Restaurant: Puccini’s Smiling Teeth, Louisville, Kentucky
Puccini’s Smiling Teeth. Sounds like a dentist office, yes? Well, my dear friends…it’s anything but a dentist office. It’s better than a dentist office. In fact, this happens to be a local restaurant chain (based out of Indianapolis, Indiana, with a few restaurants scattered throughout Indiana in West Lafayette, Caramel, Fishers, and Bloomington, and locations in Kentucky in Louisville and Lexington). What does it serve? Happiness.
Why happiness? Because this is one of the few dining establishments in this area that have a dedicated gluten-free menu and a staff that is properly trained to make gluten-free meals and protect against cross-contamination. For someone like me…this is pure, foodie joy.
I’d heard about Puccini’s many times. Driven past it even more. But, today, my roommate and I finally made the call to try it out. After all…it’s not every day I can have gluten-free pizza that isn’t frozen or out of a mix.
Did I mention they serve happiness?
We arrived just as they opened. I’m not kidding. They were just unlocking the door as we walked up. How is that for timing? We were greeted pleasantly and shown to a table, where we placed our drink orders and perused the menu. I had a great view of the kitchen from where I was seated and was a bit distracted watching the prep of fresh ingredients. Gotta love that. Nothing bagged here. I saw them chopping fresh vegetables for their salads, pastas and pizzas. Yes…this was already boding well. And the delicious smell of Italian food was filling the restaurant already. My rumbling tummy was ready to place an order so we could eat.
We decided to split one of the vegetarian signature pizzas on the menu at Puccini’s Smiling Teeth. It was the Paparazzi Pizza ($11.55), which we (of course) ordered with the gluten-free rice flour pizza crust (a 10-1/2 inch pizza for the same price as a regular medium (12 inch) pizza…not bad!). So what all is on the Paparazzi Pizza? Cheese. Lots of cheese. It starts with Puccini’s very own regular cheese blend, and adds to the mix Gorgonzola and Ricotta. A pizza that not only satisfied the gluten-intolerant side of me, but the vegetarian side too. We placed our order and after a short wait, it arrived in all it’s heavenly, cheesy glory.
The crust was a perfect golden brown, baked to a crispy thin-crust perfection. The cheese was a melty mix of…well…happiness. I had to photograph it for the blog, and my roommate waited impatiently before dishing herself up a slice. I followed suit and soon we were noshing on our first, smooth, creamy, epically delicious bite of gluten-free, cheesy happiness!
Remember…they serve happiness.
I never would have thought to put ricotta cheese on a pizza. Not sure why…as it is the foundation of many an Italian dish. What I discovered was it adds a smooth, creamy, rich texture that blends well with the other cheeses and intensifies the (staff-selected gluten-free) sauce. Oh, yes…the cooks and staff have been trained to help prepare any meal with a proper and perfect gluten-free sauce. This was simple tomato and it was just a light blend, tomato chunks still evident…giving this thin-crust pizza a pleasant, rustic feel.
Happiness in pizza form. The star of the pizza was that Ricotta cheese. By far, one of my favorite toppings ever to be served on a pizza. The crust was delicious and light. I left, after consuming half of a 10-1/2 inch pizza without being stuffed to the max and feeling like I ate far too much for my own good. The glory of a light, thin-crust pizza is that it doesn’t fill you up with all the extra breading. The toppings are the star and that’s what should shine when pizza is involved anyway.
Pizza consumed…happiness achieved. I paid the bill and we set about for the rest of the day, happily contented with our meal and eager to go back and try it again…a different vegetarian topped pizza…or perhaps some gluten-free pasta next time (the gluten-free pastas are only $1.00 more than the regular!). I guess I’ll see what I’m in the mood for that day.
We left the restaurant happy…and it wasn’t just our teeth that were smiling.
If you happen to be in one of the areas that hosts one of these fantastic restaurants…go. Dine. If you have a gluten allergy…fear not, they are properly trained for that and can accommodate your dietary needs. Arrive hungry, leave happy.
The Celiathlete 