A Talk With a Beijing Pizza Lover: Jeff the Foodie

Irene Li, Associate Editor | Feb 6, 2023 10:40 am | Add a comment | 177 reads

With the Beijinger's Cheese Pizza Month still in full swing until Feb 13, we decided to talk to pizza lover Jeff Zhou.

Zhou has been an active participant in Cheesy Pizza Month, so much so that he's one of the few who have collected the most passport stickers during the promotion. We talked to him about his favorites as well as his thoughts on all things pizza.

What kinds of pizza do you usually go for?
In normal times, I usually go for American pizzas. I like to dine at Domino’s and Tube Station. When I'm on a break, I might opt for Italian pizzas. I'm particularly fond of the texture of Italian-style pizzas.

Any particular favorites out of the bunch of places you've tried during pizza month?
Well, I love Bottega. I had actually tried their pizzas a couple of times prior to pizza month. I definitely think Bottega serves some of the best Italian pizzas you can find in Beijing.

There is just something about the texture of the dough they use that really speaks to me. Also, I am quite picky about pizza crusts. For instance, I find the pizza crusts from typical American brands like Domino’s or Papa John’s a little hard to chew on sometimes. I prefer a pizza to have a chewy crust that is not that hard to bite into. Bottega's crust is just perfect.

When looking for the perfect pizza, what's your criteria?
I love thin-crust pizzas. I also prefer a classic tomato sauce on a pizza. I know some pizzas come with that creamy and cheesy white sauce, but I’m not a big fan of it. Then there are some pizzas that are piled with all kinds of toppings that are a little bit too much.

A perfect pizza, for me, should only consist of classic toppings like sausage, mushrooms, olives, and onions. The pizza crust should be chewy without being crumbly like a cookie. Keeping the pizza balanced is also very important. You certainly don't want a slice of pizza where all the toppings droop to the center when you're holding it in your hand.

Any surprises from the participating pizzas you've eaten?
The biggest surprise came from Georgia's Feast. I've never eaten a pizza like the khachapuri before. It looks like a regular flatbread from the picture. However, it is different than the other pizzas in that the whole bread is smothered with cheese.

A typical pizza usually has fillings in the inside, and an edge on the outside, with shredded cheese sprinkled on top here and there, however, the khachapuri at Georgia’s Feast sees the entire bread crust dipped in cheese. So, it’s not like you take a slice of pizza and it's all flatbread. It's the whole package. Also, it's fun to watch the cheese and eggs being mixed together before serving.

Aside from the participating restaurants, are there any other pizza places in Beijing you would recommend?
Well, as an avid lover of Italian pizzas, I would recommend Pizza Marzano. It has that classic thin-crust, marinara sauced based quality that I'm looking for in every Italian pizza.

We also understand you're quite active in the Beijingers' dedicated Burger Lovers group as well?
Yes, I also participated in the Beijinger's Juicy Burger Month. As a foodie, I am always searching for the next hottest food event in town. I started attending the Beijinger's events in 2018. I also took part in Pizza Fest and Burger Fest before. A lot of people say that Beijing is a food desert that doesn't have too much to offer, but I disagree.

There are relatively fewer choices of pizzas versus burgers in Beijing, but there are still a handful places to try if you search hard enough. Events like Burger Fest and Pizza Fest are always fun to attend. In the future, I hope the Beijinger can also host a curry-themed event. I know that curry is not something for everyone, but I sure think it would be fun as hell.

Don't miss out on the Beijinger's Cheesy Pizza Month, which is still in full swing until Feb 13. Whether you’ve already gotten a passport and stickers or haven’t yet started, be sure to get out, get some pizza, get stickers and win prizes – the more you get, the more chances you have to win big!

For more info on how to get a passport and participate, read our Pizza Month FAQs here.

To stay in the loop on Pizza Month happenings, you can also join our dedicated WeChat group. Simply add TBJButler on WeChat (QR code below) and request to join (be sure to specify English or Chinese language with your request).