You Know What Really Grinds My Gears? Now with 3x more gears...

[Wormius]

It’s strange because there seems to be almost universal hate for anchovies, but pizza places regularly stocked them. Or was it some kind of vicious circle where the anchovies became lower and lower quality to minimize expense and when people actually ordered some, it was crap so it further perpetuated the hate?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Wormius

It’s strange because there seems to be almost universal hate for anchovies, but pizza places regularly stocked them. Or was it some kind of vicious circle where the anchovies became lower and lower quality to minimize expense and when people actually ordered some, it was crap so it further perpetuated the hate?

Hm. Interesting question. I mean...I'm no expert but they're essentially salted fish in oil, doesnt that effectively last a really long time?

But again, that circles back to...they're just salted fish in oil. I cant recall the last time I had a 'bad' anchovie.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Locke

Hm. Interesting question. I mean...I'm no expert but they're essentially salted fish in oil, doesnt that effectively last a really long time?

But again, that circles back to...they're just salted fish in oil. I cant recall the last time I had a 'bad' anchovie.

That's exactly it. They basically keep forever, so that one container of anchovies will be there for months for that one customer who wants to ruin an otherwise good pizza.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Before that we had Mother's Pizza


Great family sit down place.


I mean you can go to Boston Pizza if you need a family place, there are also small independent places, Bella Roma for example (haven't been there in years).

Speaking of Mother's Pizza, I continue to be puzzled by this place:

https://motherspizzacalgary.com/

It's not mother's pizza as we remember it. I have tried it - it's not good.
But they seem to be using the old logo.

But some other guy had taken over the ownership of the trademark and brand and was opening locations in Ontario from 2013-2016. I think they have all now closed.

But what's this weird version in Calgary?

These are the things that keep me up at night.

[Shazam]

The taste amazing.

Well I'm sold.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Wormius

It’s strange because there seems to be almost universal hate for anchovies, but pizza places regularly stocked them. Or was it some kind of vicious circle where the anchovies became lower and lower quality to minimize expense and when people actually ordered some, it was crap so it further perpetuated the hate?

Many of the people that declared hate for anchovies seemed to hate eating fish in general. So I wondered if the hate was relatively fair, but had nothing to do with the anchovy itself. However as mentioned, I don't seem to ever recall confirming somewhere with anchovies on a pizza in Alberta while growing up. It's weird to have such universal hate when anchovy on pizza seemed so rare in the first place.

Some of those self declared anchovy haters said that the hatred was so fierce that they could identify the smell from a long distance. Yet, several of them I recalled ran away from black olives and capers thinking they were anchovies. A further few of those who hated anchovies had no clue there was anchovy in Caesar salad dressing (I'd read label to confirm or their parents would look at them puzzled because their home made dressing had anchovy) and they loved Caesar salad. So another facet I'm confused by is whether there were many I met while growing up who self declared an anchovy hate, but were misidentifying what an anchovy was?

As Locke mentioned, anchovies are typically preserved and tinned, so I think it's easier to assume it's probably not a quality issue and just a straight ingredient issue for people to legitimately do not like it.

Originally Posted by Lubicon

Oh man, it's been so long I'm not sure I remember. It's entirely possible I haven't had anchovies since moving to Calgary so may not even be one of the placers here. But if it was it would almost certainly be one of the independent places rather than the chain restaurants. I did work at a pizza joint for a few summers as a teenager (that was a loooooong time ago ) and would routinely make them for myself.

Recommended recipe or toppings combo?

If there ain't a place that tries to make a good pizza with anchovy in town, I might have to look up a recipe and try to DIY. I just gotta make it in the BBQ outside so my house doesn't potentially smell like baked anchovy (if it has a strong odor?).

[Locke]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

Many of the people that declared hate for anchovies seemed to hate eating fish in general. So I wondered if the hate was relatively fair, but had nothing to do with the anchovy itself. However as mentioned, I don't seem to ever recall confirming somewhere with anchovies on a pizza in Alberta while growing up. It's weird to have such universal hate when anchovy on pizza seemed so rare in the first place.

