Did You Know?

More than 10,000 pizza professionals gathered under one roof at last month’s International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas

IBISWorld research suggests the pizza industry will grow at a rate of 3.4 percent in 2013
Kentucky has 942 pizzerias

Hungry Howie’s Pizza, based in Michigan, has more than 550 stores in 20 states.

Places that Rock

Flour & Stone
355 E. Ohio Street
Chicago, Illinois 60611
(312) 822-8998
www.flourandstone.com

Flour & Stone opened in February, bringing a fresh face to the Chicago pizza scene with its Brooklyn-style pies. Settled in the Streeterville neighborhood, the pizzeria puts a rustic spin on the Brooklyn style. A couple of featured pizzas include the Florentine ($19) with red sauce, spinach, mushrooms, red and white onions and fresh garlic and the Bacon ($16.75) with white sauce, bacon, red onion and crushed red pepper flakes. The small corner space features a modern interior of white tiles and black and metal chairs, tables and countertops. A line of high-back seating faces an open kitchen and its gas-fired ovens.

Uncommon Pizza
616 Paxton Place, Suite 104
Lititz, Pennsylvania 17543
(717) 569-0906
www.uncommonpizza.com

Before entering the pizzeria, guests can see Uncommon’s commitment to fresh ingredients by walking past its seasonal garden. The shop highlights its house-made bleu cheese and ranch dressings appearing on specialty pizzas ($14.99 for a 14-inch) like the Buffalo Chicken and Ranch pizzas. A favorite appetizer among patrons are the Loaded Nachos ($8.49), tortilla chips topped with chopped chicken, bacon, jalapenos, black olives, mozzarella and cheddar cheeses, and served with sides of salsa and sour cream. Uncommon offers the Mini Garden Salad at $2.69. With its patio and comfortable seating, it also offers free wifi.

The Pizza Studio
3584 S. Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, California
(213) 763-6123
www.mypizzastudio.com

The University of Southern California location is a “create your own masterpiece” concept where patrons customize their order — from crust, cheese and meats to sauces and vegetables. The individual pizzas (unlimited premium topping for $7.99) can even be spiced up with chipotle powder, garlic powder, Jamaican Jerk, Old Bay Seasoning and Truffle salt or finished with Italian herbs, garlic olive oil, arugula, basil, or a drizzle of BBQ sauce or balsamic glaze. For every $25 spent by a guest, the pizzeria donates a meal to Feeding America, an initiative that supplies food to 37 million Americans. The Pizza Studio also supports the community by displaying local artwork for sale.