voters had to
(01:41):
select up to ten pizzareas from a list of more
than nine hundred, or they could submit a write in.
There's a lot of we all got little tucked away
little joints. You know. It was actually good and we
talk about that all the time. The Pizza Capitol Trail
just for those of you who are all about that
and the fun of like, you know, a wine trail,
(02:02):
and now we got a pizza trail that's not going
to be unveiled until late September, just in time for
National Pizza Month. State officials said the final rankings will
be determined through public voting and an expert panel of
ten food critics and influencers, and that way they'll ensure
(02:25):
that passionate pizza lovers and industry experts have a voice.
Let's see, I haven't been contacted. I don't see food critics, influencers.
I wrote Root one food run. Excuse me, I don't
(02:46):
How have I not been contacted to be a part
of this is this is the whole Hawaiian thing. I
don't want to talk to Gorman about that. I like
a Hawaiian pie, I do, yeh. Don't put fruit on
a pizza. Yeah, yeah, people are naughty allowed that. At
the same time. Well, I'll see how they handle it here.
(03:07):
But I've got a lot to say about the winner
of the trail being revealed this morning today. Vote again
did Yesay? It's been announced and I got a lot
to say about it, A lot, I tell you. It's
almost over votes. Around time to reveal the winner of
the Connecticut Tourism's competition of Crown our State's best pizzeria.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
We have been waiting for this.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Drum roll, please New State's Natasha Luchenko outside the spot
that earns the most votes.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
Hey, check you out, Natasha.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
Good morning, Hey guys, good morning. Surprise the owner Modern
of Beads A big honor for sure. We are joined
by Anthony Anthony right now, Chief Marketing Officer State of Connecticut.
He played a big part in this whole contest. Anthony,
thanks for being with us here, bright and early.
Speaker 4 (03:54):
Thank you so much for having me. And this isn't me.
This is the people of Connecticut choosing, so this is
their top, not only top twenty, but top one hundred.
It's exciting, very exciting.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
So Modern took the top spot. You also were you
managed to get together the top five for us this morning.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
Yeah, so new Haven takes the cake. So you got
Modern at one, Pepees at two, Sally's three, Zoo Parties
at four, and Bar at five. All great spots, all
great spots. But you know what I think what the
entire top twenty and the top one hundred show us
there is not a bad pie anywhere in Connecticut. So
despite New Haven having ten in the top one hundred,
(04:33):
second closest town, yeah, West Hartford at number six, is
that we have.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
Yeah, there's a lot of great places on the.
Speaker 4 (04:41):
Second the pizza capital now officially officially, and that's the
whole point of this is showing that there is not
a bad spot anywhere. So you've got there, Middletown, Stamford.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
It's great pizza everywhere, Hartford.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
New London got Greek style, a Beats Neapolitan. So there's
great pies just about everywhere. And we're gonna unveil the
entirety of the trail, so we actually have a part
two of this, so it's not just the people of
Connecticut got a Pamela.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
I should really get Gorman out about this. Gorman Bashard,
of course, the filmmaker behind Pizza a love Story. He's
way overboard. He needs to calm down about pizza. But
I've known him for a quarter of a century now,
and we do enthusiastic battle about music first and foremost,
and pizza a little bit. He really doesn't care what
(05:26):
I think about He doesn't care what anybody thinks about pizza.
He all he cares about is what he thinks about pizza.
He's probably a little tick to himself because he's a
Sally's guy. He would want Sally's at number one, so
he probably have a lot to say about modern being
at number one. Here's my problem with modern being at
number one. And I'll say, coming right out of the gate,
(05:47):
it's childish. It's truly, it's high school. It's ridiculous. But
I was all about modern long before anybody else was
about modern. Jim, It's true, and it's driving to me
crazy that I always modern number one. Now. I was
talking modern in the nineties when people weren't even really
(06:08):
including Gorman would back me up. That's why I want
him out about this. He would say that I was,
and there was a changing of the guard as far
as ownership. I don't exactly know when, but I always
loved modern. I always preferred modern. I preferred modern for
a couple of reasons, and one of them is a
really kind of a lame reason as far as pizza
(06:31):
enthusiasts are concerned. But modern, you know, Wooster was a
pain man. Sally's and Peppies had lines no matter when
you went, it had lines. Modern you could get into.
