Nook’s ‘nduja, walla walla onion, peppadew pepper, roasted garlic and stracchino special. NBD but this pizza deserves a true moment of appreciation.
Out of the oven: August 31, 2022
The evening started with low expectations and a meandering type of indecision that only gets heightened as hunger increases. Burgers, nachos, grilled cheese? Cook at home? The options cycled through, nothing feeling quite right for the last day of August.
Enter Nook, the ever-tempting and frustratingly obvious choice that never disappoints.
With a quick glance at the menu and a cocktail in hand, we went for the weekly special, eagerly soaking in the last rays of daylight as we waited.
It’s been a while, but I was truly blown away. So much so that I took very few photos and spent most bites nervously laughing that I’d almost missed out on this opportunity entirely.
Here goes:
First off, this is a two-hander.
Hang on to those golden garlicky nuggets because they glide right off — though they will comfortably adapt to any new spot on your slice once replaced, and are a pleasure on their own.
From there the intensity of flavours will quickly have you on the edge of your seat from tip to crust.
The onions provide an almost unexpected but welcomed crunch as you navigate between the beautiful gold mines that are the piles of ‘nduja sausage. The otherwise silky texture of the slice really allows these crunchy pockets of chilli to shine — the opposite of the eye of the storm, if you will.
Meanwhile the peppadew peppers slink their way into the bite, without interrupting the way some red peppers can, their sweetness providing moments of comfort as you go.
The crust comes through at the end with a palate cleansing effect, as reliable as always, reminding you that you’re in experienced hands at Nook. It also serves as the perfect vessel to soak up the residual oils that will have inevitably landed on your plate ??.
Once the happy rollercoaster of the slice is done, you’ll be left with a smoky aftertaste and a yearning for another cheeky ride. Like after taking a shot of mezcal: you’re exhilarated, breathing fire, and feel a little giddy. Most importantly, you’re already reaching for the next round.
Due to sharing and hunger logistics, the slices did not make it through a thorough reheat analysis. Cold comfort levels were, however, assessed bright and early in a BC Ferries lineup, and scored high.