People will ask me, "What kind of music do you like?" and I always answer, "I like any music that is good and makes me happy." meaning good for me of course, but I just know what I like when I hear it.   Now the same goes for tasty pizza.  I just know good Za when I smell it cooking, right to the first bite.  Personally, I believe it is the perfect food.  All your favorite flavors and food piled onto a crispy crust with blends of cheese (for those that can't mess with cheese, you have my condolences) now that sounds like the food of the Gods to me.   That being said, there are some sorry excuses for pizza out in the wild. Grease pies or ones with chewy crust and just plain disappointments.  But lucky for us that live in and around the Rutland Vermont community we know pizza.  Good pizza was and still is a staple of Rutland since The Palms where local legend says this occurred in 1949 when Primo Sabataso, son of the restaurant's founders, introduced the pizza to the menu. The Sabataso family, who opened The Palms in 1933, have a long history of making great Italian food in the area. 

I can call myself a pizza expert just from the fact i survive on it.  Nothing better then that bite of crispy crust that is still also soft in the middle some how. The magic of especially wood fired pizza. And also at this point anything and everything can be "pizza'd" So yes to me The classic Hawaiian with pineapple is delicious and belongs in the pizza family.  I mean come on people don't be boring with your pizza.  Now there is a time and place for a nice big NY style slice of cheese folded up to eat of course but now we have breakfast pizza, taco pizza, BBQ chicken pizza, meat lovers, veggie, a white pizza with no sauce, classic deep dish, or thin crust.  Just endless combinations with only your imagination and motivation to guide you. 

Here are a few of my favorites here in the Rutland VT area alone.  There are probably hundreds of really great pizza places all throughout the state of Vermont and the up state NY area.  But these are just my go to options locally.

Probably my favorite currently is The Wild Fern. A little cafe ya might just drive right by traveling Rt 100 in Stockbridge VT. catch them on the weekends fully recommended. Teds is a long time Rutland tradition also, Ramuntos, love the BBQ chicken and they do this garlic knot crust option so yummy.  Olympic pizza, they do a chicken parm calzone a favorite of mine.  Hop n Moose, its great to have wood fired pizza right downtown.  and of course Cara Mias they have just awesome everything. 

Again this is just a small personal list of my favorites.  Get out in the area and see what you can find and add to this list.