« l&b customer points to canarsie »

I returned to L&B Spumoni Garden the other night.  I was "coerced" by a nine-year old.

Rather than the Belt, I took Ocean Parkway to Avenue U: great route. There was a 20 minute wait for a table, so I glanced at the baseball game and then wandered around with the Flip.

Each day, people flock here by the hundreds --maybe thousands -- for L&B's unique and addictive rectangular pies with the sauce on top.  And the spumoni.  Holy shit: 39,000 fans on their Facebook page and still growing!

After making the two videos, I went back to our table.  Salad and some fried zucchini had arrived.  Later, Camille -- one of the owners -- confided in me that when she makes fried zucchini, she cuts them in curlycues. Her husband Lenny -- who is also L&B's cook -- cuts them straight. It's safe to assume they're delicate and crispy either way.

My daughter, Julia, and her nine-year old friend, C., asked me if they could accompany me to interview some people.

L&B customers are pure and honest Tri-State.  Regular folks, out in Gravesend on a Saturday night, eating square pizza.  No need for Manhattan.

I was full after one square -- maybe because of the zucchini -- or because I'd eaten pizza twice already that day.  But then I had another.  And then I took a third piece and cut it in half, keeping one part, leaving the rest on the tray.  My wife shot me a look.  She's seen this move a thousand times, along with my lame attempt at self-control.  Within five seconds of finishing the first half, I succumbed to the rest.  Done.

We ordered dessert.  It would be a few minutes.  Let's go girls.  Who wants to interview someone?  "Me!" "Me!" They sounded game (!) -- until we got there  :-(    Zero interest.  Instead they played in the back booth while I did the interviews on my own.  

If I embarrassed myself -- it's only because I love pizza so much.  Shit, I don't care.  I love to talk about pizza.

The place this guy mentioned -- Original on Avenue L -- is a pizzeria I wrote about.  Birds, possibly chickens, in the backyard, and now I learn -- they grow their own cabbage!  Cabbage for a pizza shop?  Gotta find out what they use it for.

So I will head there soon.  I must see the birds before it gets too cold.  Stroll the paths, smell the sweet Canarsie air, try a slice of their Supreme....

Map L&B Spumoni Gardens (call ahead for days/hours).