At this very moment, all over the world, babies are coming into the world. Miracles from God. Results of biology and evolution. Crap factories. Whatever you want to call them, they are out there. In the time that it took to read this paragraph about a hundred more have popped out.
Their eyes closed by the light, their instincts all they have to survive. The instinct to eat being predominant. The desire and need for nutrition. Mother's milk. The colostrum produced by the mother essential for the growth and development of the infant. High in antibodies it is the cornerstone of their health. Hence the term Mother's Milk.
As a man screaming towards middle age, I need to find other sources of Mother's Milk. Although I have heard a sickeningly number of stories about mother's that breast feed their children well into the Elementary School years. Gross.
I found my newest source of nutrition and life in Roseville a couple of decades ago. In a small, nondescript strip mall off of Hamline Avenue, appropriately named Hamline Mall, exists perhaps the single most wonderful source of pizza in my known universe: Aurelio's.
Just through the doors lay a wonderland disguised as a neighborhood pizza shop. A small waiting area with checkout counter. Refridgerator case filled with Pepsi products. The walls are lined with pictures and trophies from softball and Little League teams from the 80s and 90s.
There are a few pictures of local celebrities from back in the old school wrestling days. One in particular being signed by a certain former wrestler-turned-governor. Next to the door is a collage of baby pictures. Each baby wearing a little white Aurelio's onsie. Precious.
Except for one. There is one really ugly baby in the collage. Can you find him/her?
The space seems about equally divided between customer seating a kitchen space. There are about a half dozen booths in a hallway that goes to a slightly larger back room. Every other booth has a coin operated television that has been there for who-know-how-long. A remanent and fond reminder of how long this place has been a local staple.
There was a time when Aurelio's delivered. When, in an effort to cut costs, they eliminated the service (well over a decade ago), the owner stated simply that the people that really wanted the pizza would be willing to drive. There survival since then has been a testament that true believers still exist.
Besides pizza, there are options for traditional appetizers, sandwiches, pastas, and salads (a great antipasto). All are good and worth a taste, but this place is all about the pizza.
A crispy and flaky crust covered in a sweet red sauce unlike anything else found in the metro. A cheese blend with a splash of oregano. The first cheese being mozzarella, the second, as yet unidentified by my oft overwhelmed palate. The simple effort of adding a second cheese instead of just cutting open another bag of mozz not going unnoticed.
Fresh toppings, sausage in particular. Far too many pizza places have become satisfied with the idea of using frozen nuggets that they call sausage. Never settle for anything less than the real thing.
Besides the traditional pizza, there are stuffed pizzas (like an actual pizza pie) and the very popular spinach or plain calabrese (very similar to a large calazone).
The sauce deserves it's own mention. It deserves it's own place on the menu (also used for the pastas. The cheese ravioli is another favorite). Smooth and sweet. It is the only time I have every asked for extra sauce on a pizza. The simple joy of mopping up any extra sauce left on a plate with an edge of crust is a pleasure I don't take for granted.
This sauce that I dream about. This sauce that makes me hate other pizza parlors for not being able to simulate. My desire so strong that I feel the need to go all the way to Roseville just to satisfy my urges.
The fact that I would sell my TV like a crackhead to get a large pepperoni, extra sauce, extra crispy.
But I digress.
The staff has been there for a long time. Some are actually family of the owners. The servers are no-nonsense and are there to get you your food and drink. Miller Lite and MGD are your on tap (and only) options.
It is a small location that can fill up quickly. As far as I know, it is the only Aurelio's location outside of Chicago, a point that they take pride in. This is a place with the sole goal of making it good, the way it has always been made.
It is a little bit pricier for the food. A large (16 inch) pizza pepperoni pizza running $18.50. Don't let the price dissuade you, this isn't Dominos. This isn't some franchise (well, techincally, it is since there are 43 locations around the country, most of which being in Illinois. But there is only 1 in Minnesota) that will just pop up and churn out pizzas, worrying more about advertising than taste. This is a local, family run business that has survived in an all-but-dead strip mall for decades.
There is a reason for that. You need to find it out for yourself.
It is my guarantee to you that if you go to Aurelio's and it isn't some of, if not the, best pizza you have ever had... I will hate you. This is Mother's Milk and don't you dare speak bad about my momma. F***ers.
No comments:
Post a Comment