I visited two pizza places in Baltimore this weekend for two very different experiences I have been hankering for.
First up iwas the crab pie at Matthews, an only-in-Baltimore experience. I was not really sure what to expect. I have been to Matthews before, and they serve a unique pie that is hard to categorize, but I do think it’s a very delicious and very sloppy pie. A bit heavy with plenty of cheese and sauce. The crab pie is not like their regular pie. It has a restrained flavor, and the crab does indeed come through. It has some Old Bay seasoning, but done with a very light touch. I was very glad I tried it, though it’s not something I am likely to get again. I would go back for their regular pie which is hard to compare with others.
Next up was Paulie Gee’s in Hampden. Paulie has become a latter-day legend in Brooklyn, and he has opened up shops in Philly and Baltimore. It is the best traditional pizza I’ve had in a long time. I got the Hot Child in the City which is with red onion, fennel sausage and has hot oil drizzled on top. I think it would be equally good without the oil. The crust comes out very hot and crispy and is a medium-weight crust with good structural integrity. As a point of reference, I liked this a lot more than Inferno in Montgomery County.