I liked the parking, I liked where it was on
Stage Street. The Great Pizza of course too, but at
(06:52):
that time it was Sally's Peppies. I swear Totali's used
to be that was the third for the Crown. But
maybe that's because I was born in in Morse Cove
Cove rules, I don't really know. But Modern wasn't really
the other point of the triangle just yet. But I
was extolling the virtues of modern in the nineties when
(07:13):
people be like modern, what is that the one? What
is is that the one on State Tree? Now, all
of a sudden it's the hip one to say. I
think I played a role in that, but now all
of a sudden, it's the one, the answer, and it
drives me crazy. My glad modern one, sure you know,
I mean, that's great. And Peppi's is in there and
rightfully so, and Sally's Loves You Parties. I still struggle
(07:36):
with Bar. I don't think Barr should be in the
top five. I don't think it should be in the
top ten. It's a good I don't like to crust
the mashed potato idea. Mashed potato bacon was a slick
idea from a great hotspot in New Haven. But that's
just what it is. It's a good bar pizza at
the end of the night, drinking some weird IPAs and
(07:58):
pale ales and all that. I don't even think it
should be in the top ten. We have so many great,
like really great pizza joints here in Connecticut that to
put Bar in there, I think it's proximity. I think
it's more a nod to New Haven than it is
anything else. I don't want to pull poo it because
I've had great nights at Bar, but it's just bar pizza,
(08:19):
and it was never meant to be like in the
running in this way. In fact, I even think that
it being directly across the street from Louis Lunch played
a bit of a role. Sounds crazy, Am I getting
too deep? Am I overthinking? But I do. I think
it's like we got the where the first burgers were
ever served, although Louise was a completely different address. They
(08:43):
picked up the entire building and moved it to where
it is not, but it being across the street from
bar kind of helped. They've got the mashed potato but
made it a little bit of a foody destination. And
that's great. But we've got so many from Grand to
I don't even want to start rattling all off some
of the names of places that I love that better
(09:04):
fit that top ten than Bar.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
So this is an official Pizza Trail. Why did you
decide to do something like this?
Speaker 4 (09:12):
We wanted to show the world, not just tell the
world we're the Pizza Capital. We wanted to show them
and let them experience it themselves. So the Pizza Capital
Trail really is an experience for everybody, no matter where
you're from or what your food interest is. Gives you
a little taste of again all the best pizzas in Connecticut.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
Yeah, it's great for people coming into our state who
maybe need a roadmap. You are creating that for them.
Speaker 4 (09:36):
We are creating that for them. And so, you know,
you know, we've got a little bit of a friendly
rivalry with our friends in New York. You know, there's
no shame in being number two. So I think in
the next you know, month or so, we may have
a little bit more fun with them to show them,
you know, some some more of our friendly spirit and
why we're the pizza capital.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
And they're not the only people you need to listen
to when it comes to pizza.
Speaker 5 (09:59):
Yeah, usually raise it's all into the that's not a toom,
(10:19):
not a cucumbers.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
Wait, what is it that it's cucumbers.
Speaker 5 (10:26):
You can't put it cucumbers on a pizza.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Oh why not? I like cucumbers. That's not a pizza.
It tastes a terble number.
Speaker 5 (10:32):
That's the idea. You make your own pie. Yes, but
we cannot give of the people.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
They're right to choose any topping. They offends me. Actually,
his performance offends me as an Italian.
Speaker 5 (10:44):
Would make pie because it's a pizza It's.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
Not a pizza until it comes.
Speaker 5 (10:48):
Out of the It's a pizza the moment you put
your fish in the doll.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
No, I'll tell you what I would try, A cucumber pie.
It's the eightieth anniversary of w e alies Leora Italian. Yes,
eighty years ago a show about all things Italian aired
right here on this very station.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
And who better to bring it back than Vinnie Penn.
Damn straight, Hey, it's times like this, I real quick.
I never thought I was going to ever say this
in my life, never mind on the radio. It's times
like this. I wish I had Gorman Bashard on the phone. Well,
like I said, that, not something I ever actually thought
(00:34):
I would say. Not so much Colin Kaplan from Taste
of New Haven. I mean, I love my man Colin,
but Gorman in particular is who I would like to
have this conversation with. So the winner of Connecticut's Pizza
Capital Trail has been revealed. Okay. The Trail is a
(00:56):
collection of the top one hundred celebrated independent pizza joints
in Connecticut, quote unquote, aiming to guide visitors and pizza
enthusiasts to where they can get some of the best
pizza in the country. Look, I'm just reading somebody else's words.
