"CHRONICLE." ♪ ANTHONY: THE BOSTON RED SOX ARE NOT THE ONLY HOMETOWN TEAM CROWNED CHAMPIONS RECENTLY.
IN A POLL REVERBERATING FROM NEEDHAM TO NAPOLI, REGINA’S PIZZA WAS NAMED THE BEST HIGH IN AMERICA ACCORDING TO TRIPADVISOR.
-- PIE IN AMERICA ACCORDING TO TRIPADVISOR.
>> I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU REGINA ANYWAY.
WHEN THEY SAID THAT, I WAS HAPPY FOR ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR A SCUM OF PIZZA MAKERS, MANAGERS, SERVERS -- WORK FOR US , THE PIZZA MAKERS, MANAGERS, SERVERS.
ANTHONY: BOSTONIANS HAVE HAD A LOVE OF FIVE -- LOVE AFFAIR OF PIZZA SINCE 1926.
WHAT DISTINGUISHES REGINA IS HOW SLOW THEY MIX THE DOUGH, AGE THE MOZZARELLA AND PICK A YEARS WORTH OF TOMATOES FOR CANNING ON A SINGLE DAY IN CALIFORNIA.
THERE IS A LEGENDARY BRICK OVEN AND THE ORIGINAL NORTH ANDOVER REGINA SPECTOR PUT A TOP -- LIKE NOBODY’S BUSINESS.
>> A NICE, TENDER BITE ON THE INSIDE.
MY FAVORITE IS ON THE WELL-DONE SIDE SO IT HAS A DARKER CRUST, BLACK SPOTS HERE AND THERE.
ANTHONY: THE VOLUME OF PIZZAS THE LOCATION PUMPS OUT IS STAGGERING.
AS FOR THE FAVORITS, THE BASIC TOMATO AND CHEESE PIZZA IS STILL KING FOLLOWED BY PEPPERONI.
WHEN CUSTOMERS WANT TO UP THE ANTE -- >> THE JIM BOTTA PIZZA, OUR VERSION OF EVERYTHING ON IT, THREE MEAT, THREE VEGETABLES.
AND THE OTHER IS THE ST. ANTHONY PIZZA WHICH IS A SAUSAGE PEPPER AND ON YOUR -- ONION PIZZA, GARLIC INSTEAD OF RED SAUCE.
ANTHONY: DECLARING REGINA THE NATIONS BEST PIZZA SENT SHOCKWAVES ACROSS AMERICA.
HOW DARE BOSTON INSULT BROOKLYN, CHICAGO, NEW HAVEN?
WHEN REGINA ACCEPTED THEIR AWARD , THEY GIRDED FOR BACKLASH BUT FOR THEIR SURPRISE, PIZZA IS FAMILY.
>> THERE IS GOOD-NATURED RIBBING WHICH INCLUDED CRACKS ON THE RED SOX NOT TO MENTION HAVE YOU HAD THIS OR THAT OTHER PIZZA IN NEW YORK BECAUSE THERE IS A PIZZA JOINT ON EVERY CORNER, BUT IT
WAS ALL IN GOOD FUN.
ANTHONY: THERE ARE 60,000 PIZZA RIO’S IN AMERICA -- PIZZERIAS IN AMERICA.
SALUTE.
ONE OF MY FAVORITES IS ARMANDO’S IN CAMBRIDGE.
THIS NO-FRILLS CLASSIC STARTED IN 1971 BY AN ITALIAN IMMIGRANT, WHO DIED IN 2016.
HIS GRANDSON IS THE PIZZA MAN TODAY.
>> THE WAY I WAS TAUGHT WAS DIRECTLY FROM MY GRANDFATHER.
EVERYBODY WE TRAIN HERE MAKES, TRIES TO MAKE PIZZA EXACTLY LIKE THAT, EMULATE HIM.
NOT EVERYONE CAN DO IT, BUT -- THAT IS THE STANDARD.
ANTHONY: THE THIN CRUST PIZZA IS A CAMBRIDGE LEGEND AND TREASURE.
THE DOUGH MADE FROM SCRATCH DAILY WITH SAUCE AND CHEESE BLENDED ATOP A SLIGHTLY CHEWY CRUST.
ARMANDO’S IS KNOWN FOR THEIR HEFTY SLABS OF THE CRUST SICILIAN PIZZA -- OF THICK CRUST SICILIAN PIZZA.
>> SEVEN OR EIGHT POUNDS, SAUCE AND CHEESE.
WHEN I TELL YOU IT IS SUBSTANTIAL, YOU EAT ONE SLICE -- I GIVE YOU ONE EARLIER -- [INDISCERNIBLE] ANTHONY: IT ACTUALLY TAKES THE DOUGH OF SIX THIN CRUST PIZZAS
TO MAKE ONE TRAY OF SICILIAN.
UNDERNEATH IS A LAYER OF OLIVE OIL THAT BLACK AND, ADDING A SIGNATURE CRUNCH -- BLACK AND -- BLACKENS.
>> IT IS HARD.
IT IS GOOD TO EAT IT.
ANTHONY: IS IT YOUR FAVORITE?
>> IT IS ONE OF.
IT IS LIKE ASKING ME TO CHOOSE WHICH CHILD I LIKE THE BEST.
ANTHONY: IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, ARMANDO’S IS STILL AS BLUE-COLLAR AS IT GETS.
THE WALLS LINED WITH REFERENCES OF YOUTH BASEBALL TEAMS THEY HAVE SUPPORTED.
WHEN IT COMES TO PIZZA, THIS IS THE REAL DEAL, SLICE OF HEAVEN SERVED WITH PRIDE AND MODESTY.
>> I TRY TO KEEP IT HUMBLING PEOPLE SAY, THIS PIZZA WAS THE BEST.
I AM A FIRM BELIEVER OF NEVER BELIEVING YOUR OWN HYPE.
YOU CAN ALWAYS BE BETTER.
ANTHONY: GOOD WAY TO LOOK AT THINGS.
AT REGINA’S, THE CHEF SAYS THEY ARE HONORED TO BE CHOSEN FOR THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY BY TRIPADVISOR BUT SAYS WE RECOGNIZE BEST PIZZA IS VERY SUBJECTIVE.
SHAYNA: TRIPADVISOR NAMED NEW YORK AS AMERICA’S BEST CITY PIZZA, FOLLOWED BY CHICAGO, THEN LAS VEGAS, AND BOSTON CAME IN FOURTH.
ANTHONY: WE STILL GOT THE NUMBER ONE.
PROFESSI