Thursday, October 13, 2011

Living European with Dogs: Sampling Pizza in Parks, Inspiration from Italy

We have recently realized that one of the best parts of traveling is figuring out our favorite things to do on vacation, and trying to incorporate them into our lives on an everyday level. With our dogs. While we were in Italy, one of our favorite things to do was enjoy time in a park sampling different pizzas. It also helped to have the Leaning Tower as our scenery.
While Italian pizza is amazing, we also have our fair share of great pizza here in Chicago. And we set out to have some pizza picnics with our pooches. One thing that really helps having the pooches along on picnics is having the big comforter as a blanket. Despite there being pizza in front of them, Miss M does tend to nod off.
 Some of our favorite pizza picnic experiences:
-Grabbing an extra-large slice of Paula & Monica's foldable pizza while on our daily walk, and enjoying it in Eckhart Park. We may not have the Leaning Tower, but you do get an amazing view of Chicago's Hancock Tower from the park. We can still do this even as we move into fall.
-Picking up a thin-crust Apart Pizza and enjoying it in Welles Park. Though it's even better during their summer concert series.
-Stopping by Spacca Napoli for truly authentic Neapolitan-style pizza. They have an outdoor area, but pooches are only allowed outside the fence.
 -Getting the best deep-dish pizza at Pequods and amazing thin-crust pizza from Coalfires and bringing it back for some alfresco dining in our "urban backyard".
Has anyone else been doing any dog picnics? Or trying any great Chicago pizza?

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't think I've ever heard of any of those pizza places but I am adding them to my "must try" list! :) We've never picnicked with our dogs but I'm definitely interested in giving it a try...I imagine both Turk and Rufus would be up in our faces for a bite of our yummy food! Do you bring treats for your dogs to nibble on while you dine?

Unknown said...

I've been craving pizza for awhile and now I really want some!! You always do such fun things with the dogs!

Anne-Kathrine said...

What a great outing. What is better than combining pizza and pooches :) I enjoy reading about your different "adventures" You sure have some fun ideas :)

goosie mama said...

That photo of Miss M with her eyes so big and brown is too cute! This idea is great and one I will for sure be trying (although I'm 99% G will stay WIDE awake if there is a pizza in front of her, unlike the refined Miss M!).

Jacquelin Cangro said...

Boy I just got a craving for a slice! Here in NYC we have a lot of great pizza places to choose from too. It's hard to find a bad pizza. I couldn't take it to the park with Reggie though. He'd be up in my business.

Road Dog Tales said...

Oh, yeah! Pizza sampling is one of our favorite pasttimes around here, too :) Only we usually just get a tiny taste and our peeps get most of it. Yummmmm . . .

The Road Dogs

Froggy said...

Since I stopped eating dairy because it was ripping my insides apart I've been missing pizza like crazy. I want to snuggle with Miss M on the beautiful blanket!

Corbin said...

Mom and Dad are thinking about visiting Chicago... I'm trying to convince them that I should come too, but they said I wouldn't be able to go to the baseball games they plan on attending if they ever make the trip... I'll let them know about the yummy pizza joints!
-Corbin

Kristine said...

One of the reasons I most want to visit Chicago - apart from the hopes of a Miss M sighting! - is for the food. There are so many amazing restaurants there I would love to try. Especially the pizza.

Picnics with our dog are always kind of stressful. It's hard to prevent her from eating our food and from getting bored while we sit in one spot. She does not like hanging out in one place for very long and lets us know it! Hopefully as she grows older she'll learn to nap like Miss M.

Tucker The Crestie said...

Yum! I'm so jealous of all the great restaurants you have there!

Tucker The Crestie said...

Yum! I'm so jealous of all the great restaurants you have there!

Unknown said...

This is my first time on your site, and you have really made your animals celebrities. They are all so adorable, and seem so loving. But, as far as picnics with the pets, my dog loves them. Anything to do with being outside makes him happy.

kpausch said...

I was SO excited to find your blog (not sure how, a few clicks through some other blogs...). I adopted Melvin, a pittie from PAWS this summer, and when I saw that you also use Curtis as your trainer, I about lost it! Too cool, he's the BEST.

I used to live in France, and oh MAN do I miss the frequent pique-niques. I need to incorporate that into my life more... once it's spring! I wasn't as crazy about Pequod's as everybody else seems to be. Really good, but I'm a Lou's girl at heart.

Two French Bulldogs said...

okay a picnic pizza is what I'm talkin bout
Benny & Lily

Amy said...

Oh my gosh, you're making me crave Chicago pizza! We used to do this in Rittenhouse Square park with the dogs, but we haven't had a pizza picnic since we hit the road. It may be time to remedy that.

Kate said...

There aren't nearly so many dog-friendly places like that near my place. It's a shame - a picnic with the dogs sounds so fun!

pugsx4 said...

First time visitor, could I throw in my two cents and tell about our fav trip with our four dogs. Three pugs and a boxer. We went to Tybee Island in Georgia. Stayed at one of the pet friendly cottages run by Mermaid Cottages. It was great, pet friendly island two dog parks and the mermaid has many pet friendly places with fenced back yards.

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