I would have written it a little bit different than that.
(01:17):
But we've been watching this all along. We announced it
along with Colin. Voting began on it was cheeky and
fun National Pie Day, which was March fourteen, and it
just ended yesterday and a lot of people chibed in,
that's great, it's fun, it's all good. Voters had to
(01:41):
select up to ten pizzareas from a list of more
than nine hundred, or they could submit a write in.
There's a lot of we all got little tucked away
little joints. You know. It was actually good and we
talk about that all the time. The Pizza Capitol Trail
just for those of you who are all about that
and the fun of like, you know, a wine trail,
(02:02):
and now we got a pizza trail that's not going
to be unveiled until late September, just in time for
National Pizza Month. State officials said the final rankings will
be determined through public voting and an expert panel of
ten food critics and influencers, and that way they'll ensure
(02:25):
that passionate pizza lovers and industry experts have a voice.
Let's see, I haven't been contacted. I don't see food critics, influencers.
I wrote Root one food run. Excuse me, I don't
(02:46):
How have I not been contacted to be a part
of this is this is the whole Hawaiian thing. I
don't want to talk to Gorman about that. I like
a Hawaiian pie, I do, yeh. Don't put fruit on
a pizza. Yeah, yeah, people are naughty allowed that. At
the same time. Well, I'll see how they handle it here.
(03:07):
But I've got a lot to say about the winner
of the trail being revealed this morning today. Vote again
did Yesay? It's been announced and I got a lot
to say about it, A lot, I tell you. It's
almost over votes. Around time to reveal the winner of
the Connecticut Tourism's competition of Crown our State's best pizzeria.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
We have been waiting for this.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Drum roll, please New State's Natasha Luchenko outside the spot
that earns the most votes.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
Hey, check you out, Natasha.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
Good morning, Hey guys, good morning. Surprise the owner Modern
of Beads A big honor for sure. We are joined
by Anthony Anthony right now, Chief Marketing Officer State of Connecticut.
He played a big part in this whole contest. Anthony,
thanks for being with us here, bright and early.
Speaker 4 (03:54):
Thank you so much for having me. And this isn't me.
This is the people of Connecticut choosing, so this is
their top, not only top twenty, but top one hundred.
It's exciting, very exciting.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
So Modern took the top spot. You also were you
managed to get together the top five for us this morning.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
Yeah, so new Haven takes the cake. So you got
Modern at one, Pepees at two, Sally's three, Zoo Parties
at four, and Bar at five. All great spots, all
great spots. But you know what I think what the
entire top twenty and the top one hundred show us
there is not a bad pie anywhere in Connecticut. So
despite New Haven having ten in the top one hundred,
(04:33):
second closest town, yeah, West Hartford at number six, is
that we have.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
Yeah, there's a lot of great places on the.
Speaker 4 (04:41):
Second the pizza capital now officially officially, and that's the
whole point of this is showing that there is not
a bad spot anywhere. So you've got there, Middletown, Stamford.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
It's great pizza everywhere, Hartford.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
New London got Greek style, a Beats Neapolitan. So there's
great pies just about everywhere. And we're gonna unveil the
entirety of the trail, so we actually have a part
two of this, so it's not just the people of
Connecticut got a Pamela.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
I should really get Gorman out about this. Gorman Bashard,
of course, the filmmaker behind Pizza a love Story. He's
way overboard. He needs to calm down about pizza. But
I've known him for a quarter of a century now,
and we do enthusiastic battle about music first and foremost,
and pizza a little bit. He really doesn't care what
(05:26):
I think about He doesn't care what anybody thinks about pizza.
He all he cares about is what he thinks about pizza.
