By
Joy Neighbors
Here’s
a bit of trivia you can sink your teeth into - National Pizza Month, which is celebrated every October, was founded just 50 miles away from
French Lick.
Pizza
became popular in the U.S. during the 1940s when returning soldiers were hungry
for that Italian pie. Today there are an estimated 63,000 pizzerias in the
country and 94% of Americans eat pizza at least once a month. That breaks down
to about 46 slices of pizza eaten by each American every year.
The Ace is loaded with pepperoni and mozzarella cheese.
Here’s
a bit of trivia you can sink your teeth into - National Pizza Month, which is celebrated every October, was founded just 50 miles away from
French Lick.
It
was 1984 when Santa Clause, Indiana pizzeria owner, Gerry Durnell decided to
fill a void in his industry. Since there were no publications that catered to
the pizza business, Durnell started his own magazine and called it Pizza
Today. Durnell also saw a niche to
be filled in the trade show arena so he started an international trade show for
pizzerias, which was called Pizza Expo; it later became the world’s most
expensive food trade show.
Pizza
became popular in the U.S. during the 1940s when returning soldiers were hungry
for that Italian pie. Today there are an estimated 63,000 pizzerias in the
country and 94% of Americans eat pizza at least once a month. That breaks down
to about 46 slices of pizza eaten by each American every year.
Have
a hankering for pizza this month? Check out these resort restaurants for pizzas
with pizzazz.
The
Mansion at the Pete Dye Course
 |
| The Mansion |
The
Mansion offers a grilled Flat Bread Pizza that is topped with mozzarella cheese and your choice of sausage, pepperoni or both. It’s the
perfect starter to your evening’s dining or a great way to wrap up a day of
golf.
Ballard’s
in The Atrium (West Baden Springs Hotel)
 |
| Rustic Four Cheese |
Besides
the spectacular view, Ballard’s offers three choices of Fire Brick Oven
Pizzas to enjoy “under the dome.”
The
Rustic Four Cheese pizza is loaded with marinara, manchego, pecorino,
mozzarella, provolone and sweet basil.
The
Italian Meat pizza topped with marinara, prosciutto, sausage, capicola,
pepperoncini peppers, fresh mozzarella and sweet basil is sure to make you
exclaim “Mama Mia!”
The
Margherita proffers roasted Roma tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, garlic oil and
sweet basil. Tasty!
Power
Plant Bar & Grill (French Lick Springs Hotel)
 |
| The Margherita |
The
Power Plant has a wide variety of options on the Pizza Board; all are served on
a toasted flatbread base. For those with a light appetite, the pepperoni or
Italian sausage pizza piled high with cheese and your choice of meat should fit
the bill.
The
Margherita starts with a pesto spread before being smothered with Roma
tomatoes, provolone and mozzarella cheese.
The
Everything Pizza is sure to please with pepperoni, sausage, peppers, onions,
mushrooms, cheese blend, marinara sauce and green olive, on request.
Meat
lovers will gravitate toward The Meats loaded with sausage, pepperoni, chicken,
bacon and cheese.
BBQ
lovers get ready for the BBQ Chicken Pizza with diced grilled chicken,
pineapple, sautéed leek onions, smoked gouda and provolone cheese and covered
in the house-made BBQ sauce.
Chicken
Bacon Ranch is loaded with chicken, bacon and provolone cheese.
Pluto’s
Pizzeria (French Lick Springs Hotel)
 |
| The Full House |
Pluto’s
offers pizza that’s devilishly delicious by the slice or by the whole pizza
with seven varieties to choose:
The
Cheesiest is just what it says - loaded with hot, gooey cheese.
The Hoosier sports pepperoni and Italian sausage.The Ace is loaded with pepperoni and mozzarella cheese.
The
Deuce deals up Italian sausage and mozzarella cheese.
The
Pluto is a veggie lover’s delight topped with green peppers, onions, mushrooms
and black olives.
Your
appetite will win, hands down, with The Full House smothered in pepperoni,
Italian sausage, mushrooms, onions, green peppers and black olives.
You’ll
recall the Windy City as you bite into a double crust stuffed Chicago Style
Deep Dish topped with your choice of fillings.
 |
| House-Made Pizza |
Casino
Park Grill (French Lick Casino)
Take
a break from the casino action for a quick bite of house-made pizza. Choose
from cheese, pepperoni or sausage available by the slice.
Did
you know that the most popular U.S. holidays to eat pizza are New Year’s Eve,
New Year’s Day, Super Bowl Sunday, Halloween and Thanksgiving Eve? Although
it’s been 32 years since National Pizza Month was declared, this is one food
holiday that shows no signs of “biting the dust.”