• 
• FRIDAY May 24, 2013 F

Little Italy tempts pizza lover to try something new

I’ve spent many a day at the Bristol Motor Speedway for the spring and August races. True, there were some sunburns, drenched shoes, and a nasty fall down the hill, but all in all it was, and still is, fun. What I really enjoyed was meeting my fellow fans, some of whom had crossed several state lines to join in the Bristol experience.

Rather than making chitchat by asking what drivers they are pulling for (that question can lead to a heated debate), I liked to find out what restaurants these out-of-towners have on top of their must-dine lists.

Obviously, Ridgewood Barbecue is one of them, but I’ve been impressed by their knowledge of the other local eateries, even some as far away as Greeneville (hint: beans).

Little Italy is a small district in Manhattan known for its fantabulous Italian cuisine. Here in the Tri-Cities we have our own Little Italy, too — a restaurant called Little Italy — on U.S. Highway 421 in Bristol, and I’m sure the owners and staff are preparing a hefty bulk of hand-tossed dough in preparation for what the next 48-plus hours may bring.

With the name Little Italy, one obvious question emerges: Does the food live up to its NYC name? Honestly, it’s really an unfair comparison to make. I can say that because I’ve been to both, enjoyed both, and don’t give much thought to which is the champ. But, there have been some credible sources that say our own Little Italy comes extremely close to the mark.

As I drove to Little Italy for my first visit, I anticipated my lunch would come down to a slice or two of New York Style pizza and a drink, but my plans changed when I saw they serve Sicilian squares. This style is famous for its crispiness and for its melted hot cheese. I didn’t add any toppings. I knew ahead of time that the kitchen prep is longer than most of the other selections, but the wait was worth it.

You can order individual slices at lunch, though I overheard an employee say these aren’t available at dinner. As for the New York style options, go for one of the specialty pizzas. My pick is the Philly –— steak, onions, green peppers, mushrooms, and a thick coating of mozzarella.

This wasn’t the first time my favorite menu item at a pizza joint turned out not to be pizza. Though I have several Little Italy selections still to try, the spinach calzone is going to be a tough one to beat. For starters, it is enormous, and I knew I had struck gold when I cut into it and hot steam rose above it and melted mozzarella cheese oozed out. Both the spinach and the ricotta were fresh, and even though garlic was used, I violated all nutritional guidelines by requesting a side of garlic butter for dipping.

One thing: If you’re going to Little Italy, keep in mind they are closed on Mondays. And come next Monday, the staff may be ready for some post-race R&R.

Street Talk - What's happening now

• stararif46 comment on Are You Looking AEM Air Intakes? - 11 hours ago

  Are You Looking AEM Air Intakes? The AEM cold air intake systems were specifically designed to give your vehicle the extra boost in power and performance you've been looking for. At Autoplicity.com we offer a wide range of Airaid Air Intakes and AEM air filters so you can find exactly what you need for your vehicle.
  
  These high quality air intake systems deliver a blast of cold, clean air into the engine to aid the combustion process, immediately increasing horsepower, torque, and throttle response. These performance modifiers are comparatively easy to install and will make a huge difference in your driving experience. A high performance machine requires high performance auto parts, and we have everything you need to customize or repair your vehicle, from AEM gauges and intakes to suspensions and brakes. Take a look at our selection and order your aftermarket auto body parts today.

• stararif46 comment on Do You Want to Visit The City of Flowers? - 1 day ago

  Do You Want to Visit The City of Flowers? The third largest city of Indonesia situated in the western region of Java, Bandung is known for possessing sophistication like that of Europe because of its recognition as Paris of Java during the colonial times. The place is perfect for people who wanted to escape the stress that the work environment can stimulate. The temperature due to its perfect altitude along with its pristine backdrop, surely you will feel regenerated and re-energized after a week of work. Get around the famed city of flowers. Shop! Eat! Visit the city's most alluring travel destinations! This dormant volcano has been a popular tourist destination because tourists are allowed to hike up to the edge of the crater and have a glimpse of the hot water spring and boiling mud and have a taste of the eggs cooked on the hot surface. This volcano last erupted as early as February 21, 2013.
  