Some of those self declared anchovy haters said that the hatred was so fierce that they could identify the smell from a long distance. Yet, several of them I recalled ran away from black olives and capers thinking they were anchovies. A further few of those who hated anchovies had no clue there was anchovy in Caesar salad dressing (I'd read label to confirm or their parents would look at them puzzled because their home made dressing had anchovy) and they loved Caesar salad. So another facet I'm confused by is whether there were many I met while growing up who self declared an anchovy hate, but were misidentifying what an anchovy was?

As Locke mentioned, anchovies are typically preserved and tinned, so I think it's easier to assume it's probably not a quality issue and just a straight ingredient issue for people to legitimately do not like it.



Recommended recipe or toppings combo?

If there ain't a place that tries to make a good pizza with anchovy in town, I might have to look up a recipe and try to DIY. I just gotta make it in the BBQ outside so my house doesn't potentially smell like baked anchovy (if it has a strong odor?).

Are you in Calgary? Because my favourite is Starlight Pizza in Acadia. They make a mean anchovy pizza.

[activeStick]

The hate for anchovies seems to me to be more a North American thing. Multiple cultures all around their world have their versions of a preserved fish that is strong in flavour that are eaten on their own or used as bases for stocks including all over Asia (China, Korea, Japan), India, Norway, Italy, Sweden, etc. I know growing up in Calgary, all my North American friends hated seafood which was so odd to me as a Chinese person because our family ate some sort of seafood at least 2 or 3 times a week. I think the hate for anchovies is more due to the old general distaste for seafood.

"Baccala! You know what that means? Salted cod! We taught the world how to eat!" - Corrado Soprano

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Locke

Are you in Calgary? Because my favourite is Starlight Pizza in Acadia. They make a mean anchovy pizza.

According to their website, feta cheese and anchovy is just an extra topping. I don't see a pizza with anchovy by default.

Any specific pizza where adding anchovy is especially good? Or am I just better off buying a tin of anchovy and adding it like I would pepper flakes or parmesan the next time I get pizza?

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by activeStick

The hate for anchovies seems to me to be more a North American thing. Multiple cultures all around their world have their versions of a preserved fish that is strong in flavour that are eaten on their own or used as bases for stocks including all over Asia (China, Korea, Japan), India, Norway, Italy, Sweden, etc. I know growing up in Calgary, all my North American friends hated seafood which was so odd to me as a Chinese person because our family ate some sort of seafood at least 2 or 3 times a week. I think the hate for anchovies is more due to the old general distaste for seafood.

"Baccala! You know what that means? Salted cod! We taught the world how to eat!" - Corrado Soprano

Alberta had miserable seafood for the longest time. It's still not that great since fresh seafood is very expensive to get here.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Shazam

Alberta had miserable seafood for the longest time. It's still not that great since fresh seafood is very expensive to get here.

“Fresh” seafood is almost always frozen. You can get just fine seafood and not live at a port.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by activeStick

The hate for anchovies seems to me to be more a North American thing. Multiple cultures all around their world have their versions of a preserved fish that is strong in flavour that are eaten on their own or used as bases for stocks including all over Asia (China, Korea, Japan), India, Norway, Italy, Sweden, etc. I know growing up in Calgary, all my North American friends hated seafood which was so odd to me as a Chinese person because our family ate some sort of seafood at least 2 or 3 times a week. I think the hate for anchovies is more due to the old general distaste for seafood.

"Baccala! You know what that means? Salted cod! We taught the world how to eat!" - Corrado Soprano

It’s purely imbedded in our psyche from TV or something. It doesn’t even make sense. It’s a little salty umami piece of fish… the aversion to it has Nickleback hate level fandom.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by activeStick

The hate for anchovies seems to me to be more a North American thing. Multiple cultures all around their world have their versions of a preserved fish that is strong in flavour that are eaten on their own or used as bases for stocks including all over Asia (China, Korea, Japan), India, Norway, Italy, Sweden, etc. I know growing up in Calgary, all my North American friends hated seafood which was so odd to me as a Chinese person because our family ate some sort of seafood at least 2 or 3 times a week. I think the hate for anchovies is more due to the old general distaste for seafood.

