82. Pizzabakeren

Grimstad, Norway

I have not really traveled the world in search of great pizza. Instead, I’ve let it come to me, and have developed (probably like most people) a fairly provincial taste. It’s not worth boasting or apologizing for, because we like what we like, whenever and wherever we choose.

I’d guess that if you polled 100 random people from around the world, the vast majority would say Italy makes the best pizza. An equally safe guess is that exactly zero respondents would say Norway makes the best pizza, and that is reasonable.

I’ve enjoyed Pizzabakeren 2-3 times when visiting, and it’s a lot like typical take-out in the US. It’s unspectacular, and maybe a bit on the bready side, but it neither excites nor offends, which is probably pretty fitting for Norwegians. A small regret in all this is that I’ve yet to try any another Norwegian pizza powerhouse, Peppe’s Pizza, whose commercials feature an odd little chef that is part Emeril and part Fievel the Mouse, but I take my cues from my daughter and son-in-law, and we usually find our way to Pizzabakeren—a stable and suitable solution. Don’t cross the Atlantic for it, but don’t try to avoid it either.