Beijing's Hat-Making Queen Dines on Pizza Express, Gung Ho, and Annie's

With voting in the Second Round of the 2015 Pizza Cup closing tomorrow (Nov 5) – 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 Elisabeth Koch, Beijing's own hat maker to the stars. The Sanlitun resident has eaten pizza all over the world and continues to do so here in Beijing, where she estimates that she orders pizza at least once a week.

When you need to make the kids happy:
We'll go to Pizza Express. It's very child-friendly, they have high chairs and kids can be loud and make a mess, and people don't seem to mind. We'll get something basic like pepperoni or margarita for the kids, or maybe a parma ham. The crusts seem really handmade, not perfectly round, and are thin and white and crispy, which I really like. They look really homemade, and they come on a big wooden platter. Their presentation is great.

For a date with a significant other:
Of all the events and specials that were out there this past Chinese Valentine's Day, my husband and I chose Gung Ho! because it looked like so much fun. We go there a lot, both with friends and with the kids. I really like their grilled and spicy beef pizza, because it comes with a small pot of spices on the side. And I like how you can choose the different types and thickness of the crusts.

The atmosphere is nice but not too fancy, relaxed but not too local. I really like that you can sit outside, and that they have heaters set up for when it's cold. The staff are outstanding, I don't know where they find them and keep them, but they're amazing. And I just like how it's a very relaxed atmosphere there, with lots of fun photos on the wall and plenty of regular promotions and events.

For home delivery when you're too lazy to make dinner:
Almost every weekend we order from Annie's. We'll get basic pepperoni pizzas for our kids, and maybe a vegetarian pizza and salad. I love the Annie's delivery  people, they're so sweet.  It's a quick fix and a taste of home.

We also eat in at Annie's a lot. We usually sit upstairs, and the kids love it. It's great that they put fresh Parmesan cheese on things, our kids are huge Parmesan fans, so the staff kind enough to give them a clump of cheese when we arrive.

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 Elizabeth Koch