It’s taken us a little bit to get on the Antico Bandwagon even though it’s a straight shot up Western for us. Not that we don’t think it’s fabulous. We KNOW it’s fabulous. Antico Pizzeria was set up in the Fields before he opened up the Antico the restaurant and honestly, it was the best. I had more slices than I care to admit and was sad when Chef Colby moved on. But at Antico Pizzeria I would get a slice the thought of a whole pizza… was a bit much. Further, we have been making our own ice cream (Apple Brandy Pecan Pie FTW) at home… so as much as we have been enjoying the posts here… Again, not much drive to get up there…
However… When I saw the post about Horchata Ice Cream. OMG You GUISE. Years ago after a Office Holiday party we got left with a Jug of unopened housemade Horchara from a local mexican restaurant that sadly has since closed. P brought it home and we spun it into the most delicious ice cream. We have always talked about doing it again with Taqueria Los Anayas Horchata, which is currently my favorite… but you know… it just has never happened…
Still, I’ll happily pay someone to do it for me, and I knew this would be good. Further, P. has been to visit my family in Mexico enough to develop a taste for Hawaiian Pizza. So we went we with the most Mexican meal to come out of an Italian Restaurant… Hawaiian Pizza with Cesar Salad and Horchata Ice Cream.
As others have noted, the pizza is hefty. They will fire it right when you pick it up to get some added crispness and gooeyness to cheese, So I made sure to get it secured and in a sunny spot on the ride home…
As I mentioned, we ordered the Cesar Salad which was very proudly invented in Mexico and one of my favorite things ever. I LOVED the dressing. Crazy thick… wonderful flavor, very balanced. However, they use pulverized croutons. I like small croutons better… but otherwise, a very nice cesar salad.
And of course the Pineapple Express… I opened it up at home and was already kinda dispointed to see red jalapenos unstead of the green. There is just something that green pickled jalapenos bring to Hawaiian Pizza that makes me love it. These were spicy… but again… just didn’t hit that right note. Otherwise, it was very good. The pineapple was sliced thin so it was unobtrusive so the speck really shined here. Crisp and salty, it went well with the crust and and their awesome tomato sauce…
The crust was just how I remember it at the Fields, however, the bottom could have used a little more time crisping in the pan. That was the nice thing about the Fields since they sold it by the slice… it got that extra time on its own the the bottom was extra crisp especially with some good olive oil that seeped through. We have more than half left and will be reheating it in a cast iron skillet for sure.
ON TO THE ICE CREAM!
Since it was our first time, we also got cookies and cream as well as the Horchata because that is my favorite classic flavor. The cookies and cream was really nice. They seem to make their own ‘oreo’ which is little more bitter, but it hits all the right notes.
Then of course is the Horchata Crunch. Was it as good as Los Anayas… YES! You tasted the almond. The rice water. the Cinnamon. Not in a blend… but little whispers. It would hit you and you’d get all warm and fuzzy and happy. and the Crunch… SO CRUNCHY. It was like puffed rice in a light caramel coating. I love mix ins in my ice cream, but have never had one that genine CRUNCHY crunchy. Such a delight. And to gild the lily… before I heard about the Horchata Ice Cream Drop… I had ordered Chocolate Chip Cookies from a Neighbor who is a hobby baker. These were phenomenal. Excellent chocolate, crisp exterior but nice soft interior. Not under done, but genuinely tender and melt in your mouth. If you are a CCC fan (No nuts), you should try these. $5 for half dozen. She’s in West Adams, PM me for when she is taking orders again.
Looking forward to hearing the reports on the Porchetta. One of our favorite things ever was Evan Funke’s Porchetta Truck. If it’s anything close to that… We’ll be back soon…
–Dommy!
