Pizza My Mind: Hutong Boss Enjoys Great Leap, Gung Ho, and Pie Squared

With voting in the first round of the 2015 Pizza Cup closing today (Nov 2, cast your ballot here), we continue to query Beijingers from all walks of life on their pizza preferences with our Pizza My Mind series. In this edition, we hear from The Hutong's Executive Director Jeremiah Jenne, 43. The scholar of Qing Dynasty history and Lama Temple area resident tell us about which pizzas rule his empire:

For a taste of home:
The guys at Great Leap Brewing's have always done a great job creating a space for both beer drinkers and people who want to chow down on home-stye American bar food. It made sense then that when Great Leap Brewing #45 opened last year, pizza would be the next jewel in their pub grub empire. The pizza is New York style, with a crust which is consistently crunchy and has great color on the bottom. My personal favorite is the Little Nunzio, with beef and peppers and just enough spice. It goes great with a Chesty Puller American Ale for the right taste of home.

For the end of the month when you are worried about the budget:
Gung Ho's RMB 59 lunch all-you-can eat lunch special is one of my favorite budget lunch spots. The calorie-to-kuai cost ratio can’t be beat, and there are just enough salad options not to feel completely gluttonous about chowing down on endless slices. The Sanlitun/Gongti Donglu location has a nice little patio area too. They keep to the traditions and avoid getting too wacky with toppings, but if I had a (slight) critique, it’s the too-thin layer of sauce. My personal favorites include the pepperoni, barbecue chicken and the pesto with eggplant.

When you are introducing Chinese friends who have never tried pizza before:
As I said, I feel like many pizza places in Beijing skimp on the sauce which is why I love Pie Squared in Shunyi. Detroit deep dish in the square pans may not be what most of my Chinese friends have in mind when they think of pizza, but that’s the beauty of taking them up to Shunyi. A classic American with pepperoni, lots of cheese, and the perfect amount of thick tomato sauce is the right way to introduce my Beijing friends to the best of American-style pizza in Beijing.  

Hungry for more? Read more from the foodies of Beijing in our Pizza My Mind profiles here; and don't forget to mosey along over to our Pizza Profiles series to get a closer look at some of the best pies in town. Got some favorites of your own? Share them with us by filling out our Pizza My Mind questionnaire here.

Image courtesy of Jeremiah Jenne