February 08, 2010
Alleycats Pizza, Huashan
Asian pizza has long been the butt of Western jokes, and even now I get slightly queasy at the sight of green peas and corn with squid on a cheesy seafood pizza. However more authentic alternatives have been popping up all over the place in Taipei. And Alleycat's Pizza has been leading the way building thick-walled brick-ovens and hand-made thin-crust pizzas with Italian-style toppings like Margherita and Quattro Stagione.
Starting from their original location near Yongkang St., Alleycat's has steadily expanded with new branches in hot spots where trendy young folks would appreciate the foreign-style pizza. The latest Alleycat outpost in the Huashan Cultral Center fits the pattern, inserting itself amidst the former warehouses that are now transformed into art galleries and performance spaces. Taking over one of the buildings on the grounds, they had plenty of space to work with, unlike their other more high-rent locations. And they took advantage of the breathing room in the decor, with rustic wood beams across the high ceiling and faux-fresco wall paintings behind an open bar and kitchen.
On a weekday lunchtime the room was fairly empty and we had our run of the place. Two pizzas would probably be too much, but one pizza plus a biz-lunch sandwich combo sounded good. Wife chose the pesto-chicken panini which was solidly competent, although Toasteria Cafe's version is a bit better (more cheese!). The side-salad was a surprisingly decent Caesar, real Romaine and all. I've been eating way too much meat and other heavy foods lately, so a thin-crusted veggie pizza seemed like a good idea for a satisfying but light lunch. Veggies were lightly cooked but still crunchy from the fast, high-heat cooking in the pizza oven. The hand-formed dough and dedicated stone oven really make Alleycat's pizza crust one of the best in Taipei. Not cheap, especially with a beer to wash it down, but good food in a good space makes it worthwhile.
Alleycat's Pizza Hua Shan (華山店)
台北市八德路一段一號
No. 1, Sec. 1, Bade Rd.
02-2395-6006