It’s no coincidence that a pizza so resembles a clock face, for this pie is always shifting and changing with time. From the first moment that Italian chefs laid their hands on a tomato to the first time an American restaurant promised delivery in 30 minutes or less, each tick of the great pizza clock of history lands us on a new and unexpected pepperoni slice.
As we kick off Pizza Cup 2020, let’s take a look at how the cheesy terrain of Beijing has reformed over the past year – and what lies ahead for the newcomers.
Since Pizza Cup 2019, several pizza-slinging venues have been lost to the ages, including Italian diner Bocca Della Verita and sports fan favorite, Fella’s. We also bade farewell to Oh Yeah Brewing, a first-timer to the cup last year.
But other new faces in last year’s competition are still going strong – Turkish Feast’s pide, MIAM MIAM’s toppings packed pie, and Baozza’s fusion buns all managed to climb the ranks and land among the to 16, and we’re sure they’ll put in equal efforts this time around. But they and old favorites alike will have no easy time of it as yet another new generation of new pizza joints throw their hats in the ring of crust – and if you’ve yet to lay lips on these newbies, then try them you must.
Below, we’ve compiled a few promising newcomers, but whether any of them make it to the final four is up to you, which you’ll decide with your vote. Remember to taste before you vote – three out of the four of them are available on our Pizza Cup sponsor, JSS Delivery, the app that serves you up a taste meal sustainably, be it pizza or otherwise.
Then, if you want to cast your vote in the final four, then buy your tickets now to the Final Four Taste-Off before they sell out! Tickets went on sale three days ago and already more than half the seats are sold.
Forno
From the people who brought you Bottega, Forno is Roman-style pie – in case you couldn’t tell from the busts that evoke the ancient style of that city in both of their locations. That’s right, both, because Forno has managed to open two stores in their first year, both serving up square pie by the slice, perhaps giving Pizza Saporita, last year’s champions who embrace a similar by-the-slice model, a run for their money.
The Pizza Show
Another hot contender this year, Pizza Show quick but high-quality pizza in Parkview Green, brought you by Nemanja Maric, who also opened Avocado Tree. In addition to being an opportunity to apply Avocado Tree’s quick and fresh model to pizza, it’s also been a way for Maric to experiment with his favorite bread, sourdough. (He’s also been toying with fresh sourdough loaves in an unrelated venture.) But it’s not just about the crust – the topping unique toppings are also going to make The Pizza Show a strong contender this year.
Hulu at Indigo Mall
As a well-established name in Beijing’s culinary scene, the new pizza from Hulu at Indigo Mall promises to put up a fight. The pizzas are also developed in cooperation with La Pizza, who placed sixth in last year’s cup, so keep your eye on this pie – and if you want to try it before you vote, consider popping by on a Monday when all pizzas are just RMB 38.
Lenbach
German-Style bistro Lenbach has only just recently opened its doors, but it’s quickly becoming the talk of the town. In addition to sausages and sauerkraut-packed sandwiches, they also serve long bistro-style thin-crust pizzas, and we’ll be keeping a close watch to see where they land in the cup this year.
KEEP READING: The Beijinger Pizza Cup is Back!
Images: Dan Burton (via Unsplash), Joey Knotts, Tom Arnstein, Dianping, Canva