He's probably a little tick to himself because he's a
Sally's guy. He would want Sally's at number one, so
he probably have a lot to say about modern being
at number one. Here's my problem with modern being at
number one. And I'll say, coming right out of the gate,
(05:47):
it's childish. It's truly, it's high school. It's ridiculous. But
I was all about modern long before anybody else was
about modern. Jim, It's true, and it's driving to me
crazy that I always modern number one. Now. I was
talking modern in the nineties when people weren't even really
(06:08):
including Gorman would back me up. That's why I want
him out about this. He would say that I was,
and there was a changing of the guard as far
as ownership. I don't exactly know when, but I always
loved modern. I always preferred modern. I preferred modern for
a couple of reasons, and one of them is a
really kind of a lame reason as far as pizza
(06:31):
enthusiasts are concerned. But modern, you know, Wooster was a
pain man. Sally's and Peppies had lines no matter when
you went, it had lines. Modern you could get into.
I liked the parking, I liked where it was on
Stage Street. The Great Pizza of course too, but at
(06:52):
that time it was Sally's Peppies. I swear Totali's used
to be that was the third for the Crown. But
maybe that's because I was born in in Morse Cove
Cove rules, I don't really know. But Modern wasn't really
the other point of the triangle just yet. But I
was extolling the virtues of modern in the nineties when
(07:13):
people be like modern, what is that the one? What
is is that the one on State Tree? Now, all
of a sudden it's the hip one to say. I
think I played a role in that, but now all
of a sudden, it's the one, the answer, and it
drives me crazy. My glad modern one, sure you know,
I mean, that's great. And Peppi's is in there and
rightfully so, and Sally's Loves You Parties. I still struggle
(07:36):
with Bar. I don't think Barr should be in the
top five. I don't think it should be in the
top ten. It's a good I don't like to crust
the mashed potato idea. Mashed potato bacon was a slick
idea from a great hotspot in New Haven. But that's
just what it is. It's a good bar pizza at
the end of the night, drinking some weird IPAs and
(07:58):
pale ales and all that. I don't even think it
should be in the top ten. We have so many great,
like really great pizza joints here in Connecticut that to
put Bar in there, I think it's proximity. I think
it's more a nod to New Haven than it is
anything else. I don't want to pull poo it because
I've had great nights at Bar, but it's just bar pizza,
(08:19):
and it was never meant to be like in the
running in this way. In fact, I even think that
it being directly across the street from Louis Lunch played
a bit of a role. Sounds crazy, Am I getting
too deep? Am I overthinking? But I do. I think
it's like we got the where the first burgers were
ever served, although Louise was a completely different address. They
(08:43):
picked up the entire building and moved it to where
it is not, but it being across the street from
bar kind of helped. They've got the mashed potato but
made it a little bit of a foody destination. And
that's great. But we've got so many from Grand to
I don't even want to start rattling all off some
of the names of places that I love that better
(09:04):
fit that top ten than Bar.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
So this is an official Pizza Trail. Why did you
decide to do something like this?
Speaker 4 (09:12):
We wanted to show the world, not just tell the
world we're the Pizza Capital. We wanted to show them
and let them experience it themselves. So the Pizza Capital
Trail really is an experience for everybody, no matter where
you're from or what your food interest is. Gives you
a little taste of again all the best pizzas in Connecticut.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
Yeah, it's great for people coming into our state who
maybe need a roadmap. You are creating that for them.
Speaker 4 (09:36):
We are creating that for them. And so, you know,
you know, we've got a little bit of a friendly
rivalry with our friends in New York. You know, there's
no shame in being number two. So I think in
the next you know, month or so, we may have
a little bit more fun with them to show them,
you know, some some more of our friendly spirit and
why we're the pizza capital.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
And they're not the only people you need to listen
to when it comes to pizza.
Speaker 5 (09:59):
Yeah, usually raise it's all into the that's not a toom,
(10:19):
not a cucumbers.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
Wait, what is it that it's cucumbers.
Speaker 5 (10:26):
You can't put it cucumbers on a pizza.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Oh why not? I like cucumbers. That's not a pizza.
It tastes a terble number.
Speaker 5 (10:32):
That's the idea. You make your own pie. Yes, but
we cannot give of the people.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
They're right to choose any topping. They offends me. Actually,
his performance offends me as an Italian.
Speaker 5 (10:44):
Would make pie because it's a pizza It's.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
Not a pizza until it comes.
Speaker 5 (10:48):
Out of the It's a pizza the moment you put
your fish in the doll.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
No, I'll tell you what I would try, A cucumber pie.
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