Free Times | By Mike Dojc
Date: Dec 26, 2018

what: Taco Pizza

where: Hunter-Gatherer Brewery at the Hangar, 1402 Jim Hamilton Blvd.

 

Let’s be real: Taco pizza can often be a bit of a ruse. Blurring the lines between these two American teenager go-tos began in earnest when Pizza Hut concocted a “pizza-looking-taco-tasting-pizza” in the late 1970s. For me, the hybrid conjures up memories of soggy school cafeteria pie smattered with a slop heap of mystery meat, tortilla scraps and leftover lettuce. But unlike newcomer novelties such as ramen crust pizza or Little Caesars’ noodle topped lasagna pie, long-in-the-tooth taco pizza has had legs because when done right, it’s more than all right.

Hunter-Gatherer’s smartly conceived taco pizza avoids lettuce (the death knell of many a taco pizza) altogether. Dappled with smoky ground chorizo sourced from Goldsboro, North Carolina, this pie has a bit of a kick to it. Homemade pickled jalapeños add spicy tang while red onions supply textural crunch and cooling lime cream balances out the heat generated by the chorizo and the peppers.

H-G’s pies are 11 inches in diameter, and divvied up into six slices. While you could split a pizza, a reasonably hungry grownup can easily wolf down most of one on their own, so if there are two of you I’d highly recommend erring on the side of caution and ordering a couple. The Hangar kitchen is open Wednesday and Thursday 4-9 p.m., Friday 4-10 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.–10 p.m. and Sunday 1-7 p.m.