Even though summer's officially here, Mammoth Mountain Ski Season is still on thru July 5th. So while you're celebrating the 4th of July in Mammoth's Main St. Parade, at The Village's fireworks show, inside Hyde Lounge, or on the slopes, get your grub on at Broadway Marketplace Base Lodge & John's Pizza Works for the best Chili & Pizza on a budget.
Follow @MammothMountain for updates on festivities as we near the 4th. And check out SkiDazzle.com for deals on Mammoth hotels.
The Grubdown:
- the best body & soul-warming, totally tummy-friendly, addictive Beef & Pinto Bean Chili with Jalapeno & Cheese Toppings ($7.95)
- string cheesy, loaded with toppings "House Special" Pepperoni, Sausage, Mushroom & Olive 12-inch Pizza ($16.95)
- fresh, garlicky, zesty "The Pesto" Artichoke, Mushroom, Garlic & Feta 12-inch Pizza ($16.95)
Chili:
Every time I go boarding at Mammoth, I make a point to get a steaming hot bowl of Chili at Broadway Lodge – I mean really, what more could your body want after Shredding the Gnar on the slopes all day? You can get it in a Bread Bowl for $2 extra, or just in a regular plastic bowl and pack on the toppings – either way it's enough to split, especially if you're knocking back a few Mammoth Pale Ale's (YourNextPint.com review on the brew coming tomorrow!)
The Chili has tender Ground Beef, hearty Pinto Beans, and a Peppery Tomato Sauce that has just the right amount of spice. But if you like to kick it up a notch, add some extra punch with complimentary sliced Jalapenos and crank up the cheese factor with as much Shredded Monterey Jack & Cheddar as you please. It's thick, filling, and won't leave you with an upset stomach like most chilis do. (By the way, my friend swears by the "awesome" Turkey Green Chili Verde they serve, too.)
Broadway Marketplace. 1 Minaret Road, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546. 760-934-2571.
Pizza:
On my last trip to Mammoth all I could think about on the 6-hour drive up was Pizza & Beer. So I got my fancy new phone out and started googleing some places in town. I came across John's Pizza Works – "Dough made fresh daily. 100% real cheese. Only the freshest meats & vegetables available." So a few friends and I decided to give it a try.
From the outside, humble John's Pizza Works located next to a liquor store off Main St. & Manzanita Rd. is easily passable. The inside isn't much better as they're in serious need of a re-design – they even have one of those ancient arcades. But after seeing the adjoining, attractive & modern Sports Bar next door, an upgrade certainly looks promising (pics of it will be posted tomorrow in my YourNextPint.com review)!
It was early May when we went, so the place was pretty slow with a One-Man Chef-Waiter-Cashier-Bartender-Show. We were all pretty impressed by his versatility and hospitality.
We ordered the House Special Pepperoni, Sausage, Mushroom & Olive Pizza. The tangy sweet Tomato Sauce to ooey-gooey Mozzarella ratio is On Point! The Pepperoni is tender 'n spicy, the Mushrooms are thick 'n juicy, and each slice was fully loaded.
Same goes for The Pesto Artichoke, Mushroom, Garlic & Feta Pizza. The Artichokes are tangy and fresh, the Feta gives it a nice zing, and the Pesto isn't overwhelmingly garlicky, but just right.
Both pizzas were served on a Pizza Stand for appropriate cooling. Two 12-inch pies were definitely enough to split between 4 people; we even took some home. The Crust was perfectly cooked – soft in the middle with a crispy finish. And each tasted super fresh and homemade, like a lot of love and care went into baking them.
John's Pizza Works has 5 other Pizza Combos like Vegetarian, Picante, and Shrimp, or you can Build Your Own. "World Famous Hot Wings" ($7.95-28.95), Salads ($3.95-10.95), Pastas ($5.95-10), and Hot Sandwiches ($9.25) are also served daily until midnight.
John's Pizza Works. 3499 Main St., Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546. 760-934-4065.
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