This year, National Pi Day is Monday, March 14, whose date coincides with the first three digits of that infinite numerical series that makes up the mathematical constant — 3.14. (Whew! That was a mouthful!)
So we’re celebrating pi with pie! Pizza pie, that is!
In case you’re rusty on your geometry, here’s a pi refresher: Take a 14-inch round pizza. Half the length diagonally across is 7 inches, right? That’s the radius. Multiply the radius by pi — 3.14 — for the distance around the pizza, or, the circumference. Do the math, and that 14-inch pizza’s circumference will measure pretty close to 22 inches. No matter what size your pizza — small, medium, large, extra-large — the equation works! (Actually, it works for all circles, not just pizzas.) Try it yourself!
And while you’re at it, try our staff picks of locally made pizzas. Choosing a favorite was darn near impossible from an almost infinite number of options to choose from. Eating ‘em, however, was as easy as pi — er, pie. —Ellen Ritscher Sackett
Go Gluten-Free!
“Ask me my favorite pizza? I’ll always answer pepperoni — but only if it’s gluten-free. I’m partial to Napa Flats,’ whose gluten-free (GF) crust comes from a GF-certified kitchen in California. “We cook the gluten-free pizza crust in our back prep oven so it does not get mixed with our high-gluten flour we use for our pizza,” says founder Tom Kenney. If pepperoni is not your first choice like mine, try the margherita, Truffle & Date, Mush n’ Spin (mushroom and spinach), prosciutto arugula, Carnivore (steak, meatballs, pepperoni), or cheese (mozzarella, hand-grated parmigiano, and fontina). Sometimes I order off the expanded gluten-free menu that includes salads, pastas, and chicken. ‘My favorite gluten-free product — and a crowd favorite — is our Ghirardelli brownie,’ says Kenney. ‘This flourless chocolate brownie is topped with our homemade gelato, fresh whipped cream, and our housemade ganache.’“ $15. —Brianna Binkowski, intern
Napa Flats
1727 Texas Ave. S., College Station
(979) 383-2500 | napaflats.com
Open wide, insert pizza!
‘I like a pizza I can really sink my teeth into — and this pie is at least two inches thick! Piasano’s Chicago-style deep dish pizza is of the stuffed variety, made from a recipe that’s been in the owner’s family for 45 years. ‘Our family is originally from up north, and we wanted to bring some good pizza down to Texas!’ says owner Brandon Pias. This pie is loaded with cheese, and its doughy double-layer crust is filled with a choice of three ingredients mixed with a rich, slightly-sweet sauce that’s also slathered on top. Right now, Piasano’s only offers pizza for pickup and delivery, but Pias says he’s in the process and planning for an additional location near Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in College Station that will also include dine-in seating.’ —Ellen Ritscher Sackett, editor-in-chief
Piasano’s Italian Pizzeria
4242 Koppe Bridge Road, College Station
(979) 690-6040 | piasanosaggieland.com
However You Slice It
‘With Mr. G’s Pizzeria’s pizza by the slice, I can get what I want and so can everyone else! This pizzeria has been a historic downtown Bryan mainstay since 1994 and uses fresh ingredients, including hand-tossed dough made daily, Italian cheeses imported weekly, and a tangy proprietary pizza sauce developed by the original owner and Mr. G’s namesake, Giovanni Cerone, who passed away last year at 86 years old. From anchovies to mushrooms to ricotta cheese, the topping options can satisfy even the pickiest of eaters and even includes my favorite — pineapple! I indulge in two huge, crispy thin-crust slices and take home what I can’t finish in one sitting for yummy cold-pizza leftovers.’ —Nicole Shair, editorial assistant
Mr. G’s Pizzeria
201 W. 26th Street, Bryan
(979) 822-6747 | gotomrgs.com
Say Cheese!
This popular ‘Aggie-loved and Aggie-owned spot in College Station — named after the green clay-animation character, Gumby, from the 1950’s Howdy Doody TV series — is a staple for pizza lovers like me. A single slice is even bigger than my face! My favorite specialty pizza — (and they’re all to die for!) — is the Buffalo chicken, and when I’m in the mood for a good ol’ cheesy pizza, Gumby’s is my first pick. My other go-to is pepperoni and bacon with a side of Gumby’s famous pizza Pokey stix, named after Gumby’s orange talking-horse sidekick. These hand-tossed breadsticks are covered with garlic butter and smothered in mozzarella cheese. The pizzeria is also well known for its pepperoni- and mozzarella-stuffed pizza rolls that make the best late-night snack, and on Tuesdays, there’s a good chance I’ll be waiting in the long line out the door for the half-off special. And then there’s dessert! I always make sure to grab the sweet and savory cinnamon stix on my way out.’ —Stephanie Cole, intern
Gumby’s Pizza
1102 Harvey Road, College Station
(979) 764-8629 | gumbyspizzaaggieland.com
Game On!
‘My daughters and I love to go to The Yard on Friday nights. Our favorite pizza is Hittin' the Cycle Supreme, made with pepperoni and sausage; fresh veggies including green bell peppers, mushrooms, red onion, and black olives; lots of mozzarella cheese; and topped with an amazing, thick sauce. When we’re really hungry, we also get an order of Yard Rolls — pepperoni and mozzarella wrapped in dough. There are lots of large-screen TVs everywhere, but when the weather is nice, we order inside and then eat outside at the picnic tables and watch live yard ball — like baseball but on a smaller scale, played with wiffle balls and plastic bats. The Yard is family-owned with a neighborhood feel — my girls enjoy bumping into their friends while we’re there, and it’s a great place to meet friends while letting the kids burn off energy at the end of the school week.’ —Elease Hill, sales consultant
The Yard
1405 West Main, Brenham
(979) 347-0000 | theyardbrenham.com
What The Doctor Ordered
‘Sometimes for lunch on Thursdays or Fridays, I’ll go for a personal-sized pepperoni pizza and a small salad with Caesar dressing at Rx, which is a short walk away from our downtown Bryan office. Occasionally I’m joined by my fiancé (who’s built like a linebacker!), and he’ll order a whole pizza for himself — usually the Urban Cowboy, which combines steak, pesto, carmelized onions, mozzarella, mushrooms, and bleu cheese. The crust is thin yet chewy, and for only $1.50, I can buy a dough ball to take home to bake my own 14” pizza. Rx has an excellent drink menu, and I like the Rx Painkiller — either frozen or on the rocks — that’s similar to a piña colada, made with spiced and coconut rum, orange and pineapple juice, and coconut cream that makes it frothy! I either get that or the seasonal smash, which is only $5 during Happy Hour, Mondays through Fridays, between 4 and 6:30 p.m.’ —Savannah Atkins, digital sales and marketing
Rx Pizza & Bar
200 W. 26th Street, Bryan
(979) 721-9158 | rxpizza.com
