Pre-Moshing Wine

Last night, Suzy, one of my closest childhood friends, arrived in NYC with her son, Ben a.k.a. "Sheyne Punnim", in tow (for those of you who do not speak yiddish, this means cute face). This young man is very into "death metal" music and the bands that play it. His standing in line outside a particular club for over an hour (in 90+ degree heat, no less), waiting to enter while his mother and I played catch-up is a testament to his passion.

Personally, I won't wait on line for anything: not a movie, or concert tickets…not even if they were giving away free Jimmy Choos. (Okay, maybe for those, but trust me, it would have to be a really short line and they’d have to be this season's collection.)

Once her firstborn was safely inside (which, considering the circumstances, is slightly oxymoronic), we headed off to dine at Pulino's, one of my favorite pizzerias in NoLita. I confess: I loooooooooooooooooooooove Pulino’s! I don't know about you, but I am a thin crust kinda girl, and at Pulino’s, they make the thinnest one I've ever had. They also make more than your standard Margherita pie – they make dessert pizza! Yes, you read right – dessert! We're talking Nutella carefully smeared all over the dough, and then topped with cinnamon and sugar. It’s beyond good! Btw, I have recreated this recipe at home and paired it with Mooiplaas 2010 Chenin Blanc from South Africa. If you should care to indulge, I can arrange that for you. (See me at the end of the blog for more details.) But last night I was not in the mood for sweet, and instead ordered their traditional pizza along with their savory Polpettine Pie (meatballs, cheeses and chiles, oh my)!.

The lineup of wines went from a Prosecco to a Barberoso, ending with an Italian blend that you would swear was a Bordeaux. All this juice accompanied our Apps, cured meats, cheese plate and pizza deliciosa.

Leaving Pulino’s with a “food baby,” we trekked back to find Suzy's son, who was still busy moshing the night away inside the club. To our surprise, who should be standing outside with us but one of the bands who had just finished performing. Suzy asked me to ask the band members for their "John Hancocks," which I did. They happily obliged.

Having never been to a mosh, since I was/ am, the disco “Queen” (Hellooooooo Donna Summer!) I wasn’t quite down with mosh etiquette. On a whim, I asked one of the band if he would mind carrying me inside the club. I got a resounding “Yes.” (Obviously, these were very gentlemanly metalheads…)


So there I was food baby and all, being carried through the crowd of hard-core moshers, straight downstage! The only thing to do at this point was jump up, and so I did. Like any self-respecting mosher, I even fell backwards into the crowd. Not one of the headbangers groped me or my Buddha baby belly. Moral of the story? Don't judge a book – or a mosher – by its cover, which, in the latter’s case, usually means long hair, tattoos, black tees and lots of attitude.

So pass the Humble Pie. I righteously recant my oxymoron crack from before. Judas Priest, it’s all good!


P.S.: Click here to make your very own Nutella Pizza!
P.P.S.: More importantly, click here to order your pizza wine!