{"id":2450306,"date":"2019-10-24T12:56:00","date_gmt":"2019-10-24T18:56:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/food-matters-pizza-quest\/"},"modified":"2019-10-24T12:56:00","modified_gmt":"2019-10-24T18:56:00","slug":"food-matters-pizza-quest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/local-news\/food-matters-pizza-quest\/","title":{"rendered":"Food Matters: Pizza Quest"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery p402_hide\" readability=\"5.8695652173913\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-314945-175\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/food-atw-102419-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/food-atw-102419-2-1024x1024.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Amanda Rae | High Mountain Pies\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-2\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"7\">\n<p><strong>High Mountain Pies<\/strong><br \/>Amanda Rae<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/food-atw-102419-2-1024x1024.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"High Mountain Pies\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/food-atw-102419-2-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/food-atw-102419-2-1-1024x768.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Amanda Rae | High Mountain Pies\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-2\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"7\">\n<p><strong>High Mountain Pies<\/strong><br \/>Amanda Rae<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/food-atw-102419-2-1-1024x768.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"High Mountain Pies\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/food-atw-102419-2-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/food-atw-102419-2-2-1024x954.jpg\" data-sub-html=\" | High Mountain Pies\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><strong>High Mountain Pies<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/food-atw-102419-2-2-1024x954.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"High Mountain Pies\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/food-atw-102419-2-3-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/food-atw-102419-2-3-1024x1024.jpg\" data-sub-html=\" | Hogback Pizza\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><strong>Hogback Pizza<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/food-atw-102419-2-3-1024x1024.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Hogback Pizza\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/food-atw-102419-2-4-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/food-atw-102419-2-4-1024x968.jpg\" data-sub-html=\" | Hogback Pizza\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><strong>Hogback Pizza<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/food-atw-102419-2-4-1024x968.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Hogback Pizza\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/food-atw-102419-2-5-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/food-atw-102419-2-5-768x1024.jpg\" data-sub-html=\" | Propaganda Pie\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><strong>Propaganda Pie<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/food-atw-102419-2-5-768x1024.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Propaganda Pie\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/food-atw-102419-2-6-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/food-atw-102419-2-6-849x1024.jpg\" data-sub-html=\" | Propaganda Pie\" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><strong>Propaganda Pie<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/food-atw-102419-2-6-849x1024.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Propaganda Pie\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/magazines\/aspen-times-weekly\/food-matters-pizza-quest\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/magazines\/aspen-times-weekly\/food-matters-pizza-quest\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">When Pondering Pizza in Aspen, it\u2019s easy to narrow focus. Stretched in the style of Big Apple slices, New York Pizza is undisputed king since 1993. A chain called Domino\u2019s still exists, but the only other independently owned pizzeria that delivers outside of the downtown core has evaporated from the scene since Rio Grande Place construction began. (\u201cThank you for calling Taster\u2019s Pizza in Aspen. We are now closed,\u201d an ominous voice recording informs callers.)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Pizza is a main menu item at a few long-standing Italian establishments with wood-burning ovens, such as Brunelleschi\u2019s, Mezzaluna and Acquolina, but thin-crust, circular flatbreads make up a very specific subcategory that some might argue doesn\u2019t fulfill a classic craving.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Outside of Aspen, however, options abound. Born in 1983, Peppino\u2019s in Carbondale is a classic pizza joint slingin\u2019 slices and subs, and the de facto after-school hangout on Main Street. While a second outpost of New York Pizza is tucked into the El Jebel City Market shopping plaza, Peppino\u2019s ran another location in the Van Rand shopping center on Grand Avenue in Glenwood Springs (by Taipei Tokyo) until it was purchased by now-26-year-old Timbo\u2019s in Basalt, which renamed it ZA Pizza.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Perennial \u201cbest restaurant\u201d winner White House Pizza in Carbondale has a newly renovated wraparound porch, \u201cbeer-geek\u201d draft list and 20 hearty specialty pies plus a full menu of sharable apps, sandwiches, salads, soups and pasta. No surprise, then, that it\u2019s a family magnet and favorite for catered events.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">In Glenwood, honors goes to Rocky Mountain Pizza Company, established in November 2015. A homespun hippie vibe (no televisions!) pairs perfectly with perhaps the most savory, crispy-chewy crust anywhere in the valley. The shop strives to use non-GMO ingredients, sourcing Wheat Montana flour and herbs from Osage Gardens. (\u201cThe Goddess\u201d topped with ample veggies and greenery, two cheeses, sundried tomatoes, basil and a reduced-balsamic drizzle is my go-to slice \u2014 a $9 lunch deal with a generous side salad and soda.)