  Factory Outlet Shopping in Bandung is one of the few things one should always do. When looking for the best outfits, price and quality are always the two primary considerations. So when shopping in Bandung, just take time to wander around and make some comparisons. There are many branded items in the Factory outlets of Bandung. Some local brands are also some of the items to consider. Among the best factory outlets to drop by are the Rumah Mode, Rias Factory Outlet, and the Secret. Warungs, kaki limas and rumah makans are some of the best local food in Bandung although it mostly relies on frying, so as tourists, it is best for you to mix up the food that you take in to avoid oil overload. There are wide ranges of places for you to have some of Bandung's best eats. There are restaurants that serve European cuisines like the Origin and Gianni; however, there are also restaurants that serve traditional Sudanese cuisines like Warung Cepot.

• stararif46 comment on Are You Looking Airaid Air Intakes? - 1 day ago

  Are You Looking Airaid Air Intakes? The AEM cold air intake systems were specifically designed to give your vehicle the extra boost in power and performance you've been looking for. At Autoplicity.com we offer a wide range of Airaid Air Intakes and AEM air filters so you can find exactly what you need for your vehicle.
  
  These high quality air intake systems deliver a blast of cold, clean air into the engine to aid the combustion process, immediately increasing horsepower, torque, and throttle response. These performance modifiers are comparatively easy to install and will make a huge difference in your driving experience. A high performance machine requires high performance auto parts, and we have everything you need to customize or repair your vehicle, from AEM gauges and intakes to suspensions and brakes. Take a look at our selection and order your aftermarket auto body parts today.

• stararif46 comment on Do You Want to Visit Beautiful Bagan, Myanmar? - 1 week ago

  Do You Want to Visit Beautiful Bagan, Myanmar? Bagan, located in the central region of Myanmar, is home to the largest number of Buddhist temples, stupas, ruins and pagodas in the world. There are many reasons that the city makes a lasting impression on visitors, including the buildings which look romantic after the process of aging, the spire-fringed skyline, exotic cotton trees and horse drawn carriages that lazily carry tourists through the city. The city of Bagan offers a large number of temples for tourists to visit. Some of the most popular ones that are recommended by most tourists, tour guides and tourist maps, although large in number, still don't cover even half of the large collection. Bagan is a city that can be visited any time of the year because of its pleasant weather and no particular rainy season. It is a city that most would not want to miss with beautiful sunsets; beautiful local art including bamboo works and lacquer work and day trips to places like Mount Popa where tourists can visit a monastery that is built on top of a mountain.
  
  Some of them include Ananda Temple, which was built by Kyan-zit-tha, the third king and is considered the holiest temple in the city, Shwesandaw Temple, also known as the sunset temple as tourists especially gather during the evening to watch a spectacular sunset, Shwe Zigon Temple, which is a prototype monument built in the style of Myanmar, Thatbyinnyu Temple, which is the tallest pagoda that was built in the twelfth century, Shwegugyi Temple, a temple that has survived over the ages and stayed the most intact on the site, Manuhar Pagoda, a temple with a story about a king who poured all his emotions into the construction of the temple and Gawdaw Palin Temple, which is constructed by fusing the styles of Myanmarese and Indian. Tourists who still have the energy after visiting the various temples, pagodas and stupas in Bagan can also visit Bagan Archeological Museum, which may be ugly in appearance because of the mixture of the new and old architectural styles, but houses a large number of portable finds from the temples.

• stararif46 comment on Do you want AEM Gauges? - 1 week ago

  Do you want AEM Gauges? Do you want AEM Gauges? The AEM cold air intake systems were specifically designed to give your vehicle the extra boost in power and performance you've been looking for. At Autoplicity.com we offer a wide range of AEM intakes and AEM air filters so you can find exactly what you need for your vehicle.
  
  These high quality air intake systems deliver a blast of cold, clean air into the engine to aid the combustion process, immediately increasing horsepower, torque, and throttle response. These performance modifiers are comparatively easy to install and will make a huge difference in your driving experience. A high performance machine requires high performance auto parts, and we have everything you need to customize or repair your vehicle, from AEM Gauges and intakes to suspensions and brakes. Take a look at our selection and order your aftermarket auto body parts today.

• madcat_1 comment on Stone Wall at 11E Sports Bar - 4 weeks ago

  Come hang out with stone wall at the 11E sports bar in Mosheim, TN 5-3-13 from 8 to midnight.
  
  http://tricities.craigslist.org/muc/3757423018.html

Welcome New Friends

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•