Upper Crust

They like it deep in Chicago, and New Yorkers swear they do it best. What about Tacomans? We do it gourmet, dahling! Thin-crusted and loaded with toppings, upscale pizza is thriving — low-fat diets be damned. Posh pizzerias have captured the genre, replacing fraternity crowds with fashionable foodies.

One of my new old favorites is the Upper Crust Pizza & Eatery next to Magoo’s on North 21st Street. 

They serve three pizza sizes; four hand-tossed crust flavors and three sauce choices support a variety of topping options, including wild mushroom medley, roasted walnut, eggplant, goat cheese, chicken breast, chorizo sausage, and many others.

Upper Crust also serves four specialty pizza options that arrive as works of art.  The Chia Pizza — tomatoes, cheese and salad tossed with vinaigrette — resembles, well, a salad. The Checkerboard marinara and pesto sauce pizza mocks a game board, with roasted red bell pepper stripes marking up the board with circular goat cheese slices topped with a single Kalamata olive as the playing pieces. — Jake de Paul

[Upper Crust Pizza & Eatery, 2714 N. 21st St., Tacoma, 253.752. 0900]

Food Matters

• The Tacoma Symphony Orchestra will host a Celebrity Chefs Showcase, an evening of culinary delights, fine wine and a bit of classical tunes, Thursday, May 29 at Clover Park Technical College. The chefs will be Dan Hutchinson of Brix 25, Aaron Valimont of Pacific Grill, Joel Mertens of Asado/Masa, and Matt Brandsey of Sea Grill. The price tag is $150 per person. Reserve your spot at 253.272.7264.
• Babblin Babs Bistro now serves breakfast Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Babs is at 2724 N. Proctor in Tacoma.
• Doyle’s Public House serves three strips of bacon for $1 every Monday, 8 p.m. to midnight. Get your bacon on at 208 St. Helens Ave. in Tacoma.

Eat 101

• Primo Grill in Tacoma hosts a Passport To Southern Italy cooking class Saturday, May 31 at 2 p.m. The class costs $65. Call 253.383.7000 to reserve your spot.
• Learn how to make four dinners out of one chicken Wednesday, June 4 at the Bayview School of Cooking in Olympia. The 6 p.m. class costs $50. Reserve your spot at 360. 754.1448.
• 99 Bottles will host an India Pale Ale tasting Tuesday, June 10. Sample six IPAs for $5, plus 99 Bottle experts will discuss IPA history. Check it at 35002 Pacific Hwy. S. in Federal Way.

The Mix

What we’ve been eating/ drinking:

• Frenchy French Benedict with croissant, Babblin’ Babs Bistro, Tacoma
• Awesome hummus plate, Harmon Brewery & Pub, downtown Tacoma

Wino

Rosé — makes you laugh, doesn’t it? Most wine lovers still don’t realize that rosé wines made a comeback — that many labels carry them, and that opening a few bottles makes an excellent party.

Rosé comes from red grapes crushed and only allowed to stay in contact with its skins for a short time. It’s not completely clear why the rosé tumbled from grace, but for years most middle-income homes kept a bottle or two chilled for Saturday night bridge games.

Rosé perfectly compliments a warm summer evening. Great for a post lawn mowing, or to get appetites going during hors d’oeuvres, Rosé provides both refreshment and internal air conditioning.

Mark Merrill, owner of Pour at Four, also offers a little trick he picked up about serving chilled wine. The day before, pour the rosé into ice cube trays. Then, when you serve the rosé in glasses, pop in the rosé cubes to keep drinks cool — and keep adding as necessary.
Now that’s thinking. — Ken Swarner

Sippin’ Out

• Thusday, May 29: Foris Winery tasting, 5:30-8:30 p.m., $5, Pour At Four, 3814 N. 26th St., Tacoma, 253.761.8015.
• Fridays: Wine tastings, 6-8 p.m., Mandolin Cafe, 3923 S. 12th St., Tacoma, 253.761.3482.
• Saturdays: Wine tastings, 1-4 p.m., $5-$7, Swing Wine Bar, 825 Columbia St. S.E., Olympia, 360.357.9464.
• Saturdays: Wine tasting,   2-5 p.m., Wine Bank, 7017 27th St. W., University Place, 253.564. 1101.
• Mondays: $5 Wine Mondays, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., $5 glass of wines, Rosewood Café, 3323 N. 26th St., Tacoma, 253.752.7999.
• Tuesdays: Wine Tuesdays, 5 p.m., Toscano’s Café & Wine Bar, 437 29th St. N.E., Puyallup, 253. 864.8600.