Sometimes when I open my kitchen cabinets, I am reminded of a line out of “Sex and the City” when Carrie tells Miranda and Charlotte that she stores sweaters in her stove, illustrating the point that she knows nothing about cooking, kitchens, domesticity, etc. Please. Anyone that has seen Sex and the City knows that Carrie Bradshaw is about as likely to risk frying her Fendi as I am to make a killer crème brulee. While my stove is not filled with sweaters — because I’m pretty sure that’s a fire hazard, Carrie — I rarely use it. And when I do, I leave my apartment in perpetual fear that I have left it on and my entire building is burning down. It’s the same thing with my hair straightener.
My microwave is used far more often — usually to reheat takeout leftovers, but occasionally to “cook” soup that I actually purchase-in a can, at a market. If it is a legitimate grocery store item that I am not reheating, I can make the argument that it is cooking, right? Debatable at best? I have to use a can opener, and mine is not electric.
Truth be told, my microwave is definitely the most frequently used appliance in my kitchen, and yes, the majority of the food that goes in there is takeout/restaurant leftovers. Most recently, I ended up with a large amount of pizza from Calico Restaurant. I was at a dinner gathering on the West bank with about 15 of my out-of-town relatives, and as it was their last night, they decided to keep it simple and order some pizzas and salads. It is actually shocking that there were leftovers with that crowd, but I guess someone over-ordered, and I ended up with a lot of pizza to bring home.
Having not eaten at Calico in a while, I was quite impressed. We ordered a variety of their different specialty pizzas — my favorite was the Ski Bum. Pesto, pine nuts, pizza … perfection. Note to Calico management, though, I might choose a different name, because when I think ski bum and pizza, I think toaster oven, Ragu and Kraft singles, not artichoke hearts and fresh tomatoes.
Calico has delicious, wood oven pizzas with creative topping combinations. That leftover pizza fed me for a few days. The crust is relatively thin, it is not too heavy on the grease and you can pack it with veggies, so it didn’t feel like I was being overly unhealthy. For leftovers, the microwave will suffice, but if I have time, I prefer to freshen up a slice with mozzarella, basil and grape tomatoes and then broil it for a few minutes. This way, the new cheese melts, but the crust doesn’t become soggy. Add some fresh pepper, and it hardly tastes like leftovers.
Pizza is one of my favorite foods, and if I have my pick in town, it’s Pinky G’s. The big, foldable slices are where it’s at. (OK, I order Domino’s more than I would like to admit because A. They deliver, and B. You can order online, so you don’t have to pick up the phone and talk to an actual person.) But for West Bankers or anyone on their way back from the village or the parks in the summer, don’t forget about Calico. It is tasty for both takeout and a traditional sit-down meal. The indoor atmosphere is warm and inviting, and in summer, well, it’s hard to beat the yard and the spacious outdoor deck, while you drink a margarita and watch the sun set over the Tetons.