"Baccala! You know what that means? Salted cod! We taught the world how to eat!" - Corrado Soprano

Yeah, some people are weird. But I also felt like sometimes people would make up weird lies to justify their dislike. It's fine to have foods you don't prefer. The way some people explained their hate for seafood or other foods is weird though.

"I hate all types of seafood! I hate fish! Sushi is an abomination!"
"??? I've seen you eat and enjoy the fish you catch when fishing... and I've seen you eat shell fish..."
"Clams are different. Pike and walleye aren't seafood because they aren't from the sea!"


Or...

"Liver and kidneys? That's not food! Adding it to food is like peeing in it! No one in a modern world eats that stuff."
"Seems like an exaggeration? I know some local farmers and their families who'd disagree with you. I know people from Europe who'd disagree with you."
"Anything on the inside of an animal isn't supposed to be eaten! Only stuff on the outside."
"That doesn't make sense. Otherwise, you'd be eating hairs and leather?"
"#### you DoubleF! Your culture might eat that stuff, but not mine!"

[PaperBagger'14]

I’ve never had a friend (of any cultural background) ask for anchovies on pizza. I don’t know if it’s hate, hell I would try anchovies on pizza if there was a slice available. I’m not willing to order and chance ruining an entire pizza by getting anchovies on it though

[PepsiFree]

People having a strong aversion to anchovies is really not weird at all if you accept you live in a world where people form entire personalities over hating pineapple on pizza (not just from a personal sense, but some neurodivergent “this is inherently wrong and anyone who likes it is wrong” malady).

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

Yeah, some people are weird. But I also felt like sometimes people would make up weird lies to justify their dislike. It's fine to have foods you don't prefer. The way some people explained their hate for seafood or other foods is weird though.

"I hate all types of seafood! I hate fish! Sushi is an abomination!"
"??? I've seen you eat and enjoy the fish you catch when fishing... and I've seen you eat shell fish..."
"Clams are different. Pike and walleye aren't seafood because they aren't from the sea!"


Or...

"Liver and kidneys? That's not food! Adding it to food is like peeing in it! No one in a modern world eats that stuff."
"Seems like an exaggeration? I know some local farmers and their families who'd disagree with you. I know people from Europe who'd disagree with you."
"Anything on the inside of an animal isn't supposed to be eaten! Only stuff on the outside."
"That doesn't make sense. Otherwise, you'd be eating hairs and leather?"
"#### you DoubleF! Your culture might eat that stuff, but not mine!"

Ooooo offals is another good one and again, I think it comes down to - and I say this knowing the risk of getting completely piled on - the lack of any sort of food culture that is North American-based. As with anchovies, offals are eaten by virtually all other cultures in the world (Asia, Poland, Italy, France, South America, Mexico, etc.) but generally disliked by North Americans and Europeans except for the few I mentioned.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

According to their website, feta cheese and anchovy is just an extra topping. I don't see a pizza with anchovy by default.

Any specific pizza where adding anchovy is especially good? Or am I just better off buying a tin of anchovy and adding it like I would pepper flakes or parmesan the next time I get pizza?

Its a Mom & Pop kind of place, all you have to do is ask them to do it. They know the drill.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

“Fresh” seafood is almost always frozen. You can get just fine seafood and not live at a port.

It is fairly easy to get actual fresh seafood living near the coast.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by Locke

Starlight Pizza in Acadia. They bake the anchovies right in! Oh...so good!



I remember conning my wife on that one, she 'hated' anchovies when in really she just hated 'the idea' of anchovies. Then we had one of those pizzas and...



"What is this crunchy, salty morsel of Mana from Heaven?!? It's Godly!!!"



That my dear, are really good anchovies. Now she got all her gear together to make homemade pizza and anchovies are a staple.

When I first moved back to Calgary in 2013, we lived down the street from there for the first year, it was our go-to. Individual pizza Wednesdays is the bestest.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

When I first moved back to Calgary in 2013, we lived down the street from there for the first year, it was our go-to. Individual pizza Wednesdays is the bestest.

And, honestly? I grew up in that neighbourhood but Starlight? Some of the best Lasagna you can get. Its so good!