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">What\u2019s in the water around here? Is high altitude a factor? Three more pizza destinations farther afield might confirm answers to these questions, and they\u2019re well worth a jaunt outside of the Aspen bubble.<\/p>\n<h4>PROPAGANDA PIE<\/h4>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Opened just about three months ago by the guys behind Slow Groovin\u2019 BBQ in Marble, Propaganda Pie in Redstone has already earned rave reviews for its Detroit-style deep-dish. So named because the heavy duty, blue-steel pans were originally used by Motor City factory workers, Detroit-style pizza recalls the fluffy, focaccia-like Sicilian style. The key difference: an insanely crispy crust thanks to an exterior layer of garlic butter and cheese that caramelizes in the pan.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">The square pies \u2014 personal size with four substantial slices, or large with eight portions \u2014 hold toppings that balance airy dough: pepperoni and ricotta with a shower of arugula and Parmesan shavings; chicken, peppers, cheddar, and chipotle pesto; or smoked brisket burnt ends from Slow Groovin\u2019 just 12 miles up the road. While the brother barbecue joint in Marble shuts down for winter after its annual Halloween bash, Propaganda Pie with vintage war posters, arcade games, and ample seating (in the hamlet\u2019s former Crystal Club Caf\u00e9, a hub for more than two decades) resists hibernation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Open daily 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., 467 Redstone Blvd., Redstone, 970-963-9515, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PropagandaPie\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"facebook.com\/propagandapie (opens in a new tab)\">facebook.com\/propagandapie<\/a><\/p>\n<h4>HIGH MOUNTAIN PIES<\/h4>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">At 16 years old, High Mountain Pies on Fourth Street in Leadville has the savory distinction of being the longest-standing pizzeria at Colorado\u2019s highest elevation (10,151 feet above sea level). One bite of bubbly, crispy, tender crust with creative toppings makes it obvious why they\u2019re the only player in town. Choose from at least 30 veggie options including adventurous offerings such as roasted grapes or nut-free basil-pepita pesto, plus proteins from standard pepperoni to homemade sausage or roasted chicken \u2014 even smoked trout.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Local favorites like the \u201cCrocodile\u201d (barbecue-sauce base, bacon, jalape\u00f1os, cream cheese, shrimp) and the \u201cSan Luis\u201d (braised pork, ranchero sauce, green chile, manchego, avocado, cilantro) hark to in-house pitmaster leanings: High Mountain Pies also serves a full- or half-rack St. Louis-style pork ribs with cornbread and salad.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">While an outdoor patio in summer boasts more than a half-dozen picnic tables, Leadville is already in winter mode. Hope to score one of 10 seats among three tables or four counter spots inside the cozy, wood-ceilinged space.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Open daily 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., 115 West Fourth St., Leadville, 719-486-5555, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.highmountainpies.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"highmountainpies.com (opens in a new tab)\">highmountainpies.com<\/a><\/p>\n<h4><\/h4>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">HOGBACK PIZZA<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">What kind of establishment opens on Christmas Eve? A place like Hogback Pizza in New Castle, which has marched to the beat of its own drummer since 1998. A stone\u2019s throw from the main drag, the town\u2019s longest-running restaurant serves two styles of pizza, but signature deep-dish is a main draw. Served on a wooden pizza peel with a triangular offset spatula, Hogback\u2019s deep-dish monster looks like an actual pie. Toppings (choose from more than 20) are buried beneath layers of rich red sauce and molten cheese, then sizzled in the kitchen\u2019s stone ovens until bubbling. Wash it down with one of many Colorado craft beers on tap, then gather napkins: there\u2019s pinball to play.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Open Mon-Sat 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; 457 W. Main St., New Castle, 970-984-3435, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/HogbackPizza\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"facebook.com\/hogbackpizza (opens in a new tab)\">facebook.com\/hogbackpizza<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Shirttail\"><em>Amanda Rae dreams of pizza. Contact her at <a href=\"mailto:amandaraewashere@gmail.com\">amandaraewashere@gmail.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/magazines\/aspen-times-weekly\/food-matters-pizza-quest\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: The Aspen Times<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>High Mountain PiesAmanda Rae High Mountain PiesAmanda Rae High Mountain Pies Hogback Pizza Hogback Pizza Propaganda Pie Propaganda Pie Show CaptionsHide Captions When Pondering Pizza in Aspen, it\u2019s easy to narrow focus. Stretched in the style of Big Apple slices, New York Pizza is undisputed king since 1993. A chain called Domino\u2019s still exists, but [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2450306","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-local-news"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-08-19 11:59:41","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSPN The Valley&#039;s Quality Rock","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2450306","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2450306"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2450306\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2450306"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2450306"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2450306"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}